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Contact: TBA

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) prepares nurse practitioners to further their careers in acute care settings as providers. You will gain the theory and skills to effectively provide care and prescribe for patients with acute health issues. In addition to learning to assess acute care problems, you will learn the pharmacological, non-pharmacological and interventional skills required in acute care settings. This program is online with two distinct, focused immersions on campus. Completion of this program makes you eligible to take a national certification exam for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners.

Post-Master's Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Course Listing
NUR 660Advanced Specialty Diagnostics & Assessment I3
NUR 661Introduction to Acute Care Clinical Practicum and Seminar3
NUR 662Advanced AGACNP Pharmacology2
NUR 663Acute Care Practicum & Seminar I3
NUR 664Common Problems in Acute Care3
NUR 665Acute Care Practicum & Seminar II3
NUR 666Common Problems in Acute Care II3
NUR 667Acute Care Practicum & Seminar III3
NUR 668Common Problems in Acute Care III3
NUR 669Advanced Specialty Diagnostics & Assessment II2
Total Credits28

Curriculum Note:

The semester-by-semester Learning Pathway for this program is available in the School of Nursing.

The curriculum for this program is subject to modification as deemed necessary by the nursing faculty to provide students with the most meaningful educational experience and to remain current with professional standards and guidelines.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Post-Master's Certificate program are prepared for higher level professional practice and leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings, as well as advanced study at the doctoral level.

Specifically, graduates will be able to:

  1. Incorporate knowledge from the sciences and humanities for improvement of health care across diverse settings.
  2. Demonstrate leadership abilities encompassing ethical and critical decision-making that embraces a systems perspective.
  3. Apply appropriate measurement and analysis methods related to organizational quality and safety.
  4. Apply evidence-based findings to resolve practice problems, and serve as a catalyst for change.
  5. Use informatics and healthcare technology to integrate and coordinate care.
  6. Participate in policy development and advocacy strategies at the system level to influence health and health care.
  7. Collaborate effectively on interprofessional teams to improve health outcomes.
  8. Integrate principles of clinical and population health into care delivery and management.
  9. Deliver direct and/or indirect nursing practice interventions at the master’s level of practice.

Admission Requirements

An applicant to the Post-Master's Certificate program must be a registered nurse or NCLEX-eligible nurse and have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or another field. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better is required. Applicants should submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

  1. A completed admissions application including a resume and a personal statement addressing the following:
    1. professional goals and motivations
    2. a nursing experience that has influenced or shaped your practice
    3. a healthcare problem that interests you for potential doctoral study.
  2. Official transcripts from all schools previously attended.
  3. Official recent results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for international applicants.
  4. Two letters of recommendation from persons with authority to evaluate your professional ability.
  5. Proof of current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Connecticut.

Candidates applying for full-time admission for the fall term must submit a completed application by May 1. Candidates may be on a waitlist for the fall in the event a space becomes available. However, acceptances are not deferred and wait-listed candidates need to reapply for the following fall. Exceptions may be made in rare circumstances by the chair of the graduate nursing program.

All accepted students are required to complete a background check and urine drug screen following acceptance and before the start of classes. Acceptances are conditional until satisfactory completion of both.

Progression Requirements

Students are expected to take courses in the order they are presented on the curriculum pathways. Any student wishing to take a course out of sequence must seek permission from the graduate program chair. To preserve quality in our clinical placements, we are not able to accommodate a change in program specialty except on a space-available basis. If a change is desired, students should speak with the graduate program director early in the curriculum to check on any opportunities for change and be placed on a waiting list, if necessary.

According to Quinnipiac University policy, all graduate students are expected to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Full-time graduate students are required to achieve a 3.00 GPA each semester. Part-time graduate students must have an overall GPA of 3.00 upon completion of 9 credits and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 thereafter. The grading scale of the Graduate Nursing Program is consistent with that of the university.

