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.

Core Courses
NURS 6070Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology1.0
NURS 6080Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice1.0
NURS 6570Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making1.0
NURS 5470Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice 11.0
or NURS 6370 Introduction to Research Methods and Design
Theory Courses
NURS 6700Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care I1.0
NURS 6710Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care II1.0
NURS 6720Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care III1.0
NURS 7640Advanced Technologies & Clinical Decisions in Acute Care1.0
Clinical Courses
NURS 6730Advanced Clinical Decisions in Adult Gerontology Acute Care1.0
NURS 6740Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum I1.0
NURS 6750Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP: Professional Role and Clinical Practicum II1.0
Electives
Select 1 graduate level elective1.0
Total Course Units12
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 2023 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.

Theory courses
NURS 7960Diagnosis and Management of Adult Gerontology Acute Care Patients I1.0
NURS 7970Diagnosis and Management of Adult Gerontology Acute Care Patients II1.0
Clinical courses
NURS 7980Adult Gero Acute Care NP: Prof Role & Clinical Practicum for Primary Care Prepa1.0
 
 

 

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.