You’re fascinated with the health of adults, committed to your aging patients, and known for your expert advice. You’re ready to become an adult gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP). If you’ve already decided on the DNP, feel free to skip ahead to our program listings. But if you’d like some background on certification requirements, a summary of the DNP curriculum, examples of DNP capstone projects, and real-life advice from a qualified AGNP, read on!
Becoming an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
The Modern Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Adult gerontology nurse practitioners, known in nursing circles as AGNPs, are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who take special care of adults. In this case, “adult” can mean any patient – including young adults – confronted with the challenges of aging. You may sometimes see AGNPs referred to as GNPs, or geriatric nurse practitioners. Nurses holding this title tend to deal directly with the elderly.
Working under the supervision of a physician, AGNPs are responsible for diagnosing illnesses, conducting exams and screenings, ordering lab tests, prescribing medications and physical therapy, managing a patient’s pain, and educating families on preventative care. Since aging also includes dying, modern AGNPs are renowned for being compassionate caregivers and counselors.
AGNPs work in two major arenas: acute care and primary care. Acute care AGNPs specialize in the care of acutely ill adults and can be found in hospitals (e.g. ICUs, ERs, surgical units, etc.) and outpatient specialty clinics. Primary care AGNPs tend to work in places such as hospices, home healthcare, and nursing homes. Some AGNPs even choose to run their own private practices. Regardless of their specialty, AGNPs must be able to collaborate with families, social workers, nursing staff, therapist, pharmacists, and physicians in order to provide adult patients with the very best advice.
AGNP Certification Requirements
Most employers and states require you to complete a master’s degree or DNP in nursing with an adult gerontological nurse practitioner focus and become nationally certified before you can practice as an AGNP. Adult gerontology certifications are offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
If you’re interested in primary care, you could consider the:
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (AGPCNP-BC) credential from ANCC
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP) credential from AANP
If you’re interested in acute care, you could consider the:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (AGACNP-BC) from ANCC
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certified – Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG) from AACN
Talk to your university and check with your State Board of Nursing for advice on which certification to pursue. In the end, you may wish to complete a number of credentials. DNP programs should clearly state that they are accredited and able to prepare you for AGNP board certification exams. If you can’t find the information on the program website, ask the school for its student pass rates on certification exams.
AGNP Primary Care Certifications
AGPCNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management.
- Pass the national AGPCNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
A-GNP Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, post-master’s, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology primary care practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your program.
- Complete APRN core courses in advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology.
- Pass the national A-GNP exam administered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
AGNP Acute Care Certifications
AGACNP-BC Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN license.
- Hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours during your adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, as well as coursework in health promotion/maintenance, differential diagnosis, and disease management.
- Pass the national AGACNP-BC exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
ACNPC-AG Requirements
- Hold a current, active RN or APRN license.
- Hold a graduate degree from an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
- Complete a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours focused on the care of acutely ill adult gerontology patients, including young adults, older adults, and frail elderly.
- Complete graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment, as well as coursework in the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of the NP. The school’s curriculum must include supervised clinical and didactic coursework consistent with competencies of adult-gerontology ACNP practice.
- Pass the national ACNPC-AG exam administered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
- Maintain your certification & licensure through continuing education.
Helpful Professional Organizations
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE)
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)
The Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP
Typical Gerontological NP DNP Curriculum
Many AGNP programs are listed as “graduate tracks” or “concentrations” in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually focus on adult gerontology. Once you have laid the groundwork, you will often have the option to pursue a primary care or acute care sub-specialty in adult gerontology (e.g. cardiology, hospice care, oncology, orthopedics, organ transplant, etc.).
Look for DNPs that focus on advanced clinical knowledge, evidence-based research, and leadership skills. AGNPs deal with adults across the age spectrum, including geriatric patients, so you must be equipped to handle tasks such as case management, patient stabilization, and end-of-life care. That means practicums should expose you to a variety of clinical settings (e.g. long-term care facilities, the patient’s home, hospitals, private practices, etc.) and a range of patient ages. In the case of acute care, you will often conduct your clinical training in ERs and ICUs.
In terms of coursework, you can expect hard-core classes in science and medicine. Programs that wish to meet AGNP certification requirements must cover key APRN courses such as advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. As a DNP student, you will also be studying areas such as nursing leadership, healthcare policy, and ethics. All of these classes are intended to prepare you to take a proactive role in your workplace. The grand finale of your work is your DNP capstone project – a final assignment that combines research, theory, and clinical practice into actionable steps.
Experience Requirements
Experience requirements vary from school to school. Some program may demand to see proof of two years of full-time work experience as an RN; others don’t list specifics. Generally speaking, acute care AGNP programs are going to want to see at least 1-2 years of experience in hospitals, ERs, or other acute care situations.
