Elms College offers 2 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP (BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP pathways)
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
Both programs provide clinical placement support with course and clinical faculty who are committed educators and practicing nurse practitioners.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP AGACNP | $72,800–$83,200 | 3–4 years (full-time) |
| Certificate AGACNP | $12,480–$38,480 | 1–2 years |
The DNP program culminates in a practice-focused scholarly quality improvement project in a faculty-mentored environment, preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to pass the ANCC or AACN board certification exams.
Both programs provide clinical placement support with course and clinical faculty who are committed educators and practicing nurse practitioners. The DNP program culminates in a practice-focused scholarly quality improvement project in a faculty-mentored environment, preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to pass the ANCC or AACN board certification exams.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the DNP-AGACNP program is approximately $72,800-$83,200 and would take 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on BSN to DNP: 80 credits; MSN to DNP: 70 credits at $966-$1,040 per credit based on course type.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP-AGACNP curriculum prepares registered nurses to specialize in the care of patients in acute settings such as medical/surgical units, emergency departments, intensive care units, skilled nursing facilities, and ambulatory specialty clinics managing diverse patients with complex acute and chronic health conditions across the entire adult age spectrum.
The program follows the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice and NONPF Core Competencies, with four distinct curriculum components: Foundational Core, Clinical Core, APRN Specialty Core, and DNP Theory Core.
Foundational Core – 10 Credits (BS-DNP Only)
Innovating in Practice (1 credit)
This course introduces innovation concepts that support practice improvement and change in healthcare settings. Students explore creative problem solving and early planning for practice-focused initiatives.
Translating and Integrating Evidence into Practice (3 credits)
This course focuses on evaluating research and applying evidence to improve clinical practice. Students learn how to plan, implement, and manage evidence-based change in healthcare environments.
Nursing Knowledge and Practice (3 credits)
This course builds the foundation for advanced nursing roles by linking theory, research, and practice. Students develop skills in ethical judgment, planning, and outcome evaluation.
Health Care Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)
This course examines how healthcare policy affects practice, access, and financing. Students learn advocacy strategies and develop skills to influence policy at organizational and public levels.
Clinical Core: Advanced Practice – 15 Credits
Advanced Diagnostic Analysis, Health and Physical Assessment with Lab Practicum (4 credits)
This course develops advanced assessment and diagnostic skills across the lifespan. Supervised lab practice strengthens physical exam techniques and differential diagnosis development.
Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
This course examines disease mechanisms and system-based alterations in health. Students apply pathophysiologic concepts to clinical reasoning and advanced practice decision making.
Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4 credits)
This course covers medication therapy for acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students focus on drug selection, dosing, interactions, and patient safety.
Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
This course strengthens clinical reasoning by integrating assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Students learn to select and interpret diagnostic tests to guide care planning.
DNP Theory Core – 30 Credits
Organizational Systems and Quality Improvement (3 credits)
This course introduces systems thinking and quality improvement methods. Students apply evidence to improve care processes and patient outcomes.
Biostatistics (3 credits)
This course teaches statistical concepts needed to evaluate healthcare research. Students learn to interpret data, confidence intervals, and study results.
Research Methods and Translation for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
This course covers research design and evidence translation into practice. Students analyze practice problems and propose evidence-based solutions.
Financial Management in Health Care Delivery (3 credits)
This course examines healthcare finance, reimbursement, and budgeting. Students learn how financial systems affect clinical and organizational decisions.
Population Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)
This course explores disease patterns and health risks in populations. Students apply epidemiologic data to prevention and population-based care planning.
Leadership and Collaboration in Health Care Organizations (3 credits)
This course develops leadership skills for managing teams and leading change. Students focus on communication, ethics, and interprofessional collaboration.
DNP Immersion I: Role Development of the APRN Nurse Practitioner (3 credits)
This course introduces the APRN role and expectations for doctoral-level practice. Students explore scope of practice and professional role transition.
DNP Immersion II: Scholarly Project – Project Idea (2 credits)
This course guides students in identifying a practice problem and forming a project focus. Students begin reviewing evidence and defining project goals.
DNP Immersion III: Scholarly Project – Project Development (2 credits)
This course supports development of the scholarly project plan. Students refine methods, outcomes, and implementation strategies.
DNP Immersion IV: Scholarly Project – Project Implementation (2 credits)
This course focuses on implementing the scholarly project in a practice setting. Students apply change strategies and monitor progress.
DNP Capstone: Scholarly Project – Project Evaluation (3 credits)
This course completes the DNP project through evaluation and dissemination. Students present findings and demonstrate program outcomes.
Advanced Practice Specialty: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) – 25 Credits
Adult-Gerontology Health Care I and Practicum (5 credits)
This course prepares students to assess and manage common adult and older-adult conditions. The practicum emphasizes evidence-based assessment and treatment planning.
Adult-Gerontology Health Care II and Practicum (5 credits)
This course expands care management for complex and chronic adult conditions. Students apply advanced clinical reasoning in acute care settings.
Adult-Gerontology Health Care III and Practicum (4 credits)
This course advances acute and critical care competencies. Students gain experience with monitoring, diagnostics, and higher-acuity patient care.
Adult-Gerontology Health Care IV and NP Practicum (4 credits)
This culminating clinical course integrates all prior learning in critical care settings. Students demonstrate readiness for independent AGACNP practice.
Clinical Procedures in Critical Emergency Care (2 credits)
This course teaches advanced procedures used in emergency and critical care environments. Students focus on safe and effective procedural skills.
