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Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) is educated to provide comprehensive, holistic care for patients with episodic, critical, and complex illness or injury, as well as chronic disease exacerbations. 

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Differentiated Student Expected Outcomes

The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) graduate is prepared to:

  • Promote health, prevent disease, and manage treatment through comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, care planning, and implementation within culturally competent, patient-centered care.
  • Foster strong nurse practitioner–patient relationships while applying teaching and coaching strategies to support health literacy and behavior change.
  • Demonstrate professional role development and leadership by managing health care delivery systems and advancing the nurse practitioner role in diverse care environments.

Emphasis Length

The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Emphasis is completed in 8 semesters

Mode

Hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous online learning with some on-campus activities required)

Clinical

Gain hands-on experience through 840 Direct Patient Care Hours

Pass Rates

Our combined national certification pass rate stands at 87%

Emphasis Information

    Revised Plan of Study (Starting Academic Year 25-26)

    Legacy Plans of Study (Prior to 25 Fall Semester)

    Fall 2025

    NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice and Research
    NURS 6671 – Applied Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
    NURS 6760 – Role of the Nurse Practitioner
    NURS 6780 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan

    Spring 2026

    NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
    NURS 6767 – Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning
    NURS 6782 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
    NURS 6781 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
    NURS 7180 – Diagnostic Health Assessment of the Adult

    Summer 2026

    NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance and Economics
    NURS 6676 – Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
    NURS 6677 – Systems‑Based Practice & Leadership

    Fall 2026

    NURS 7832 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Care I
    NURS 7375 – Adolescent Health Care
    NURS 7366 – Acute Care Pharmacology I
    NURS 7684 – Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care

    Spring 2027

    NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
    NURS 7367 – Acute Care Pharmacology II
    NURS 7833 – Diagnosis & Management: Acute Care II
    NURS 7904 – AG‑ACNP Practicum I

    Summer 2027

    NURS 7911 – Doctor of Nursing Project Planning
    NURS 7466 – Hospital Medicine
    NURS 7905 – AG‑ACNP Practicum II

    Fall 2027

    NURS 7482 – Professional Issues for the Nurse Practitioner
    NURS 7912 – Doctor of Nursing Project Implementation
    NURS 7906 – AG‑ACNP Practicum III

    Spring 2028

    NURS 7913 – Doctor of Nursing Project Evaluation & Dissemination
    NURS 7907 – AG‑ACNP Practicum Immersion
    NURS 6440 – Interdisciplinary End‑of‑Life / Palliative Care

     

    Program Total Credits: 74

    View the University of Utah Catalog.

    Graduates are prepared to sit 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.

    Application Deadlines

    Fall Semester

    Opens: September 1

    Closes: December 1, 11:59PM MT

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    Contact Us

    Heidi Favero, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN
    Specialty Track Director
    Heidi.Favero@hci.utah.edu

    Shelley Kern, MPC
    DNP Program Manager
    shelley.kern@nurs.utah.edu