Examples of Gerontological NP DNP Capstone Projects
- Improving Care of Assisted Living Residents with Dementia Through a Competency-Based Behavioral Training Curriculum for Assisted Living Caregivers (University of San Francisco)
- Telehealth Case Management Nursing Process and Technology Enhancements: Reflecting Practice and Outcomes (St. Catherine University)
Real-World DNP Advice
Dr. Laura Sandquist, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, GNP-C
Certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Laura Sandquist is an Integrative Medicine Nurse Practitioner at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing and a member of the Graduate Faculty at U of MN’s Center for Spirtuality and Healing (CSH). Her practice is based on the philosophies of functional medicine, integrative nursing, and holistic nursing, and allows her to spend time with her patients, develop relationships, and conduct lots of education and coaching. Dr. Sandquist has also served as a Health and Wellness Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Lead, Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Educator, and Integrative Health Consultant. She graduated with a DNP from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2012 – the same year she won the Doctor of Nursing Practice Innovation Award.
Q&A with Dr. Sandquist
Q. Why did you choose the DNP? How did you decide which school to go to?
A. I chose to do the DNP because I wanted a terminal degree. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities was my first choice because it is the only school in the world that has a DNP specialty in Integrative Health and Healing. In the end, I decided to tackle two specialties: 1. Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner 2. Integrative Health and Healing. The AGNP specialty allowed me to pursue my NP license and provide direct patient care. The Integrative Health and Healing specialty gave me a chance to focus on integrative and holistic nursing. U of MN had the added benefit of being close to my home.
Q. What kinds of challenges did you face during the DNP? How did you juggle commitments?
A. The biggest challenge I faced during the DNP was being pulled in multiple directions. To keep my work schedule manageable, I worked a 0.6 the first year, 0.4 the second, and on-call the third year. To finance the DNP, I received a few scholarships, my workplace offered tuition reimbursement, and the rest was loans. I balanced my commitments with a very supportive husband who worked and took care of the cooking and housework!
Q. Was it an online/hybrid DNP or a traditional one? Would you recommend that format?
A. I completed a hybrid DNP. It fit in with my work schedule and meant I didn’t have to spend a lot of time on campus, commuting to campus, or paying to park. I would recommend the hybrid format because it was a balance of working independently and connecting regularly with classmates and professors. My favorite experience was forming relationships with my cohort. You grew together, cried together, stressed out together, and survived together. Taking the journey through the DNP program truly bonds you for life.
Q. What did your DNP capstone project focus on? What did you learn?
A. My DNP capstone project was a “Delirium Prevention Protocol for Hospitalized Older Adults.” I picked this topic because there was a need for a protocol at the hospital where I worked at the time. That meant stakeholders were on-board. Plus, since many of the interventions in the protocol were non-pharmacologic, I was able to combine my adult/geriatric specialty with my integrative health specialty. During this project, I learned how to navigate project development and organization implementation. I also learned how to be flexible and open to uncertainty.
Q. Any other advice or tips you have for future DNP students?
A. Be sure to take care of yourself during the program. Many of my classmates worked themselves to sickness by the end of the program. As nurses, we want to take care of everyone and do it all. In the DNP program, you need to let others take care of you, be okay with saying no or cutting back, and to place priority on doing things that make you feel well.
DNP Programs with a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Focus
135 schoolsGerontological NP Programs in Alabama
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The BSN-DNP pathway at USA College of Nursing features Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specializations. All are offered predominantly online, with students pursuing clinicals near their homes. To get in, applicants must have two years of RN experience in their specialty, and the program is flexible enough to allow them to continue working, at least part-time. The Nurse Practitioner specialties are both 69 credits, while the Clinical Nurse Specialist track clocks in at 62 units. The MSN-DNP plans for the specializations are just 36 credits, which are normally completed in two years or less. Students in any curriculum can add a subspecialty in Advanced Forensic Nursing Care, Cardiovascular, Clinical Lipidology, Nursing Education, or Palliative Care, all of which lead to postgraduate certificates.
Gerontological NP Programs in Arizona
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ASU's Advanced Nursing Practice (Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner) DNP is based out of the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation in downtown Phoenix. The 84-credit hybrid program features online classes punctuated by periodic trips to campus each semester. The required curriculum calls for 34 credits in the concentration, much of it dedicated to two classes and corresponding practicums. The first is about managing common health problems. The second is about managing complex health problems. Additional work includes health promotion for gerontological clients and a 12-credit clinical residency. Clinicals can happen in a variety of spots. The school has established relationships with Phoenix-area sites and pushes students to pursue opportunities in rural health. It also works with students to arrange experiences in their area. Those looking to fortify their hands-on degree with teaching and research experience can apply concurrently to the PhD in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation program.
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The DNP at University of Arizona's College of Nursing is designed to meet the needs of multiple demographics. That includes RNs who want to get back to full-time work in under three years and out-of-state residents who like online coursework sprinkled with short trips to the Tucson sunshine. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty spans 67 hours, including 720 hours in clinical practicums in students' home states. It's obviously shorter for students entering with an MSN and APRN certification in the specialty. The course sequence is split so that didactic coursework primarily comes in the first four semesters. The final four semesters are devoted to clinical practicums, a DNP project, and additional online courses. Certificate options in Rural Health, Rural Telehealth, and Informatics let students add on to a degree plan that already features an introductory informatics course and diverse clinical practicums.
