Nursing: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration, Master of Science
AGACNP
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.
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 director.
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 director.
Specific Admission Requirements
Students are responsible for following all admission policies and procedures as outlined in the Graduate Studies 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.
MS-DNP Program and associated post-masters certificate options. Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited university with a 3.0 GPA, or higher is required.
Program Outcomes
- Eighty percent of graduates will:
- 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
- Seventy percent of graduates will complete their program on-time starting from enrollment day one of the first class of their nursing option.
- Eighty percent of employers’ will express satisfaction with graduates’ job performance.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes for Masters Programs
At the completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Integrate evidence-based practice, ethical decision making and technology into advanced nursing practice.
- Utilize interprofessional collaboration to provide safe, quality patient-centered care.
- Explore quality improvement initiatives that affect delivery of advanced nursing practice and health care services.
Specific Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 504 | NSG Writing & Presentation Skills | 1 |
| NSG 506 | Roles and Issues | 2 |
| NSG 508 | Advanced Practice Theory | 3 |
| NSG 552 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NSG 561 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 512 | Research & Evidenced Based Practice | 3 |
| NSG 562 | Advanced Assessment | 2 |
| NSG 562L | Advanced Assessment Lab | 1 |
| NSG 610 | Diagnostic Reasoning | 2 |
| NSG 613L | Acute Care Skills Lab I | 2 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 551 | Health Promotion | 2 |
| NSG 571 | Healthcare Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 614L | Acute Care Skills Lab II | 1 |
| NSG 641 | Adult/ Gerontology Acute Care I | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 642 | Adult/ Gerontology Acute Care II | 2 |
| NSG 642L | AGACNP Practicum II | 4 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 548 | Healthcare: Ethics, Law & Policy | 3 |
| NSG 643 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care III | 2 |
| NSG 643L | AGACNP Practicum III | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS | 1-3 |
| Credits | 8-10 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 644 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care IV | 2 |
| NSG 644L | AGACNP Practicum IV | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS | 1-3 |
| Credits | 5-7 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 645 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care V | 1 |
| NSG 645L | AGACNP Practicum V | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS | 1-3 |
| Credits | 4-6 | |
| Total Credits | 53-59 | |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Courses | ||
| NSG 505 | Biostatistics & Research | 3 |
| NSG 575 | Curriculum Development | 3 |
| NSG 576 | Instructional Strategies | 3 |
| NSG 577 | Assessment & Evaluation | 3 |
| NSG 593 | Thesis Seminar | 3 |
| NSG 599 | Thesis Research | 3-6 |
Practicum Hours
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Total Lab Hours | 120 | |
| Total AGACNP Clinical Semester Hours Changing practicum credit hour ratio from 1:45 to 1:60 | 780 | |
| Optional Elective Hours | 0-21 | |
| Total Practicum Hours | 900-921 | |
All courses and number of credits for practicum must be completed in sequence following the program curriculum plan.
NSG 646L AGACNP Practicum MS (1-3 cr.) is a variable credit course. This program requires a total of 3 cr. and 10 cr. in other AGACNP practicum for a total of 13 cr. MS students complete NSG 646L 1- credit each semester with other AGACNP practicum courses over the final 3 semesters of the program.
Students admitted prior to Fall 2024: program requires 585 hours in AGACNP practicum.
Students admitted starting Fall 2024 need to complete 780 hours in AGACNP practicum.
All students must successfully pass Oral Comprehensive Exam (OCE) to meet concentration competency requirements or Thesis is optional (6-9 cr.).
Specific Graduation Requirements
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 oral comprehensive exam or directed research or thesis. If choosing to complete a directed research project or thesis you will need to contact the Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator by the end of your second semester.
Planning Sheet
Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 504 | NSG Writing & Presentation Skills | 1 |
| NSG 506 | Roles and Issues | 2 |
| NSG 508 | Advanced Practice Theory | 3 |
| NSG 552 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NSG 561 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 512 | Research & Evidenced Based Practice | 3 |
| NSG 562 | Advanced Assessment | 2 |
| NSG 562L | Advanced Assessment Lab | 1 |
| NSG 610 | Diagnostic Reasoning | 2 |
| NSG 613L | Acute Care Skills Lab I | 2 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 551 | Health Promotion | 2 |
| NSG 571 | Healthcare Informatics | 2 |
| NSG 614L | Acute Care Skills Lab II | 1 |
| NSG 641 | Adult/ Gerontology Acute Care I | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 642 | Adult/ Gerontology Acute Care II | 2 |
| NSG 642L | AGACNP Practicum II | 4 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSG 548 | Healthcare: Ethics, Law & Policy | 3 |
| NSG 643 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care III | 2 |
| NSG 643L | AGACNP Practicum III | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS | 1 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Summer | ||
| NSG 644 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care IV | 2 |
| NSG 644L | AGACNP Practicum IV | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS (Continuation for MS Variable Credit) | 1 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSG 645 | Adult/Gerontology Acute Care V | 1 |
| NSG 645L | AGACNP Practicum V | 2 |
| NSG 646L | AGACNP Practicum MS (Continuation of varible MS credit) | 1 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 53 | |