Nursing: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (M.S.)

The Master Entry Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program (MS-AGACNP) will prepare the baccalaureate prepared nurse (BSN, RN) to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and increase access to acute care medical and surgical services. Building upon a background in nursing, graduates can apply newly learned knowledge and skills within the acute care setting, including and not limited to hospitals and ambulatory care centers.

Successful completion of this program permits students to sit for national certification with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  

Degree Requirements

Clinical Hours: 500*

*

Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 851, NURS 853, NURS 855, NURS 857, NURS 859.

Students entering the Masters of Science in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program are expected to:

• Continue to acquire and adapt foundational knowledge in nursing, the sciences, and humanities in professional practice 
• Effectively communicate in written, verbal, and nonverbal communication strategies 
• Abide by the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics. 

At the completion of the Master of Science in Nursing, the graduate student is prepared to:

• Assume clinical and ethical leadership of patients with acute, critical, and chronic illness. 
• Implement their full scope of practice ranging from disease prevention to the diagnosis and treatment of complex medical and mental health diagnoses, to the provision of palliative care.  
• Promote health and clinical prevention strategies across the health/illness continuum to optimize health and disease management. 
• Provide respectful care with regard to the needs, values, and preferences of patients and families 
• Design, direct and evaluate system changes to promote safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care. 
• Analyze data, information systems, and technology to evaluate, integrate, and apply knowledge and evidence that will support best practice and improve programs of care, outcomes of care and care systems. 
• Advocate for social justice through policy, professional, and political engagement. 
• Apply leadership principles that support inter-professional practice. 

Additionally, MS-AGACNP graduate will:

• Meet eligibility requirements for certification as an AGACNP with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or as an ACNPC-AG with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) 
• Meet state requirements for certification, licensure, and prescriptive authority 
• Obtain federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) authorization to prescribe controlled substances (Schedules II through IV) for patients within the AGACNP’s practice area 
• Participate in the education of future AGACNPs through preceptorship 
• Be lifelong learners 

Apply now

Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: July 15
• Spring: December 1
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Online

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1. Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
2. Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.