Gerontological NP Programs in Arkansas
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing recognizes that DNP graduates may make excellent teachers. Students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute-Care Nurse Practitioner concentration can add four nursing education classes and a project to their degree. And, since the school participates in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, such students are candidates to have up to 85% of their school loans forgiven in return for teaching commitments. Arkansas residents determined to teach in the state may also be able to fund their education through the Fields Nursing Scholarship. That award also goes to aspiring practitioners, who will still find plenty at the BSN-DNP program. Clinical practicums cover chronic, common, and acute illnesses in adults and elderly patients. Didactic coursework mixes in writing, finance, policy, and organizational leadership. And a multi-semester DNP project lets students synthesize their knowledge and skills. APRNs in the specialty can skip at least 18 of the required units.
Gerontological NP Programs in California
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Gerontological NP Programs in Colorado
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University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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With a part-time course plan and online courses that are mostly delivered asynchronously, the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner emphasis at UNC meets the needs of working RNs nationwide. To emphasize the point, the school charges students from out of state the same rate as Coloradans. Of the program's 94 credits, 24 go to a BSN-DNP core that's heavy on nursing theory and healthcare leadership. The AGACNP emphasis is 38 credits, including four practicums and corresponding classes on providing care. A research core is 29 hours and provides students with skills in research design and data collection and analysis so they can complete a scholarly project. Though courses are online and practicum sites are scheduled in students' home states, enrollees come to campus for two intensives in the summer that count toward their required 1,185 hours of clinicals, practicums, and labs.
Gerontological NP Programs in Connecticut
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Quinnipiac's Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP starts up every fall, admitting RNs with a BSN or related degree. Upon acceptance, nurses can enroll in the three- or four-year course plan, depending on whether they want to go full- or part-time. Quinnipiac's DNP aims to produce APRNs who can care for patients from adolescence through old age. The 68-credit curriculum features 500-level classes in epidemiology, policy, assessment, pathophysiology, ECG reading, radiography, and pharmacology. Its 600-level courses ask students to put it all together. To do this, students learn to holistically diagnose patients, they simulate clinical experiences, and they get out into the field to tackle real-life patient problems, both common and complex, across four practicums, a clinical fellowship, and a DNP project.
Gerontological NP Programs in Delaware
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Gerontological NP Programs in District of Columbia
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The difference between GW's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and its Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is mostly where students want to practice when they graduate. The acute care program draws upon GW Nursing's big-city surroundings to put enrollees in intense practicums in urgent care and critical care units. The primary care program is for those who want to be in inpatient facilities with older clients. Both programs incorporate 1,000 clinical hours and coursework with adolescents, adults, and elderly patients into 81 required credits. The programs come in full- or part-time options. Though courses are online, the programs require students to be on campus for several milestones. All applicants need a BSN, and preferably a 3.0 GPA, to be considered. The AGACNP program has additional requirements: Enrollees need one year of critical care experience before starting and must be DC, Maryland, or Virginia residents.
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Florida
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Adult/Gero Nurse Practitioner [online]
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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UCF College of Nursing runs two BSN-DNP programs for aspiring AGNPs: one for acute care (AGACNP) and one for primary care (AGPCNP). Both are hybrid programs that can be taken either full- or part-time. The programs cater to Central Florida residents - all clinicals are scheduled in nine counties in the region and students must regularly visit the Orlando campus for intensives and labs. Full-time enrollees who want to maintain their RN jobs are requested to keep their work schedules to no more than 12 hours a week, while part-time students can manage 24 hours. The AGACNP is a 76-credit program featuring 1,080 clinical hours. It's aimed at patient populations 18 and older and places enrollees in a variety of care settings so they can provide urgent treatment in complex situations. The ACPCNP is 72 credits, though it widens the curriculum to include adolescent care.
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The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Florida's BSN-DNP program is 76 credits. Enrollees in the full-time program spend their first year taking online classes with occasional on-campus visits. Clinicals, residencies, and project work take up much of their final two years, though they still take courses in areas like diagnosis, policy and finance, and genomics. (A part-time variation is four years.) All clinicals are scheduled within Florida, and applicants must have Florida RN licensure in addition to a 153 on the GRE verbal section and a 144 on the quantitative section. The College of Nursing's MSN-DNP is open to Florida APRNs and is online. The 35-credit curriculum requires the completion of three residencies and an advanced nursing project during the final three semesters. Other topics explored in the five-semester program include policy, statistics, research methods, informatics, and a double dose of leadership.
USF College of Nursing runs four AGNP concentrations for BS-DNP students. The vanilla version is the 75-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care concentration, which creates nurse practitioners comfortable working with 13- to 113-year-olds in residential facilities and outpatient clinics. For something more specialized than primary care, the Occupational Health/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care concentration is a slightly longer program that incorporates classes like Safety Management Principles & Practice and Industrial Hygiene into the curriculum. Similarly, the Oncology/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care program adds courses such as Pathobiology of Neoplasia into an 81-credit curriculum for nurses who want to work in cancer clinics. The Acute Care concentration promises more emergency care and urgent care exposure via a 78-credit curriculum. All concentrations are offered in BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP pathways on a full- or part-time basis, though the expectation is for students to pursue part-time study for 10 to 13 semesters (4 to 6 for MSN-DNP enrollees).
Gerontological NP Programs in Georgia
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The DNP with an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration at Augusta University College of Nursing is 75 credits. Admitted students join a cohort in Augusta or Athens and, if they are in a post-BSN pathway, can expect to finish in three years of full-time study or four years part-time. Courses are delivered in distance-learning and face-to-face formats. Core work in the specialty is broken into three main classes and associated practicums. The first is about managing chronic illnesses, the second explores dealing with urgent health problems, and the third covers complex diseases. In their final semester, students synthesize all they've learned in a final practicum. Post-MSN students can also enter the College of Nursing. Theirs is a fully online program for working APRNs, who can choose between full- and part-time plans.
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Gerontological NP Programs in Hawaii
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The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) program at UH Manoa presents multiple paths to entry. The most straightforward is to be an RN with a BSN, but RNs with a bachelor's in a different major can also apply if they agree to take prerequisites. Even non-RNs can apply via the Graduate Entry Program in Nursing, which allows them to earn a BSN in a condensed timeline before transitioning directly into graduate coursework. Once everyone is up to speed, they join a full-time cohort. The 77-credit BSN-DNP takes three years. Students are exposed to both acute and chronic illness management within their first year. Seminars and lab work in Year 2 deepen their knowledge in those areas. In Year 3, they look at special populations and integrating care across the lifespan. Graduates should be able to work with vulnerable populations in community or long-term care.
Gerontological NP Programs in Illinois
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Students in the AGNP track at Chicago's DePaul University complete 98 quarter credits. That works out to 38 credits in a doctoral core that covers healthcare costs, economics, leadership, IT, research, and the implementation of their final project. The advanced practice core has 52 credits: 10 classes in the science of nursing, plus three practicums with adult and gerontological patients. Last, the two advanced practicums in the specialty, which take 300 hours combined, are worth eight credits. Entry into the College of Science and Health requires a BSN, an Illinois RN license, a 3.0 GPA, and 2,000 hours of recent work experience. Enrolled students split their time between online study and on-campus courses.
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois
Accreditation: ACEN
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing at Rush University boasts a top-three program in the specialty, as ranked by US News & World Report. It runs two degrees of interest. The first, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, prepares graduates to work in critical care and surgery units, if desired. The second, the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner skews toward clinics, nursing facilities, and hospitals. The programs share some basic attributes. In the BSN-DNP option, the first half is scheduled part-time, and the second half is full-time. Most of the classes are online, but students meet on campus once per week. All clinical sites are in the Chicago metro area. Both programs entail 62 credits for post-BSN students. Students with an MSN face at least 30 credits, though they work with the college to create individualized course plans. Non-APRNs with an MSN can also apply.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, Illinois
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) programs at UIC College of Nursing feature 77-credit curriculums packed with both online and on-campus study as well as clinicals in the Chicago area. AGACNP students get ICU and emergency room experience, while AGPCNP students work in a mix of clinics, home-health settings, and assisted living homes. Practicing AGNPs can enroll in the post-master's DNP, a 42-credit program with much of the leadership-oriented coursework from the BSN-DNP programs, such as social determinants of health, change management, strategic planning, and information systems. The DNP Transition Program lets current RNs without a BSN study online for two terms until they're ready to start graduate work. UIC students in either track can earn an additional concentration in Rural Nursing. AGPCNP enrollees can also get a concentration in Primary Care Mental Health.
Gerontological NP Programs in Indiana
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Gerontological NP Programs in Iowa
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The AGNP programs at University of Iowa are designed for full-time students living in the state. The College of Nursing's DNP programs put all courses in a hybrid or online format, and all clinicals must be completed in Iowa. A major benefit of the program is the ability to earn dual certification. Enrollees in the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care or Primary Care NP programs may be able to extend their knowledge to psychiatric health, family medicine, or even do both acute and primary care. The AG-ACNP and AG-PCNP both allow for three- and four-year plans. The former mandates 73 credits and the latter requires 79. Earning a dual certificate necessarily adds somewhere around 20 to 25 credits to the tally, but students do not need to complete two projects in such programs. Students who enter the MSN-DNP versions of the program must complete 44 to 45 credits of work to graduate.
Gerontological NP Programs in Kansas
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The online MSN-DNP program from Wichita State features two Adult/Gerontology specializations: one for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and one for Clinical Nurse Specialists. Both use a cohort model with a spring start. Classmates spend 29 credits together in fully online courses. For post-BSN students, there's the on-campus AGACNP. To get in to the 74-credit program, applicants need a Kansas nursing license. The curriculum assumes enrollees have taken courses in anatomy, microbiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, physiology, and statistics. Enrollees get further exposure to each throughout the program, which includes a final DNP project. Lucky students can win the Legend Senior Living Fellowship.
