Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Masters
Master of Science (M.S.)
Prepare to lead in high-acuity patient care.
The online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner master's program prepares
registered nurses to provide advanced care for adult patients with complex, acute
and life-threatening conditions. Through specialized coursework, 600 clinical hours
and an on-campus intensive experience, you'll graduate ready for national certification
and a high-demand career.
Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
7 semesters
Credit hours:
47
Why earn your adult-gerontology acute care master's at UND?
Application Deadlines
Fall:
July 1
Spring:
Dec 1
In this program, you'll develop advanced clinical expertise focused on caring for
adult and older adult patients experiencing complex, acute and life-threatening conditions.
Designed for working nurses, this flexible, primarily online program combines rigorous
coursework with hands-on clinical experiences, allowing you to build the skills needed
to thrive in fast-paced healthcare environments. With an emphasis on serving rural
and underserved populations, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence to make a meaningful
impact where it's needed most.
Through completion of this program, you'll:
Build advanced skills in diagnostics, therapeutics and patient management, preparing
you to deliver high-level care in acute and hospital-based settings.
Gain real-world experience through 600 clinical practicum hours and an on-campus intensive
focused on complex procedures.
Align your training with career goals centered on leadership, advanced practice nursing
and improving outcomes for critically ill patients.
Develop the ability to collaborate across healthcare teams, advocate for patients
and contribute to high-quality, evidence-based care.
Position yourself for in-demand, well-compensated roles such as Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
or advanced practice provider, supporting long-term career growth and stability.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner M.S. at UND
Stand out by earning a specialized degree that's not widely available in the region,
positioning you as a highly competitive candidate in local and rural healthcare settings.
Benefit from a clinical placement team that helps secure sites, reducing a common
barrier faced by students at other institutions.
Gain 600 clinical practicum hours plus an on-campus intensive to build confidence
in complex, high-acuity procedures before entering the workforce.
Complete your degree part-time with primarily online asynchronous courses, allowing
you to continue working while advancing your education.
Graduate with the skills to make a meaningful impact in high-need communities, a growing
priority in today's healthcare landscape.
Learn from a program backed by over a century of nursing education excellence, accredited
by CCNE and approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing, ensuring a respected and
trusted degree.
Careers as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
A master's degree in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner (AGACNP) prepares you
for a range of advanced, high-impact careers in hospital and acute care settings.
As healthcare systems face increasing demand for providers skilled in managing complex,
critical conditions—especially in rural and underserved areas—the need for highly
trained acute care nurse practitioners continues to grow. With specialized graduate-level
training in diagnostics, therapeutics and patient management, graduates are equipped
to deliver expert, life-saving care and take on leadership roles within interdisciplinary
healthcare teams. Potential career paths include:
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Provide advanced care for adult and older adult patients with complex, critical
and life-threatening conditions. Perform assessments, order and interpret diagnostic
tests, develop treatment plans and deliver interventions in high-acuity settings such
as ICUs, emergency departments and specialty units.
Hospitalist - Manage the care of hospitalized patients throughout their stay, from admission
through discharge. Coordinate treatment plans, monitor patient progress, collaborate
with multidisciplinary teams and ensure continuity and quality of care in fast-paced
hospital environments.
Advanced Practice Provider (APP) - Deliver comprehensive, advanced medical care as a nurse practitioner working independently
or collaboratively with physicians. Diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, manage
patient care plans and support improved access, efficiency and outcomes across acute
care settings.
Career Settings and Functions:
Acute Care Settings - Work in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency departments and specialty units
providing high-level care to patients with complex critical conditions.
Collaborative Care - Partner with physicians, nurses and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care,
improve efficiency and ensure high-quality, patient-centered outcomes.
Patient Education and Advocacy - Educate patients and families on conditions and treatments while advocating for
their needs across the healthcare continuum.
Broader Career Trajectory:
Advanced Practice Nursing Leadership - Move into leadership roles that influence care delivery, clinical standards and
patient outcomes across healthcare systems.
Professional Advancement - Expand career opportunities, increase earning potential and gain credentials that
support long-term stability and growth.
Specialized Clinical Expertise - Develop deep expertise in acute and critical care, positioning yourself as a highly
skilled provider in a high-demand field.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Masters Courses
NURS 618. Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to the diagnostic and therapeutic processes used in the acute and critical care settings for acutely ill adult-gerontology patients. Prerequisite: Admission to the AGACNP Track. F,SS.
NURS 522. Advanced Pathophysiology. 3 Credits.
This course presents a system-focused approach to alterations in normal physiological mechanisms that result in pathologic disease processes. Physiological changes are compared and contrasted over the lifespan and developmental cellular physiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations commonly observed in altered health states are reviewed. This knowledge serves as the foundation for advanced clinical assessment, decision making and management for the advanced practice nurse. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate study. F,S,SS.
NURS 585. Advanced Health Assessment. 3 Credits.
This course will build upon health assessment skills developed in the professional nurses' basic educational program. An evidenced-based approach will be used to present methodologies for performance on health histories, developmental assessments, and physical/psychosocial assessments of individuals across the lifespan in the context of an advanced nursing role. Emphasis is on acquisition and analysis of relevant data for the development of a comprehensive health assessment. Prerequisite: Admission to grad stud; completion of undergrad course in health assessment techniques or consent of instructor. Prerequisite or Corequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in Pathophysiology or equivalent or consent of instructor. F,S,SS.
NURS 553. Role Development of the Nurse Practitioner. 2 Credits.
This course emphasizes professional role development of the nurse practitioner. Students will compare and contrast the various roles of the nurse practitioner and evaluate those roles as they relate to the student's individual planned area of practice. The multi-dimensional role of the nurse practitioner as a clinician, advocate, educator and member of the health care team is explored from a historical and current perspective. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate study. F,S,SS.
NURS 620. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Practicum I. 1-5 Credits.
This repeating clinical practicum course provides the APRN student with the opportunity to obtain advanced practice clinical experience in their area of specialization. The course focuses on the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice and gaining increasing competency in the skills integral to the nurse practitioner role. Prerequisite: Admission to the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track. F,S,SS.
NURS 619. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I. 3 Credits.
This is the first of a three course sequence and is the foundation of didactic learning for care of adult-gerontology patients in acute and critical care settings. Prerequisite: NURS 618. F.
Online Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Masters
While most Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner courses are delivered asynchronously
online, clinical courses will require a two-hour synchronous session each week. You
will also attend one on-campus intensive session during your program.
With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance
work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere
at any time.
Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:
Lesson modules
Streaming video content
Virtual libraries
Posted lectures
Online simulations
There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through
online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.
Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within
a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure
and deadlines.
Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes
active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this
online course format.
Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled
times to:
Listen to a lecture
Ask questions
Participate in class discussions
Conduct group activities
Participate in video-sharing
Have chat conversations
Use interactive whiteboards
Take live polls
You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling
questions for your instructor and thinking about how to contribute to the next live
class.
Leaders in Online Education
Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a
combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't
be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored
to your needs.
No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality
education as any other on campus student.
Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time
and take the same classes as a student on campus.
Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers
and professionals in the field.
Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future
career.
Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help
online study resources.
Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course?
We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory
to achieve higher test scores.
Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online
help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and
military services, financial services and more.
24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers
to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.
Best Online College
Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates
make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs
rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the
best online schools in the region.
UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:
Affordability
Student satisfaction (retention rate)
Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
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