Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Program Description

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program of study enables you to assume primary responsibility for the direct care of patients with acute and chronic conditions in a variety of care settings. These settings may include emergency departments, intensive care units, acute care units, specialty labs, clinics, or physician practices. Students can select an area of emphasis such as critical care, cardiology, pulmonary, neurology, oncology, trauma, as well as additional specialty areas. The concentration consists of core nursing courses along with concentration coursework. Students interested in cardiology can complete an optional elective cardiac course which is an additional 3 credit-hour course. 

The concentration consists of advanced clinical practice and nursing science, built on a core of physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Clinical preceptors in various clinical settings will help prepare you to: 

• Conduct comprehensive health assessments 
• Appraise health risks and behaviors 
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests 
• Diagnose and manage commonly occurring health problems and disease-related symptoms 
• Prescribe and evaluate drugs and other treatments 
• Coordinate care during transitions in settings 
• Provide guidance and counseling to restore, promote, and maintain health and quality of life 
• Work independently and collaboratively to enhance access to quality care for patients and families 
• Achieve a cost-effective, outcome-oriented practice 

Second Masters Option 

For those with a master’s degree in nursing, a second-master option is available. The university requires 22 semester hours. A gap analysis will be done to determine the number of clinical hours and didactic courses that need to be taken. Depending on this analysis, students can complete the program in one to two years. 

Graduates are eligible for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Association (ANCC) or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) as an Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Requirements are based on previous course work and experience. 

For further program information and admission requirements, refer to the School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences, and click on the Graduate tab.

Admission

Due Date:  This program admits students on a rolling basis. There is no application deadline.

Program Start:  Varied

Application to Wright State University’s School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences is a two-step process.

1. Apply to the Wright State University Graduate School

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The documents listed below should be uploaded directly to your Graduate School online application. Please do not send these materials to the School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences.

• Graduate School application (online)
• Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Resume/curriculum vitae
• Meaningful clinical experience essay (2 pages maximum)
• Statement of professional goals (250 words maximum)
• Provide name and email address of two references for letters of recommendation
  • Current or most recent supervisor
  • Faculty member from your nursing program, or previous employer

When the Graduate School application is complete, notification will automatically be sent to the College of Nursing and Health, and we will communicate our application requirements.

2. Apply to the School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences application
• BCI and FBI background check results

The College of Nursing and Health will provide instructions on how to complete the above steps once we receive notification of the completed Graduate School application. All School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences required documents should be sent directly to the School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Be a bachelor’s prepared nurse, having earned a BSN in nursing from an accredited institution.
2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale from your baccalaureate degree and any subsequent graduate work.
3. Hold an unencumbered nursing license.
4. Have a minimum of two years recent critical care nursing experience.
5. Provide evidence of no criminal record on file through a clear BCI/FBI background screen.
6. International students
   • Must provide proof of English proficiency by achieving at least the minimum score in one of the following:
     • TOEFL IBT: 79
     • IELTS:  6.0
     • Pearson PTE: 57
     • LEAP:  4
   • Must have an unencumbered United States nursing license.
   • Must have two years of United States recent critical care nursing experience.

Program Outcomes

THE MS GRADUATE WILL:

1. Examine scientific findings from nursing, biopsychosocial fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences for the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings 
2. Demonstrate leadership skills necessary for ethical and critical decision making, effective working relationships, and a systems-perspective to promote high quality and safe patient care
3. Apply quality principles within an organization and articulate the methods, tools, performance measures, and standards related to quality
4. Apply evidence-based outcomes 
within the practice setting, resolving practice problems, working as a change 
agent, and disseminating results  
5. Use communication strategies and patient-care technologies to integrate, coordinate, deliver, and enhance care
6. Examine the policy development process and advocacy strategies necessary to intervene at the 
system level to influence health and health care
7. Use communication strategies necessary for interprofessional collaboration and consultation to manage and coordinate care
8. Integrate broad, organizational, client-centered, and culturally appropriate concepts in the planning, delivery, management, and evaluation of evidence-based clinical prevention and population care and services to individuals, families, and aggregates/identified populations
9. Demonstrate advanced level of understanding of nursing and relevant sciences as well as the ability to integrate this knowledge into practice including both direct and indirect care components that influence health care outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems.

For More Information 

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practioner Concentration
• School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences
• College of Health, Education, and Human Services

Graduates are eligible for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Association (ANCC) or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) as an Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.