A student who earns less than a B minus grade in any nursing course will not progress into the next semester. The student is allowed to repeat the course once at Quinnipiac University provided that the course and the subsequent curriculum sequence are offered and must achieve a B minus or better. The student must achieve a minimum grade of B minus in all subsequent nursing courses. Failure to meet this requirement will result in dismissal from the program. A student who earns unsatisfactory grades (grade of less than B minus) in two or more nursing courses in any semester is not eligible to repeat the courses and will be required to withdraw from the program.

In clinical practica, students must receive a grade of B minus or better on the final faculty and preceptor clinical evaluations in order to pass the course and progress into the next semester. If a student is not performing satisfactorily in clinical according to the preceptor and/or faculty site visitor, a final faculty visit and evaluation of clinical performance will be made by a full-time faculty member, and this final grade must be B minus or better to pass the course.

A student who receives a grade of Incomplete (I) in any nursing courses or practica must meet all course requirements for conversion to a grade before the start of the subsequent semester.

For post-master’s students, transfer students, or students returning from an elective leave of absence during their course of study, selected courses must have been completed within a specified period of time. For Pathophysiology, credit will be recognized if the course was taken during the previous five years. For Advanced Health Assessment, Pharmacology and any program specialty course, credit will be recognized if the course was taken during the previous three years. For any of these courses which do not meet the specified period of time, the course must be re-taken for credit. Students may be asked to audit courses if the interruption to the continuity of their curriculum plan has been significant.

At the end of each semester, the chair of the graduate nursing programs reviews the cumulative GPA and academic record of graduate nursing students. The graduate nursing program chair will notify both the associate dean and the student, in writing, of the student’s failure to meet the academic requirements. Students who are performing at an unsatisfactory level will be: a) placed on probation; b) suspended; or c) dismissed. Students placed on academic probation remain in their program but must take specified corrective action to meet program performance standards. Students should meet with their advisers to identify learning strategies to help them accomplish these goals and the student should draft a list or narrative of these strategies, which will serve as a learning contract. A copy of this contract will be placed in the student’s folder and should be reviewed periodically with their adviser. Students must demonstrate a significantly increased GPA at the end of that semester to continue in the program. Students placed on suspension may also need to take specified actions as directed by the academic dean, graduate nursing program chair or academic adviser.

Appeal Process

  1. A student wishing to appeal a progression decision must write a letter to the chair of the graduate nursing program within one week of receiving notice of their inability to progress.
  2. Appeals will be considered by a Faculty Appeals Committee and results will be communicated in writing to the student.
  3. A student wishing to appeal a course grade should follow the grade appeal process.

NUR 660. Advanced Specialty Diagnostics & Assessment I.3 Credits.

This course provides an overview of diagnostic tools, procedures, and exams in the assessment, diagnosing, and treating of individuals with illness. This course will be delivered in a hybrid format, with students completing online content relevant to their nurse practitioner speciality as an on-ground clinical residency where the emphasis will be on competence in a variety of procedures and techniques specific to the speciality role. The emphasis is not only on learning skills, but also on the appropriate use of these skills in a healing context.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 520, NUR 520L, NUR 530 and NUR 522
Offered: Every year, Summer

NUR 661. Introduction to Acute Care Clinical Practicum and Seminar.3 Credits.

This course provides a theoretical and practical framework for the practice of an acute care nurse practitioner caring for the adult and geriatric populations with acute and chronic complex problems. Students learn to apply diagnostic reasoning skills and critical thinking. Students complete 150 clinical hours in acute care settings where they demonstrate the ability to provide evidence-based care. An accompanying online clinical conference allows students to discuss the scope of an acute care nurse practitioner as well as management of acute care illnesses.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 520, NUR 520L, NUR 530 and NUR 522
Offered: Every year, Summer

NUR 662. Advanced AGACNP Pharmacology.2 Credits.