Gerontological NP Programs in Kentucky
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The DNP program at UK College of Nursing uses a combination of graduate assistantships and scholarships to lure RNs to Lexington. The assistantships provide $4,000 to $10,000 stipends in exchange for teaching or research help. The UK Medical Center DNP Academic Excellence Scholarship, DNP Enhancement Scholarship, and DNP Wright Scholarship go to students who maintain high GPAs, contribute to college diversity, or are otherwise excellent students, respectively. Students in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track may also be able to work toward their degree, thanks to an optional five-year plan. The full-time, three-year BSN-DNP curriculum bookends each term with half-week intensives in Lexington, with the rest of the learning completed online. Enrollees take their first practicum at the start of the second year and begin developing a project proposal shortly thereafter. All told, students complete 74 credits in a program that is similar to the Family Nurse Practitioner track.
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Gerontological NP Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Aspiring advanced practice nurses with BSNs may be interested in three programs from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. The Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP produces nurses who work with patients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. It takes 84 credits. Practicums in the concentration cover acute, chronic, and long-term care. The Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP is more narrowly focused on urgent situations but still provides exposure to chronic and long-term conditions. It takes 89 credits to complete. Last, the 84-credit Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist DNP is similar to the AGPCNP. However, its practicum hours involve not only providing patient-centered care but also taking holistic looks into how the healthcare system works. Students with an MSN and certification in their APRN role can enter the 36-credit post-master's DNP. Alternatively, they can earn a new certification in the AGACNP or AGPCNP tracks.
Gerontological NP Programs in Maryland
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Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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RNs who want to provide acute care to the adult-gerontology population can prepare for advanced practice certification through the University of Maryland's trauma/critical care/emergency room DNP. Graduates are eligible for both the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exam and the AG Acute Care NP certification exam. BSN-prepared nurses can choose a 3-, 4- or 5-year plan of study. The post-baccalaureate program requires 80 credits and more than 1,000 clinical hours. The 3 pillars of this DNP program are evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. Master's-prepared nurses interested in changing specialties can enter a post-MSN program for a CNS DNP. There's also a post-master's track for nurses who have a CNS or NP in these fields. Applicants should have experience in acute or critical care or in an emergency department. The School of Nursing manages clinical placements, which are performed at sites in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Gerontological NP Programs in Massachusetts
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University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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One of the early distance learning DNPs, UMass Amherst's program is totally online. Even the orientation is done via internet. And enrollees only travel as far away as the clinical sites they can find in their area. The Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) concentration accepts impressive applicants with either a BSN or just an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate in a different major. All applicants need a 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, a scholarly writing sample, and a well-crafted goal statement. Certified AGPCNP nurses with an MSN can enter straight into the 36-credit DNP completion program, as can advanced practice nurses with other certifications. The College of Nursing participates in the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, helping future nurse educators finance their full-time education in exchange for a four-year teaching commitment.
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
DNP Tuition Info: click here
Individuals can enter the AG-Acute Care NP or AG-Primary Care NP programs at UMass Medical School in Worcester in a handful of ways. For those without a nursing background (but with a baccalaureate), the school offers a graduate entry pathway that allows applicants to earn a BSN and then enter the program. The actual BSN-DNP curriculum is 75 credits, with the first year devoted to didactic work. The second year mixes practicums and DNP project work. Students tie everything together in their third and final year. Students can further specialize in one of five areas: cancer care, cardiovascular care, critical care, palliative care, or nurse educator. To get in, students need a Massachusetts RN license, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and competitive GRE scores.
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The College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UMass Dartmouth offers a five-year Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program for Massachusetts RNs with a BSN. The 63-credit DNP degree never asks students to commit more than seven credits in a semester and doesn't schedule classes during the first two summers, making the program a good fit for students with work and/or family commitments. The first practicum comes in Year 3, with further practicums and residencies scattered across the final two years. The college considers applicants who have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and one year of acute care nursing experience; it does not require the GRE. A MS-DNP program is available for APRNs. Like the BSN-DNP, this 30-credit program requires participants to complete three residencies and undertake a project that applies research to the field.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
Gerontological NP Programs in Michigan
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The standard way to get into UM-Flint's AGPCNP and AGACNP programs is with a BSN, but it's not the only way. The RN-DNP pathway admits students into either track if they have a 3.5 GPA from their last 60 college credits, even if those were from an ADN degree. Via this pathway, students can complete their BSN before moving into the AGPCNP or AGACNP, which require 67 or 72 credits to complete, respectively. The programs share a 54-credit core with work in biostatistics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, assessment, informatics, transcultural care, and other topics. Enrollees complete four practicums within their specialty. For primary care NPs, that includes experiences dedicated to women's health and mental health. Both programs are predominantly online with clinicals scheduled near students' residences, though some travel to Flint is required. A dual MBA option lets DNP students apply 15 credits toward a business degree in Health Care Management.
