St. John Fisher University offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGACNP
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post-Baccalaureate – AGACNP
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post-Master’s – AGACNP
The Wegmans School of Nursing AGACNP programs prepare nurses to provide advanced care to adult and elderly patients experiencing acute and chronic conditions in fast-paced settings including hospitals, emergency departments, ICUs, and specialty clinics.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – AGACNP | $54,878 | ≈2.3 years (part-time) |
| DNP Post-Baccalaureate – AGACNP | $103,660–$113,560 | ≈3–4 years (part-time) |
| DNP Post-Master’s – AGACNP | $55,110 | ≈2–3 years (part-time) |
Programs feature precepted clinical experiences totaling 600 hours for MSN/certificate tracks and 1,000 hours for DNP tracks, with campus immersions in Rochester, New York for hands-on skills practice in state-of-the-art nursing facilities.
DNP Post-Baccalaureate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the DNP Post-Baccalaureate AGACNP program is approximately $103,660-$113,560 and would take 3-4 years to complete on a part-time basis.
DNP Post-Baccalaureate AGACNP Curriculum
The 62-68 credit DNP Post-Baccalaureate curriculum includes 30-31 scholarship core credits, 9 DNP clinical core credits, 9 direct care core credits, and 13-23 functional role credits for AGACNP specialization.
Scholarship Core (21 credits)
GNUR-503 – Foundations of Nursing Research (3 credits)
Introduces how philosophy and theory shape nursing science and practice. Reviews quantitative and qualitative research methods, basic statistics, and database use as the groundwork for evidence-based nursing.
GNUR-558 – Capstone Development (2 credits)
Guides students in selecting a clinical question and designing a capstone project. Covers problem identification, literature review, IRB planning, and proposal development with support from faculty-led seminars.
GNUR-695 – NP Comprehensive Exam (1 credit)
Seminar that prepares NP students for national certification and transition into practice. Focuses on exam strategies, licensure steps, and early career planning.
GNUR-702 – Evidence-Based Research for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 credits)
Prepares advanced practice nurses to appraise, synthesize, and apply research in clinical settings. Emphasizes critical appraisal, statistical interpretation, and leading evidence-based change projects.
GNUR-704 – Advanced Technology in Clinical Management (3 credits)
Examines how advanced practice nurses use informatics and health technology to improve quality and safety. Reviews electronic health records, decision-support tools, and ethical and legal issues in health information use.
GNUR-706 – Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy, and Law (3 credits)
Analyzes U.S. health care organization, legal frameworks, and policy processes. Highlights APRN scope, liability, and advocacy roles in shaping health policy at local, state, and national levels.
GNUR-707 – Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
Introduces epidemiologic and biostatistical methods for clinical and population health questions. Students use statistical software to analyze data and apply findings to disease patterns and public health threats.
GNUR-708 – Complex Systems and Leadership (3 credits)
Applies organizational and systems theories to health care environments. Focuses on change management, finance, team dynamics, and ethical leadership to improve care delivery and outcomes.
Direct Core (9 credits)
GNUR-543 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Examines cellular and system-level disruptions underlying acute and chronic illness across major body systems. Emphasizes risk factors, disease mechanisms, and physiologic transitions to support advanced diagnostic reasoning.
GNUR-570 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Expands core pharmacology for advanced practice roles, including drug actions, kinetics, interactions, and prescribing implications. Addresses legal, ethical, and financial aspects of pharmacotherapy across the lifespan.
GNUR-571 – Diagnostic Reasoning and Assessment (3 credits)
Develops advanced diagnostic reasoning using health assessment data across the lifespan. Integrates health promotion, screening, and prevention with lab-based practice to strengthen physical exam and clinical decision skills.
Specialty Clinical Core (16 credits)
GNUR-566 – Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3 credits)
Covers comprehensive, evidence-based care of older adults within normal aging and chronic illness. Focuses on health promotion, functional status, interprofessional collaboration, caregiver roles, and use of community resources.