This course builds upon the previous advanced pharmacology course and specifically discusses medications used in the inpatient setting. Students learn the use of medications, their interactions and polypharmacy issues that are specific to the acute care setting.

Prerequisites: None
Offered: Every year, Summer Online

NUR 663. Acute Care Practicum & Seminar I.3 Credits.

Emphasis in this first of three clinical courses is to use diagnostic reasoning, critical thinking, and patient analysis to focus on assessment, identifying differential diagnoses, and managing acutely or critically ill individuals using clinical practice guidelines. Students complete 240 direct care clinical hours in the inpatient acute or critical care setting. In addition to clinical hours, students engage in a one hour weekly clinical conference to present patient problems including a holistic approach to patient needs, differential diagnoses and specific clinical issues.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 660 NUR 661 NUR 661 and NUR 662
Corequisites: Take NUR 664
Offered: Every year, Fall

NUR 664. Common Problems in Acute Care.3 Credits.

The first of three courses regarding common problems in acute care will focus on the pathophysiology and management of common acute and critical illnesses in individuals. Evidence-based, multidisciplinary management approaches to selected health problems are discussed. The course is grounded by a holistic approach to care; case studies are used to promote clinical reasoning. Topics include acid/base balance and fluid/electrolyte issues, cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal disease.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 660 NUR 661 and NUR 662
Offered: Every year, Fall Online

NUR 665. Acute Care Practicum & Seminar II.3 Credits.

In the second of three clinical courses, students will continue to progress using the knowledge learned in previous courses to begin building safe and effective evidence- based plans of care. Students complete 240 direct care clinical hours in the inpatient acute or critical care setting. Emphasis in this course is not only on refining assessment, differential diagnoses and management, but also building case load. Weekly one hour clinical conferences focus on presenting cases, discussing holistic approaches to critical care and refining differential diagnoses and treatment plans.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 663
Corequisites: Take NUR 666
Offered: Every year, Spring

NUR 666. Common Problems in Acute Care II.3 Credits.

The second of three courses regarding common problems in acute care will focus on the pathophysiology and management of common acute and critical illnesses in individuals. An opportunity to refine differential diagnosis and management of challenging health concerns in diverse populations is provided by the use of case studies. Topics include trauma, shock, endocrine, GI, Infectious disease, and musculoskeletal issues. The course is grounded by a holistic approach to care.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 664
Offered: Every year, Spring Online

NUR 667. Acute Care Practicum & Seminar III.3 Credits.

The final of three clinical courses requires students to use all of the foundational skills learned in previous courses to provide evidence-based care to promote healing in an increasing and varied case load of acute or critically ill patients. Students will build complete plans of care using the theoretical and clinical knowledge from other courses. Weekly clinical conferences serve to provide students opportunities to discuss challenging acute and critical care issues as well as provide opportunities to present data in a team like setting. 150 hours of clinical practice are required.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 665 and NUR 668
Corequisites: Take NUR 668
Offered: Every year, Summer

NUR 668. Common Problems in Acute Care III.3 Credits.

The third and final of three courses regarding common problems in acute care will focus on more complex illnesses, their pathophysiology and management. Topics include neurology, oncology, integumentary, hepatic, hematology, psychological and cognitive health disorders, and multi-system disorders. Learning is enhanced using case studies. The course is grounded by a holistic approach to care.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 666
Offered: Every year, Summer Online

NUR 669. Advanced Specialty Diagnostics & Assessment II.2 Credits.

This course provides an overview of advanced diagnostic tools, procedures, and exams in the assessment, diagnosing, and treating of individuals with illness. This course will be delivered in a hybrid format, with students completing online content as well as an on-ground clinical residency where the emphasis will be on competence in more advanced procedures and techniques specific to the acute care nurse practitioner role. The emphasis is not only on learning skills and techniques, but also on the appropriate use of these skills in a healing context.

Prerequisites: Take NUR 660.
Offered: Every year, Spring