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Gerontological NP Programs in Minnesota
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A major selling point of The College of St. Scholastica's BS-DNP program is that students can pursue a dual track. That means enrollees can either go into the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty or add an emphasis in gerontology onto the Family NP, Psychiatric and Mental Health NP, or even the AGPCNP specialties. The AGPCNP itself is an 81-credit program that mixes in five practicums covering different populations: adults, rural patients in emergency situations, women of reproductive age, frail adults, and older adults and families. It takes four years of full-time study to complete. The course plan calls for only two or three classes per term, making it possible for enrollees to keep their RN jobs. Though the coursework is part online, part on-campus in Duluth or St. Cloud, students can complete practicums near their home instead of in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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RNs who have spent a year in a critical care unit can apply to the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Winona State's DNP program. It's a 74-credit curriculum that prepares graduates for certification from the ANCC and/or AACN so they can work in emergency and urgent care settings. Six of those credits are dedicated to electives, which include nursing education courses for aspiring professors. Depending on their academic background and current commitments, students can choose from three- or four-year post-BSN study plans and a two-year post-MSN plan. All are held on the WSU's Rochester campus an hour west of Winona. Students not looking for the adrenaline boost of critical care may prefer the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist track, which can lead to CNS certification from the AACN. The 72-credit program shares a similar format to the Acute Care program, with the addition of a three-year post-MSN plan.
Gerontological NP Programs in Mississippi
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Missouri
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Saint Louis University-Main Campus
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies accepts applications into its Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program for spring and summer starts. RNs with a BSN can enroll in the 74-credit track on a part- or full-time basis. By taking courses in cultural diversity, ethics, and healthcare leadership, students get a well-rounded curriculum to go along with 1,155 supervised hours. Those take the form of three clinicals, an extended project, and a 330-hour residency during the back half of the curriculum. Though the program is predominantly online, some courses may use a hybrid or synchronous format. Additionally, clinicals take place in Missouri and Kansas, so students must hold RN licensure in both states. Once students begin clinicals, they'll be required to visit the Kansas City campus once per term. The MSN-DNP requires at least 31 credits, but students with different nurse practitioner specializations may craft an individualized study plan.
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Nebraska
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The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track of Creighton's BSN-DNP keeps things flexible to meet the needs of a variety of students. To start with, the College of Nursing doesn't require GRE results, and the program welcomes applicants who have just gone back to work after getting their BSNs. Second, the hybrid program is structured to accommodate working RNs, who can also take advantage of a part-time option. A full-time version of the program takes eight semesters and involves 1,200 clinical hours and 68 to 71 credits. Students who are already AGNPs can enroll in the post-MSN program, which includes at least 375 clinical hours and around 30 credits. That program begins with courses in ethics, evaluative methods, healthcare finance, policy, and epidemiology, then leads to a project and final residency.
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Omaha, Nebraska
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
Students in the Nebraska Methodist College DNP program earn 57 credits from online study and 18 from clinicals. The course plan is compact enough to be finished in three years, though part-time plans can extend this to four or five years. Two specialties - the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - put students in a variety of clinical settings with patients from young adults to geriatrics. Though the AGCNS program is more geared toward nurse leaders, this mainly plays out in the practicums. In terms of courses, both programs incorporate studies of finance, policy, and systems leadership. Moreover, with eight elective courses to choose from, including Rural Nursing, Curriculum Planning and Evaluation, and Public Health Ethics, students can customize their degree depending on their career goals. RNs need to have earned a 3.0 from their BSN program to apply. Classes begin in the fall.
Gerontological NP Programs in Nevada
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Gerontological NP Programs in New Jersey
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BSN to DNP - Gerontology [online]
Rutgers School of Nursing runs a post-bachelor's DNP with specializations in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PCNP). Both can be completed with three years of full-time study or four years part-time. And both involve 540 clinical hours plus 500 hours working with a mentor on a final project. The ACNP clocks in at 71 credits, while the PCNP is 68. The two share 41 credits in common, including units on leadership, health data analysis, business practices, epidemiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. The specialty courses in each are split into four theory classes and corresponding practicums, covering either acute or primary care. Students can add an HIV Care certification with just three or six extra credits in the PCNP and ACNP, respectively. The school admits New Jersey RNs with BSNs and 3.2 GPAs. ACNP applicants also need two years of work experience in acute care.
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Gerontological NP Programs in New York
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Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, New York
Accreditation: AACN
DNP Tuition Info: click here
CUNY College of Staten Island
Staten Island, New York
Accreditation: AACN
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner specialization at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing prepares future APRNs to work with urban elderly populations in both outpatient and residential settings. Over the span of 90 credits and 1,000 clinical hours, RNs with a BSN explore topics that will help improve care in either setting. Such topics include policy, ethics, leadership, and financial management. These go along with scientific core work in pathophysiology, genetics, and epidemiology as well as a 12-credit capstone. Within the AGNP concentration, students choose three electives, giving some freedom to sample from Hunter's psychiatric and family nursing programs. Students with an MSN in the specialty may be able to trim as many as 42 credits off the program, which normally takes five years of full-time study and six years part-time. All students need to have a New York RN license, a BSN, and a 3.5 undergraduate GPA to get in.
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Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner [online]
MSN to DNP programs:
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner [online]
The post-master's DNP programs at UB School of Nursing are for APRNs who are looking for a part-time, distance learning experience while they work. Students in the Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) and Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist tracks take 200 non-clinical hours, often with their employer, as part of their DNP project. They also take classes that provide them with options beyond simple practice: Scientific Writing, Teaching in Nursing, and a seminar in grant writing. The program is 36 credits long. Post-bachelor's students find themselves on campus much more often because most of their classes are face-to-face. However, full- and part-time options let AGPCNP enrollees control their course load. The program is 82 credits. Current BSN students in their last term can apply via the DNP Early Assurance program. If admitted, they can start on the DNP immediately and skip the GRE and MAT.
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Gerontological NP Programs in North Carolina
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The ECU College of Nursing's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum actually covers patients as young as adolescents. Indeed, although there is specific coursework for caring for older adults, there are also classes for family care and reproductive healthcare. The AGPCNP is meant for APRNs who want to work in rural areas in the region, regardless of the type of facility or patient. Although many of the classes are online, all clinicals are in North Carolina, letting students dive deep into the area's healthcare ecosystem. Part-time and full-time course plans allow students to complete the 63 semester credits and 720 practicum hours in a relaxed four years or a speedy three. In both plans, students spend their final four semesters completing a DNP project as well as practicums.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
DNP Tuition Info: click here
The UNC School of Nursing offers a DNP with a standard Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty for RNs interested in caring for everyone from adolescents to the elderly. The curriculum for the BSN-DNP can only be completed over three years of full-time study. The MSN-DNP, on the other hand, allows for part-time enrollment and is online. Students who wish to work in cancer clinics can add an oncology focus to the AGPCNP track. Adding just a few credits to their degree means they qualify to sit for not only the ANCC or AANP certification exams, but also the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner exam. All applicants to the track must have a year of nursing experience as well as an RN license from North Carolina or a compact state.
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The AGNP concentration at UNC Greensboro is a post-BSN program. The 73-credit AGNP is designed for nurses who want a mix of on-campus and online work. Courses in Greensboro, including all labs, are typically grouped together so that enrollees only come to campus once a week. Under a cohort model that spans eight semesters, students take 9 to 11 credits during the fall and spring terms and 4 to 6 credits during the summer. After students receive an initial dose of coursework in diagnostic reasoning, pathophysiology, and disease prevention, they head to their first practicum during the second semester. Later coursework covers non-clinical topics such as informatics, healthcare law, and research methods. The program admits registered nurses from all states and asks that they have a year of clinical experience. The School of Nursing offers some graduate teaching and research assistantships so students can partly cover the cost of classes.
Gerontological NP Programs in Ohio
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Kent State invites RNs with a BSN to enter its DNP program. Once enrolled, for the first two years they take graduate-level classes in their concentration until they qualify for APRN certification and their MSN. With another two years of coursework in leadership and clinicals near where they live, they can earn their DNP. Three concentrations are of interest. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP produce nurse practitioners who thrive in critical care and diverse care settings, respectively. Students can customize their schedules to be part-time, and the array of online core courses increases flexibility. The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist - for nurses who want to combine patient care with consulting, leadership, and coaching - is completely online. All told, each concentration takes at least 71 credits and 1,050 clinical hours.
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Gerontological NP Programs in Oklahoma
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Oregon
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OHSU asks enrollees in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program to fully commit to their studies. The AGACNP is a full-time, three-year program that is mostly on campus. The beginning takes place in OHSU classrooms, where participants work in lockstep alongside others in their cohort. After they gain exposure to areas like pharmacology and diagnosis, students head out to work in rotations exclusively within the Portland metropolitan area. Those experiences may include sites as varied as trauma surgery and urology units. The program's intensity is often offset by OHSU's financial aid. For instance, the $15,000 Hearst Endowed Scholarship goes to two DNP students who focus on older adults. AGACNP enrollees are also eligible for an award through the Scholars for a Health Oregon, should they decide to practice in an underserved part of the state after graduation.
Gerontological NP Programs in Pennsylvania
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Doctor of Nursing Practice [online]
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The RMU School of Nursing, Education and Human Studies works with students in the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track to individualize their course plans. The fastest version of the onsite program can be completed in under four years. RNs with a BSN start off the 80-credit DNP with didactic coursework but very quickly begin supplementing that with practicums - first in general assessment, then women's health, care for adults, clinical diagnostics, and geriatric care. In addition to honing enrollees' clinical smarts, the program prepares students to work across disciplines. Thus, there's coursework in applied statistics, economics, psychiatry, policy, and healthcare law.
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Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Pitt's School of Nursing allows students to customize their degrees with subspecialties or minors. Pitt offers DNP concentrations in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialist with a focus on Adult-Gerontology. All three BSN-DNP concentrations are based out of the School of Nursing on Pitt's campus. However, the MSN-DNP pathways for each can be taken either on-campus or online. Pitt's 81-credit Clinical Nurse Specialist program asks students to focus on general medicine, surgery, cardiopulmonary care, critical care, oncology, or trauma and emergency preparedness. The AG-ACNP, meanwhile, is an 81-credit curriculum that incorporates five possible subspecialties: cardiopulmonary, critical care, oncology, trauma and emergency preparedness, or directed study. AG-PCNP enrollees, on the other hand, are prepared to be generalists via a 76-credit course plan. MSN-DNP enrollees can also specialize by adding a minor in Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Administration, or Nursing Research.
