Program Requirements

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track prepares nurses to manage individuals across the adult life span by providing care ranging from disease prevention to acute and critical care management, restoring health, and/or providing symptom management.

Full-time and part-time options are available.

Graduates of the MSN program will be able to:

  • Use best evidence to make patient-centered care decisions
  • Employ information technology to improve population health
  • Apply reflective practice to grow professionally
  • Promote quality and safety within a health system

Program Course Requirements

Full-Time Curriculum Plan

The AGACNP full-time curriculum plan consists of four consecutive semesters of study in which the student enters in the fall semester.

Semester One – Fall

  • NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
  • NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
  • NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
  • NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour
  • NUR 659 Management of Adult-Gerontology Health Problems in the Acute Care Setting I, 4 hours

Total semester credit hours: 14

Semester Two – Spring

  • NUR 617 Evidenced-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
  • NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 661 Management of Adult Gerontology Health Problems in the Acute Care Setting II, 5 hours
  • NUR 671 Acute Care Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours

Total semester credit hours: 14

Semester Three – Summer

  • NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
  • NUR 669 Management of Adult-Gerontology Health Problems in the Acute Care Setting III, 4 hours
  • NUR 672 Acute Care Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours
  • NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours

Total semester credit hours: 13

Semester Four – Fall

  • NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
  • NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 673 Acute Care Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours

Total semester credit hours: 8

Total course hours: 49
Total clinical practice hours: 780

This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice hours is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to take the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Part-Time Curriculum Plan

A part-time plan is illustrated with a fall semester start date and completed over seven semesters.

Year One
Semester One – Fall

  • NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment, 3 hours
  • NUR 603 Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, 3 hours
  • NUR 649 Role and Scope of the APRN, 1 hour

Total semester credit hours: 7

Semester Two – Spring

  • NUR 617 Evidence-based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice, 3 hours
  • NUR 639 Population Health & Policy for the APRN, 2 hours

Total semester credit hours: 5

Semester Three – Summer

  • NUR 635 Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety, 2 hours
  • NUR 675 Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours

Total semester credit hours: 5

Year Two
Semester Four – Fall

  • NUR 607 Advanced Pharmacology, 3 hours
  • NUR 659 Management of Adult-Gerontology Health Problems in the Acute Care Setting I, 4 hours

Total semester credit hours: 7

Semester Five – Spring

  • NUR 661 Management of Adult-Gerontology Health Problems in an Acute Care Setting II, 5 hours
  • NUR 671 Acute Care Practicum I, 4 hours/240 clinical hours

Total semester hours: 9

Semester Six – Summer

  • NUR 669 Management of Adult-Gerontology Health Problems in the Acute Care Setting III, 4 hours
  • NUR 672 Acute Care Practicum II, 4 hours/240 clinical hours

Total semester hours: 8

Year Three
Semester Seven – Fall

  • NUR 628 Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1 hour
  • NUR 650 Interprofessional Leadership & Practice Excellence for the APRN, 2 hours
  • NUR 673 Acute Care Practicum III, 5 hours/300 clinical hours

Total semester hours: 8

Total course hours: 49
Total clinical practice hours: 780

This program of study includes a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours; for practicum courses, the ratio of credit hours to clinical practice hours is 1:4. A student completing this track will be prepared to take the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Learn more about our AGACNP track

Ready to take the next step?
Apply to Mercer’s MSN program today, or contact the Office of Admissions at 678.547.6700 or nursingadmissions@mercer.edu for more information.