Ethics for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
This course examines ethical issues faced by advanced practice nurses. Students apply ethical frameworks to clinical and system-level decisions.
Transition into Practice and Certification Seminar (2 credits)
This seminar prepares students for workforce entry and certification. Students develop a transition plan and review professional role expectations.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,000 required clinical practicum and immersion experience hours distributed throughout the program. Clinical experiences focus on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of acute, chronic, and critical medical conditions in adult-gerontology patients. Students are educated through practice experiences, skill labs, and advanced nurse competency skills in trauma, emergency care, critical care, surgical services, rehabilitation units, and specialty settings.
Clinical Distribution:
- Clinical hours integrated throughout Advanced Practice Specialty courses
- 30 hours supervised lab practicum in Advanced Diagnostic Analysis course
- Additional immersion hours embedded in DNP Immersion courses
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
BSN to DNP Pathway:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from nationally accredited school of nursing
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 4.0 scale
- Current Registered Nurse licensure (MA, CT, RI, or NY)
- One year full-time work experience as registered nurse
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Two letters of reference (one academic, one professional)
- 1-2 page goal statement
- Telephone or in-person interview
MSN to DNP Pathway:
- Master of Science in Nursing from nationally accredited school of nursing
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 4.0 scale
- Current Registered Nurse licensure (MA, CT, RI, or NY)
- One year full-time work experience as registered nurse
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Two letters of reference (one academic, one professional)
- 1-2 page goal statement
- Telephone or in-person interview
Additional Notes:
- Applications reviewed based on date of submission
- Early decision deadline: January 21 annually for fall enrollment
- Maximum 12 graduate credits may transfer with minimum B grade
- Program must be completed within seven-year time frame
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate AGACNP program is $12,480-$38,480 (12-37 credits at $1,040 per credit based on gap analysis) and would take 1-2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate is designed for current certified advanced practice nurse practitioners seeking an additional population focus. The program bridges the gap between current certification and required coursework through an individualized plan of study based on gap analysis of prior academic coursework, clinical practicum hours, and work experiences. The program ranges from 12 to 37 credit hours based on evaluation of student’s previous coursework.
Clinical Core Courses (15 credits – may be waived with gap analysis):
- NUR 6006 Advanced Health and Physical Assessment (4 credits)
- NUR 6004A Advanced Pathophysiology – Course A (2 credits)
- NUR 6004B Advanced Pathophysiology – Course B (2 credits)
- NUR 6007A Advanced Pharmacology – Course A (2 credits)
- NUR 6007B Advanced Pharmacology – Course B (2 credits)
- NUR 7600 Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
AGACNP Post-Graduate Certificate Core Courses (22 credits):
- NUR 7216 Adult Gerontology Health Care I and Practicum (5 credits)
- NUR 7217 Adult Gerontology Health Care II and Practicum (5 credits)
- NUR 7218 Adult Gerontology Health Care III and Practicum (4 credits)
- NUR 7219 Adult Gerontology Health Care IV and Practicum (4 credits)
- NUR 7404A Transitions into Practice and Certification Seminar for the PGC Student (2 credits)
- NUR 7601 Clinical Procedures for Critical and Emergency Care (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete clinical practicum hours associated with population-specific didactic courses. Students should expect to spend 15-20 hours weekly in coursework and/or clinical practicum. Clinical experiences focus on acute care settings including medical/surgical units, emergency departments, intensive care units, and specialty clinics.
Clinical Requirements:
- Clinical hours embedded in four Adult Gerontology Health Care practicum courses
- Additional clinical procedures training in critical and emergency care
- Total hours determined by gap analysis and prior clinical experience
- Previous clinical practicum hours reviewed as part of application process
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
Entry Requirements:
- Master of Science in Nursing or doctoral degree from nationally accredited school of nursing
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 4.0 scale
- Current unencumbered United States Advanced Practice License
- National nurse practitioner board certification in current specialty
- APRN licensure and active clinical practice
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Two letters of recommendation (one academic, one professional practice)
- Personal statement describing reason for pursuing additional certification, professional goals, and current practice area
- Verification of preceptor-approved clinical hours from prior MSN or post-master’s program
Gap Analysis Requirements:
- Applicants must document successful completion of graduate-level Pharmacology (3-credit equivalent) and Pathophysiology (3-credit equivalent)
- Advanced Health and Physical Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health Assessment must be completed within last seven years with B or above
- Gap analysis conducted according to 2016 Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Individualized course of study determined by Track Coordinator based on prior education and clinical experience
Additional Notes:
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificate must be completed within two years
- Rolling admissions based on gap analysis
- No application fee
- Option to apply to DNP HSIL track after certificate completion
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition varies by curriculum component:
- Foundational Core courses cost $966 per credit (10 credits)
- Clinical Core Advanced Practice courses cost $1,040 per credit (15 credits)
- Advanced Practice Specialty Core courses cost $1,040 per credit (25 credits)
- DNP Theory Core courses cost $1,040 per credit (30 credits for NP tracks, 33 credits for HSIL track)
Additional fees include $200 one-time deposit (applied to tuition), $110 technology fee per semester, and estimated degree fees ranging from $1,656 for AGACNP and FNP tracks. Post-Graduate APRN Certificate fees determined by individual gap analysis.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Elms College Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The DNP program and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate meet professional standards set forth by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Upon program completion, graduates are prepared to take the ANCC or AACN certification examination as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Other ACNP Programs for Massachusetts Nurses
- Northeastern University - Boston
- Regis College - Weston
- UMass Chan Medical School - Worcester