Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

An online program for the nurse practitioner specializing in Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing.

Program Information

An online program for the nurse practitioner specializing in Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nursing is offered at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing. The MSN program prepares graduates for advanced nursing practice and for doctoral study. Graduates of the program are able to synthesize and apply advanced knowledge, theories, and research to a specialized area of nursing practice and function as leaders in practice to contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession. Students entering the Dual Role track must have at least two years of direct patient care experience in EMERGENCY, ICU, or MED-SURG. Specialty areas such as the Cath lab, GI lab, OR, etc., are not considered Acute Care management.

A common core of courses are offered online including concepts, theory, research, and issues related to advanced nursing practice.

Students in the online track will be required to attend an orientation session on campus in the Fall when the AHN specialty courses begin. In addition, the students may be required to return to campus following semesters during their specialty courses and the last semester (internship) for a final exam and presentations. Details will be announced as the semesters approach.

Clinical Orientation

All students in the Adult-Geron Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty are required to attend a mandatory three-day clinical orientation on campus during that fall term. Various clinical skills workshops will be held during the orientation.

Students enrolled in AHN 568 and AHN 571 will attend one of the three clinical orientations and clinical skills intensives. Students have the opportunity to request their preferred group on a first come, first serve basis through the simulation department after the request is sent out during the spring term.

Please note these dates are for Simulation Intensives only. The coordinator for each specialty track will provide full orientation dates:

• Dec 5‐6, 2019
• Dec 9‐10, 2019
• Dec 11‐12, 2019

Each event will take place at USA College of Nursing. You will receive more information as the date approaches via your JAG e-mail. Please make plans to attend.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

Graduates who complete the Adult-Gerontology ACNP program meet educational eligibility for national certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Curriculum

BSN-MSN students complete all support, MSN core, and MSN specialty courses for a total of 45 credit hours.  The MSN degree must be completed within five years of matriculation.

Support Courses

NU 518 - Advanced Nursing Assessment 3 credits

NU 545 - Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing 3 credits

NU 578 - Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses 3 credits

MSN Core Courses

NU 607 - Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice 3 credits

NU 608 - Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Health Care 3 credits

NU 610 - Healthcare Policy and Finance 3 credits

NU 613 - Organizational & Systems Leadership 3 credits

Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP Specialty Courses

AHN 568 - Introduction to Adult-Geron Acute Care NP 3 credits

AHN 571 - Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Issues for Adult-Geron Acute Care NP 2 credits

AHN 572 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP I 3 credits

AHN 573 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP Practicum I - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credits

AHN 574 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP II 3 credits

AHN 575 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP Practicum II - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credits

AHN 576 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP Practicum III - 240 Clinical Hours 4 credits

AHN 577 - Adult-Geron Acute Care NP III 3 credits

RN to MSN students who are registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a non-nursing discipline must also complete the following courses.

RN-MSN Courses

CMN 411 - Nursing in Community Systems 4 credits

NU 404 - Evidence Based Practice & Informatics 3 credits

NU 410 - Concepts of Professional Nursing 6 credits

NU 425 – Health Assessment Across the Lifespan 3 credits

OR

NU 530 – Accelerated MSN Advanced Health Assessment 4 credits

Contacts

For information and help with setting up your graduate degree program contact the CON Office of Graduate studies: congrad@southalabama.edu

Please feel free to contact Dr. Charlene Myers for more information about this specialty: cmyers@southalabama.edu.