Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Emphasis
This program prepares students to provide evidence-based, safe, quality patient-centered care in a variety of chronic, acute, and emergent care settings. The graduate will be eligible to take the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.
Some states require a specific master’s degree to practice as a nurse practitioner; therefore, a concurrent Master of Science with a major in Nursing will be awarded with completion of the DNP.
The School of Nursing also offers the post graduate certificate for DNP-prepared nurses. The plan of study is individualized based on academic completion and requirements.
School of Nursing Mission
The mission of the School of Nursing is to prepare graduates for professional positions as safe, competent, and caring nurses to meet the health care needs of diverse populations.
Acceptance of Transfer Credits
Transfer credit will be awarded per the published Graduate Programs section of the University catalog. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credits from an accredited institution may be applied to the degree with approval from the graduate nursing program coordinator.
Time Limits
Courses completed 6 or more years before the date of graduation will not be accepted as satisfying graduation requirements without the approval by the graduate nursing program coordinator.
Accreditation
Seeking Candidacy for the DNP from:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 975-5000
Fax: (404) 975-5020
Admission Requirements
Students are responsible for following all admission policies and procedures as outlined in the Graduate Programs section of the University catalog.
- Complete application to the nursing program.
- Proof of active, unrestricted Colorado or Colorado Nursing Compact State Registered Nurse license for all MS and MS-DNP emphasis options or by the end of the first semester for the BSN-DNP emphases options).
- Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with a 3.0 GPA, or higher (MS, BSN-DNP and associate post-masters certificate options).
- All prerequisites must be passed with a C or better (C- is not acceptable) including statistics, microbiology and chemistry. Students receiving a grade less than C in a nursing prerequisite course are not eligible for admission.
- Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with a 3.0 GPA, or higher (MS-DNP Program and associate post-masters certificate options).
Admission Criteria
BSN or MS (Nursing) to DNP or Post Masters Certification
Students are responsible for following all admission policies and procedures as outlined in the Graduate Programs section of the University catalog.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency (or equivalent).
- Undergraduate BSN cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will consider courses with a graduate nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or higher.
- Application for admission to graduate programs in the university Office of Admission (admission to graduate programs does not constitute admission to the nursing graduate program).
- Proof of active, unrestricted Colorado Registered Nurse license by the end of the first semester of the program.
- Background check per Colorado Law (see application).
- Current immunizations.
- Current certification in CPR (Health Care Provider – C or equivalent).
- Three letters of recommendation:
- Professional or Academic
- Clinical
- Other
- Letter of intent that includes:
- Brief professional history
- Reason for pursuing advanced degree
- How applicant will manage work, home, and study
- Curriculum Vitae
(Use the template located under Graduate Nursing Student Application Instructions on the website)
Preference for acceptance will be given to applicants who have:
- 2000 Hours (1 year full-time) experience as a registered nurse (AGACNP, AGACNP/FNP and PMHNP emphases only).
- One year or more of experience as a clinical adjunct instructor (Nurse Educator only)
- Residency in Southern Colorado
- Graduate from CSU-Pueblo
If accepted into a program, requirements prior to attending first class include:
- Drug screen
- Physical exam within last 12 months
Program Outcomes
- Eighty percent of graduates will:
- Complete the program within one and one-half times the length of the program
- Express satisfaction with the program
- Pass national certification exam the first time
- Be employed in role-related professional practice within six months to one year
- Eighty percent of employers’ will express satisfaction with graduates’ job performance.
DNP Graduate Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Integrate evidence-based practice, ethical decision making and technology into advanced nursing practice
- Conduct scholarly inquiry to influence health outcomes of individuals, aggregates and populations
- Organize interprofessional collaboration to provide safe, quality patient-centered care.
- Assume a leadership role in transforming health care systems, policies and standards of care
The School of Nursing offers the DNP for the:
- Baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse
- Master-prepared nurse practitioner who is certified in adult/geriatric acute care, family or psychiatric-mental health
- Post-master’s registered nurse
Graduation Requirements for DNP
The graduate degree will be granted to candidates who meet all of the University catalog requirements plus the following:
- Graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
- All courses must be passed with a B or better.
- Completed and approved DNP Project Practicum.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 504 | NSG WRITING & PRESENTATION SKILLS 1 | 1 |
| NSG 505 | BIOSTATISTICS & RESEARCH | 3 |
| NSG 507 | ADVANCED PRACTICE ROLES | 2 |
| NSG 508 | ADVANCED PRACTICE THEORY | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 562 | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT | 2 |
| NSG 562L | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT LAB | 1 |
| NSG 748 | HEALTHCARE: ETHICS, LAW & POLICY | 4 |
| NSG 712 | RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 551 | HEALTH PROMOTION | 2 |
| NSG 571 | HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS | 2 |
| NSG 714 | EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 552 | ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY | 3 |
| NSG 561 | ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| NSG 716 | HEALTH CARE BUSINESS & FINANCE | 4 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 610 | DIAGNOSTIC REASONING | 2 |
| NSG 613L | ACUTE CARE SKILLS LAB I | 2 |
| NSG 718 | ORGANIZATIONAL & SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP | 4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 614L | ACUTE CARE SKILLS LAB II | 1 |
| NSG 641 | ADULT/ GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE I | 3 |
| NSG 641L | AGACNP PRACTICUM I | 1 |
| NSG 801 | DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE SEMINAR | 1 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 642 | ADULT/ GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE II | 2 |
| NSG 642L | AGACNP PRACTICUM II | 3 |
| NSG 802 | DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM I | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 643 | ADULT/GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE III | 2 |
| NSG 643L | AGACNP PRACTICUM III | 2 |
| NSG 803 | DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM II | 3 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 644 | ADULT/GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE IV | 2 |
| NSG 644L | AGACNP PRACTICUM IV | 2 |
| NSG 804 | DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM III | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 645 | ADULT/GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE V | 1 |
| NSG 645L | AGACNP PRACTICUM V | 2 |
| NSG 805 | DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM IV | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 806L | FINAL DNP PRACTICUM AGACNP | 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Optional | ||
| NSG 810L | DNP PROJECT PRACTICUM | 1 |
| Credits | 1 | |
| Total Credits | 84 | |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Lab Hours | 90 | |
| Total AGACNP Practicum Semester Hours | 585 | |
| Total DNP Practicum Hours | 540 | |
| Total Practicum Hours | 1125 | |
| Total Program Credits | 83 | |