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Gerontological NP Programs in Rhode Island
Gerontological NP Programs in South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Accreditation: COA
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Tennessee
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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MSN to DNP - AGNP [online]
The DNP program at ETSU College of Nursing is committed to preparing graduates to work in rural communities. The college, located just outside Cherokee National Forest, runs internships in the area. In fact, because of this, enrollment is only open to Tennessee residents and out-of-state students who live within 250 miles. While clinicals require local travel, most classes can be done online from home with just one trip to Johnson City per term. RNs who want to work with gerontological clients have multiple entry points. With a BSN, students can enter either the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration or, if they want much more pathophysiology, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration. Both have full-time and part-time options. For MSN-holders, the 32-credit Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program takes just four semesters. Applicants need to have certification in the specialty.
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, Tennessee
Accreditation: ACEN
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Southern Adventist welcomes RNs from across the country to come to southern Tennessee for a DNP program infused with Christian values. There are two emphases for aspiring AGNPs, one for acute care practitioners and one for primary care practitioners. Both are 77 credits, which incorporates enough units for students to take a second emphasis. There are eight total, including three with online courses: Healthcare Administration, Nurse Educator, and Lifestyle Medicine. In keeping with Southern Adventist University's mission, students in all emphases take Christian Leadership and Management as well as Christianity and Ethics in Professional Practice. These classes go alongside standard courses in theory, policy, economics and healthcare technology. Students with an MSN take only 48 credits. They also need at least two years of work experience before they can begin their practicums; there's no such requirement for the BSN-DNP.
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, Tennessee
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Texas
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Gerontological NP Programs in Utah
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RNs interested in becoming AGNPs can enter University of Utah's Primary Care or Acute Care programs. Both are BSN-DNP tracks that require 78 credits to complete, including 17 dedicated to practicums and 6 for a scholarly project. The first two semesters feature didactic work exclusively. Students then complete a practicum as well as coursework during each of the last six semesters. In their final year, they add the scholarly project to the mix. Students take the program along with a cohort, so they should expect to finish after eight semesters. Students who live in an eight-state stretch from Montana to New Mexico can enroll in the Primary Care program via a distance learning option, though they may still have to attend clinicals in northern Utah.
Gerontological NP Programs in Vermont
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Gerontological NP Programs in Virginia
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The School of Nursing at George Mason employs a variety of course formats. Core courses are held online, while those involving clinical skills development require trips to either the Prince William or Fairfax campus. Still other courses use an executive format in which students study intensively on campus for a few days. All BSN-DNP programs, including the AGNP, require 72 credits. The AGNP specifically starts with coursework but gets full-time students out doing practicums by the second semester; they take a practicum every semester until graduation. The part-time plan, on the other hand, puts off the initial practicum until the fifth semester, letting enrollees first ease into coursework on the science - pharmacotherapeutics and physiology, for instance - as well as practice-oriented skills, such as assessment and decision-making. The MSN-DNP, meanwhile, is between 42 and 72 credits with a personalized study plan that builds off students' graduate work.
Gerontological NP Programs in Washington
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
BSN to DNP programs:
Aspiring AGNPs can specialize in Acute Care or Primary Care in UW's full-time DNP program. The three-year degree uses a hybrid format that brings enrollees to Seattle one day a week during the first year as they learn about healthcare systems, wellness promotion, leadership, and evidence-based practice. The second year is when they break off into specialty-specific coursework and start their clinicals. In the third year, they complete clinicals and do a final project at one of their sites. Acute Care students can find themselves at neurosurgery facilities, cardiology clinics, and intensive care units. Primary Care students, on the other hand, might be placed in veterans hospitals, oncology units, or urgent care facilities. Applicants should have a Washington RN license, as clinical experiences are set up in the Puget Sound region. Acute Care applicants also need one year of experience as a critical care RN.
Gerontological NP Programs in Wisconsin
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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The Wisconsin School of Nursing embraces a cohort model for its DNP program. Students enamored with Adult/Gerontology care can choose from three tracks: Primary Care, Acute Care, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Once they do, they'll learn in lockstep with their classmates in a three-year or four-year progression. The program asks enrollees to do three things: use systematic thinking to evaluate their nursing practice, learn how to lead and navigate healthcare policy, and hone their skills in the field. Most classes in the 71-credit curriculum feature a mix of online work and on-campus time. Outside of those locations, students complete practicums with major healthcare networks in the Badger State. Students who want to teach after graduation can add nine credits to earn their Nurse Educator certificate. In addition to an RN license, applicants to the BSN-DNP program need a 3.0 from their last 60 credits and a year of RN experience.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Accreditation: CCNE
DNP Tuition Info: click here
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Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner [online]
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The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track at Viterbo University School of Nursing is available to post-bachelor's and post-master's students. The BSN-DNP is a three-year program, while the MSN-DNP features a two-year plan, though students in either pathway may proceed part-time. DNP students get to pursue clinical rotations at Mayo Clinic sites throughout the Midwest. Since the curriculum mixes online and on-campus coursework, the program recruits RNs who have been working in direct patient care for at least two years and can handle a heavy course load in multiple formats. Classes cover scholarly writing skills, process management, and leadership in addition to pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology, and other clinical topics.