GNUR-567 – Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3 credits)
Addresses common adult health problems through advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and management. Uses current evidence to guide treatment planning and evaluation for frequently encountered adult conditions.
GNUR-641 – AGNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management of Adults (Seminar I) (1 credit, 150 hours)
Provides 150 hours of clinical experience managing acute and chronic conditions in adult patients. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning, treatment planning, and holistic patient education in acute or outpatient settings.
GNUR-643 – AGNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management of Older Adults (Seminar II) (1 credit, 150 hours)
Offers 150 hours of acute care experience with older adults and their families. Focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and episodic issues using advocacy and evidence-based practice.
GNUR-645 – AGNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Acute Care (Seminar III) (1 credit, 150 hours)
Delivers 150 hours of acute care practice managing adults with acute illnesses and exacerbations of chronic disease. Stresses rapid assessment, urgent treatment decisions, and clear patient teaching in high-acuity settings.
GNUR-647 – AGNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management: Complex Care (Seminar IV) (1 credit, 150 hours)
Provides 150 hours of acute care experience focused on complex and chronic illness. Students manage multisystem problems and apply evidence-based strategies for highly complex patients.
GNUR-669 – Complex Chronically Ill (3 credits)
Prepares students to manage adults with complex, chronic, and multisystem conditions. Emphasizes guideline-based care, impact on family and community, and outcome improvement in acute and outpatient settings.
GNUR-699 – Issues in Acute Care (3 credits)
Explores the unique needs of adults and older adults in acute care environments. Focuses on disease and complication prevention, health restoration, and integration of advanced practice competencies such as consultation, leadership, and ethical decision making.
DNP Post-Baccalaureate AGACNP Clinicals
The DNP Post-Baccalaureate AGACNP program requires:
- 1,000 total advanced practice clinical hours, and
- Completion of a DNP scholarly project.
Within that total, the AGACNP role includes:
- 600 clinical hours tied to four diagnosis and management seminars.
- Each seminar carries 150 hours in acute care settings.
All clinical hours are:
- Precepted, with students working under the supervision of a clinical preceptor.
- Separate from your regular job (you cannot count employment hours as clinical hours).
Scheduling limits:
- You may not take more than one clinical course per semester because of preceptor availability and workload.
Grading:
An “S” (Satisfactory) means you have met the required APRN competencies and can move forward in the program.
Clinical seminars use Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading.
DNP Post-Baccalaureate AGACNP Admissions
- BSN from regionally accredited institution
- Current unencumbered RN license
- 3.0 GPA minimum overall
- Grade B or higher required in all GNUR coursework
- 3.0 overall GPA maintained for progression
- Failing two GNUR courses or one GNUR course twice results in dismissal
- Students meet with academic faculty advisor to discuss specific degree requirements
- Formal attestation form signature required communicating understanding of clinical placement process
DNP Post-Master’s – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the DNP Post-Master’s AGACNP program is approximately $55,110 and would take 2-3 years to complete on a part-time basis.
DNP Post-Master’s AGACNP Curriculum
The 33-credit DNP Post-Master’s curriculum consists of 24 scholarship core credits and 9 DNP clinical core credits building upon existing master’s degree foundation.
Scholarship Core (24 credits):
- GNUR 701: Foundations of Nursing Science (3 credits)
- GNUR 702: Evidence-Based Practice & Research for Advanced Practicing Nurses (3 credits)
- GNUR 704: Advanced Technology in Support of Clinical Management (3 credits)
- GNUR 706: Healthcare Systems, Policy & Law (3 credits)
- GNUR 707: Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
- GNUR 708: Complex Systems & Leadership (3 credits)
- GNUR 710: Complex Population Health (3 credits)
- GNUR 712: Advanced Research Methods for Outcomes Evaluation & Policy Development (3 credits)
DNP Clinical Core (9 credits):
- GNUR 709: Nursing Practice Role Development (3 credits)
- GNUR 713: Clinical Program Development (3 credits)
- GNUR 714: Clinical Scholarship/Residency/Professional Seminar (3 credits)
DNP Post-Master’s AGACNP Clinicals
The DNP Post-Master’s program requires 1,000 hours of advanced practice clinical hours plus successful completion of DNP scholarly project.
Students entering post-master’s admission must have advanced practice specialization as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse midwife.
Clinical experiences are precepted practicum experiences with students required to sign formal attestation form.
Gap analysis completed for all students entering post-master’s APRN advanced certificate program to determine individual plan of study.
DNP Post-Master’s AGACNP Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from regionally accredited institution
- Advanced practice specialization as NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM
- Current unencumbered RN license
- 3.0 GPA minimum overall
- Grade B or higher required in all GNUR coursework
- 3.0 overall GPA maintained for progression
- Students meet with academic faculty advisor to discuss specific degree requirements
Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is approximately $54,878 and would take 2.3 years to complete on a part-time basis.
MSN-AGACNP Curriculum
The 46-credit MSN-AGACNP curriculum consists of 21 scholarship core credits, 9 direct core credits, and 16 specialty clinical core credits delivered over seven terms.
Scholarship Core (21 credits):
- GNUR 503: Foundations in Nursing Research (3 credits)
- GNUR 558: Capstone Development (2 credits)
- GNUR 695: NP Comprehensive Exam (1 credit)
- GNUR 702: Evidence-Based Practice & Research for Advanced Practicing Nurses (3 credits)
- GNUR 704: Advanced Technology in Support of Clinical Management (3 credits)
- GNUR 706: Healthcare Delivery Systems, Policy & Law (3 credits)
- GNUR 707: Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
- GNUR 708: Complex Systems & Leadership (3 credits)
Direct Core (9 credits):
- GNUR 543: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- GNUR 570: Pharmacology (3 credits)
- GNUR 571: Diagnostic Reasoning/Assessment (3 credits)
Specialty Clinical Core (16 credits):
- GNUR 566: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Older Adults (3 credits)
- GNUR 567: Advanced Concepts in the Care of Adults (3 credits)
- GNUR 641: AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar I (1 credit, 150 hours)
- GNUR 643: AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar II (1 credit, 150 hours)
- GNUR 645: AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar III (1 credit, 150 hours)
- GNUR 647: AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis & Management Seminar IV (1 credit, 150 hours)
- GNUR 669: Complex Care of Chronically Ill Adult (3 credits)
- GNUR 699: Issues in Acute Care (3 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN-AGACNP Clinicals
The MSN-AGACNP program requires 600 precepted clinical hours across four clinical seminar courses (150 hours each).
Students complete rotations in acute care settings including urgent care centers, emergency rooms, ambulatory care facilities under supervision of advanced practitioners.
Clinical experiences occur outside current place of employment with students gaining hands-on experience assessing immediate health situations, providing medical interventions, and managing critically ill or injured adults.
Students must be rated “competent” by clinical preceptor and faculty site visitor at final evaluation to successfully complete courses.
Program includes one pre-clinical immersion and one acute care immersion on Fisher’s Rochester campus.
MSN-AGACNP Admissions
- BSN from regionally accredited institution
- Current unencumbered RN license
- 3.0 GPA minimum overall
- Grade B or higher in undergraduate nursing research course
- Minimum 50% of clinical hours in primary care settings for primary care program students
- No clinical hours permitted in acute hospital settings for primary care programs
- Students maintain 3.0 GPA for progression
- Grade B or higher required in all GNUR coursework
Tuition
Graduate MSN tuition is $1,193 per credit with $20 comprehensive fee and $116 per semester nursing online fee for AGACNP (online) or $80 per semester nursing on-campus fee for AGACNP (on-campus).
DNP tuition is $1,670 per credit with $20 comprehensive fee and $80 per semester DNP-AGACNP fee.
Fisher alumni eligible for one-time $1,000 alumni tuition discount. Accelerated BS to MS and RN to BS to MS options available for current Fisher students allowing graduate courses during undergraduate study with no additional charge.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Wegmans School of Nursing DNP and MSN programs are registered by New York State Education Department and accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates eligible for state certification as adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and national professional certification through American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).