Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program

ACNP Program Overview
The ACNP Program evolved from one of the first in the United States to prepare acute care nurse practitioners for the management of patients with specialized health care needs. Students 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 and facilitation of the patient’s transition to the community.

The program offers a broad preparation in the management of acutely and critically ill patients with additional opportunities to concentrate on populations of special interest. With a strong emphasis on research and evidence-based practice, students follow a curriculum that includes theoretical content and guided clinical experiences that emphasize holistic patient care and a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach. For their practicum experiences, students are paired with acute care nurse practitioners, physicians or collaborative teams.

Graduates are eligible to apply for national certification from the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Upon successful completion of the exam candidates are eligible to become certified or licensed to practice.

The ACNP and CNS Programs
If you are interested in dually preparing for both the Adult ACNP and CNS roles, you may enroll in both the ACNP and CNS Programs. This plan of study will broadly prepare you as an advanced practice nurse with an interest in both practitioner and CNS roles. Upon completion of the CNS program, you will be eligible to sit for either the American Association of Critical Care Nurses CCNS (Critical Care CNS) examination or the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Adult Health CNS examination in addition to the nurse practitioner exam.

There are many options available to you and we work with you to customize the Program to fit your needs. Please contact us anytime.