Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares graduates to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care to adults and older adults who are physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, or highly vulnerable to complications, requiring frequent monitoring and intervention. Coursework and supervised clinical experiences prepare the graduate to provide a full-spectrum of care including disease prevention, acute and critical care management, chronic and long-term care, and palliative care. The developmental, life-stage needs of adults across the age spectrum are incorporated into patient care.
DNP degree concentrations include pathways for initial Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification and APRNs with or without current Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner credentials.
Accreditation: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202.887.6791, http://www.ccneaccreditation.org, through December 31, 2024, and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care Concentration Course Requirements
Core Courses
Course ID | Title | Credits |
NSG 876 | Leadership and Health Policy | 3 |
NSG 877 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
NSG 824 | Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
NSG 827 | Epidemiology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
NSG 855 | DNP Advanced Practice Role Development | 2 |
NSG 910 | Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing | 4 |
NSG 831 | Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology | 3 |
NSG 830 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
NSG 947 | DNP Project Seminar 1 | 1 |
NSG 948 | DNP Project Design and Methods | 2 |
NSG 949 | DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation | 2 |
NSG 950 | DNP Project Seminar II | 1 |
Total | 30 |
Concentration-Specific Courses
Course ID | Title | Credits |
ACNP 804 | Advanced Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Nursing Practice | 4 |
ACNP 805 | Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP | 3 |
ACNP 807 | AGAC Advanced Critical Care | 3 |
ACNP 809 | AGAC Advanced Practice Practicum | 4 |
ACNP 810 | Professional Strategies of AGAC Advanced Practice | 3 |
ACNP 811 | Advanced Clinical Assessment AGACNP | 4 |
ACNP 812 | AGAC Advanced Clinical Management | 2 |
NSG 926 | DNP Synthesis Practicum: AGACNP | 6 |
Total | 29 | |
Post-BSN DNP Total Credits: | 59 |
Core Courses
Course ID | Title | Credits |
NSG 876 | Leadership and Health Policy | 3 |
NSG 877 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
NSG 827 | Epidemiology for Clinical Practice | 3 |
NSG 910 | Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing | 4 |
NSG 947 | DNP Project Seminar 1 |
1 |
NSG 948 | DNP Project Design and Methods | 2 |
NSG 949 | DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation | 2 |
NSG 950 | DNP Project Seminar II | 1 |
Total | 19 |
Concentration-Specific Courses
(New AG-ACNP Certification)
Course ID | Title | Credits |
ACNP 804 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Acute Care | 4 |
ACNP 805 | Acute Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP | 3 |
ACNP 807 | AGACNP Advanced Critical Care | 3 |
ACNP 811 | AGACNP Advanced Clinical Assessment | 2 |
ACNP 812 | AGAC Advanced Clinical Management | 2 |
NSG 926 | DNP Synthesis Practicum: AGACNP | 6 |
Total | 20 | |
Post-MSN DNP Total Credits | 39 |
Concentration-Specific Courses
(Same Certification - Holds Current AG-ACNP Certification)
Course ID | Title | Credits |
ACNP 813 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Strategies for Focused Studies | 4 |
ACNP 815 | Adult Gerontology Acute Care Focused Study and Dissemination | 4 |
NSG 926 | DNP Synthesis Practicum | 6 |
Total | 14 | |
Post-MSN DNP Total Credits | 33 |
- Individual course details and descriptions can be viewed in the College of Nursing
section of the 2023-2024 Academic Bulletin.
Technical and Performance Standards
All students in the DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care Concentration Program must meet the Technical and Performance Standards for admission and progression.
Technical and Performance Standards: All DNP Concentrations
In addition the technical and performance standards expected of all students in educational programs in the College of Nursing, students in the DNP program are also expected to possess the mental, auditory, visual, sensory, strength, manual dexterity, and communication skills to:
- Perform a systematic and complete history and physical examination on a client.
- Communicate significant examination findings to other professionals and client/family.
- Appropriately assess and record subjective and objective findings.
- Maintain effective relationships and interact appropriately with other professionals and clients/families, demonstrating skills of leadership collaborations and decisiveness.
- Accurately analyze alterations in functional patterns.
- Demonstrate advanced use of the nursing process: assess, develop, implement, educate and counsel clients, prescribe appropriate therapy, demonstrate self-care skills and evaluate appropriate plans of action for diagnosed problems.
- Maintain flexibility and emotional stability in response to novel, unique situations and stress.
Additional Technical and Performance Standards Specific to Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration
- Anticipate common, acute, and life-threatening problems encountered in critically ill patients.
- Identify ethical issues in critical care practice and participate in ethical decision making using a systematic approach.
- Develop/participate in the development of theory based educational programs for critically ill patients/families and nursing personnel.
- Analyze/critique critical care research and demonstrate/role model the appropriate integration of research into practice.
If a student cannot fulfill these Technical and Performance Standards, with or without accommodations, at any time in the program, the student will be ineligible for admission or continued progression in the DNP Program. In addition to assuring that students can meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical criteria for the DNP Program, it is of utmost importance that students have the ability to provide for the safety and welfare of their patients and others. Reasonable accommodations will be provided, when appropriate, to help student meet these Technical and Professional Standards. Determination of eligibility and recommendations of accommodations must be made by Disability Services at Disability Services | TLC | UTHSC . Any student wishing accommodations must contact the university’s Disability Services Office tlc@uthsc.edu.
DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care FAQs
"Students are encouraged to ""shadow"" an AGACNP for a day or two. Learn as much as you can about the role by meeting APRNs, attending professional meetings, and/or reviewing the local and national websites. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the primary organization that represents AGACNPs. The AANP website at www.aanp.org offers much information about education and practice.
Find and visit your local NP group meetings. The Greater Memphis Area APN group web page is https://gmaapn.enpnetwork.com.
Obtain a diagnostic evaluation of your learning style. Numerous online engines offer this service at no cost. Simply enter ""learning style assessment"" into a search engine to locate these services. Students admitted to the DNP Program have their learning style assessed prior to beginning classes. We will also offer an intensive review of health assessment skills prior to class beginning.
Evaluate your family, community and work commitments and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. The program requires a full commitment. All students will have to make adjustments in their personal and professional lives. "
DNP Concentrations
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Midwifery
- DNP/PhD Dual Degree
- Dual Concentration:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner - Dual Concentration:
Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner - Dual concentration: Pediatric Acute Care/Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner