Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN
We prepare acute care nurse practitioners for the management of patients with specialized health care needs. You’ll develop expertise in physical assessment, complex clinical decision making, diagnostic and interventional procedures, prescriptive knowledge, and patient care management across the continuum of acute care services, from critical care to discharge to the patient’s transition back into their community.
You’ll have the opportunity to focus in general surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology, trauma, and many other specialty areas as well as concentrate your work on populations of special interest, such as the underserved or minority health.
And our large network of highly skilled clinicians train you using various technologies—like immersive simulation—to give you the chance to practice newly acquired skills. The program follows a curriculum that includes theoretical content and mentored clinical experience that emphasizes research and holistic patient care within a collaborative team approach. For your practicum, we do the legwork and match you with a preceptor, including acute care nurse practitioners, physicians, or collaborative teams.
You’ll be able to choose from a variety of clinical concentrations, such as cardiology, trauma, general surgery, transplant, nephrology, and internal medicine, and select a minor from a number of relevant areas, such as oncology, palliative care, forensics, global health, and more.
Curriculum
A total of 12 course units are required.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| NURS 6070 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 1.0 |
| NURS 6080 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice | 1.0 |
| NURS 6570 | Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making | 1.0 |
| NURS 5470 | Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice 1 | 1.0 |
| or NURS 6370 | Introduction to Research Methods and Design | |
| Theory Courses | ||
| NURS 6700 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care I | 1.0 |
| NURS 6710 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care II | 1.0 |
| NURS 6720 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care III | 1.0 |
| NURS 7640 | Advanced Technologies & Clinical Decisions in Acute Care | 1.0 |
| Clinical Courses | ||
| NURS 6730 | Advanced Clinical Decisions in Adult Gerontology Acute Care | 1.0 |
| NURS 6740 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum I | 1.0 |
| NURS 6750 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum II | 1.0 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 1 graduate level elective | 1.0 | |
| Total Course Units | 12 | |
- 1
NURS 5470 is a graduate-level research methods course approved for Penn BSN students only.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Our program is designed for Primary-Care-prepared Nurse Practitioners who work with acutely-ill patients.
We know that many Nurse Practitioners who are primary care prepared and working with acutely-ill patients are interested in becoming certified in acute care. In response to this, and in compliance with the APRN Consensus Model, Penn Nursing created a streamlined post-master’s Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP program. Nurse Practitioners who work with the acutely ill every day for a minimum of one year as a Nurse Practitioner are eligible to apply.
Please visit our Post-Graduate APRN Certificate page for application requirements specific to this program.
The APRN Consensus Model, published in 2008 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing calls for improved congruence between licensure, accreditation, certification and educational requirements between agencies and State Boards of Nursing. This means that if an NP graduated from a primary care NP program, that they should work with patients who have primary care issues. Likewise, if an NP is educated and certified as an acute care nurse practitioner, then this NP should work with acutely ill, critically ill, or chronically complex patients. This does not mean that all NPs working in inpatient settings have to be acute care prepared. It means that each NP has to evaluate the care they provide every day to their patients and decide if the majority of problems managed are primary care or acute care focused.
*Please be aware that we will need an affiliation agreement with your site of employment where you will be doing your clinical hours. Before applying, we recommend that you confirm with your contracts office/nursing education department/practice manager that they will be willing to sign an affiliation agreement/contract with University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Theory courses | ||
| NURS 7960 | Diagnosis and Management of Adult Gerontology Acute Care Patients I | 1.0 |
| NURS 7970 | Diagnosis and Management of Adult Gerontology Acute Care Patients II | 1.0 |
| Clinical courses | ||
| NURS 7980 | Adult Gero Acute Care NP: Prof Role & Clinical Practicum for Primary Care Prepa | 1.0 |
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Full Time Plan of Study (Summer Start)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Course Units | |
| NURS 6070 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 1 |
| NURS 6370 | Introduction to Research Methods and Design | 1 |
| NURS 6570 | Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making | 1 |
| Course Units | 3.00 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6080 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice | 1 |
| NURS 6700 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care I | 1 |
| NURS 6730 | Advanced Clinical Decisions in Adult Gerontology Acute Care | 1 |
| NURS 7640 | Advanced Technologies & Clinical Decisions in Acute Care | 1 |
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6710 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care II | 1 |
| NURS 6740 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum I | 1 |
| NURS XXXX Graduate Nursing Elective | 1 | |
| Course Units | 3.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6720 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care III | 1 |
| NURS 6750 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum II | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 12.00 | |
Part Time Plan of Study (2 Years, Summer Start)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Course Units | |
| NURS 6070 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 1 |
| NURS 6370 | Introduction to Research Methods and Design | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6080 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice | 1 |
| NURS 6700 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care I | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6710 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care II | 1 |
| NURS XXXX Graduate Nursing Elective | 1 | |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6570 | Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making | 1 |
| NURS 6720 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care III | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6730 | Advanced Clinical Decisions in Adult Gerontology Acute Care | 1 |
| NURS 7640 | Advanced Technologies & Clinical Decisions in Acute Care | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6740 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum I | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6750 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum II | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 12.00 | |
Part Time Plan of Study (3 Years, Fall Start)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Course Units | |
| NURS 6370 | Introduction to Research Methods and Design | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS XXXX Graduate Nursing Elective | 1 | |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6070 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6700 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care I | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6080 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice | 1 |
| NURS 6710 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care II | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6570 | Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making | 1 |
| NURS 6720 | Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care III | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NURS 6730 | Advanced Clinical Decisions in Adult Gerontology Acute Care | 1 |
| NURS 7640 | Advanced Technologies & Clinical Decisions in Acute Care | 1 |
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| NURS 6740 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum I | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Summer | ||
| NURS 6750 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum II | 1 |
| Course Units | 1.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 12.00 | |