University of Kentucky offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN-DNP AGACNP
- MSN-DNP AGACNP
- Postgraduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP.
All programs feature online DNP courses with mandatory on-campus immersions in Lexington, requiring attendance from 1-6 days per semester for specialty courses and 1 hour per semester for core courses.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $77,413–$80,082 | 3 years |
| MSN-DNP AGACNP | $53,371–$55,187 | 2–3 years |
| Postgraduate Certificate AGACNP | $17,080–$25,620 | Varies by GAP analysis |
Programs prepare graduates to care for acutely and critically ill adults in intensive care, progressive care, hospital units, specialty clinics, and specialty physicians’ offices as members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
BSN-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGACNP is $77,413-$80,082 and takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 74 credits at $1,046.50 per credit for online students.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP curriculum totals 74 credits distributed over 3 years, including core DNP courses, APRN specialty courses, clinical practicums, and DNP project hours.
Year 1 Courses:
- EPE 557: Gathering, Analyzing & Using Educational Data (3 credits)
- NUR 921: Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NUR 925: Research Methods in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
- NUR 905: Doctor of Nursing Practice Seminar (1 credit)
- NUR 923: Applications of Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits) – Prerequisite: NUR 921
- NUR 922: Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses: Family (4 credits) – Prerequisite: NUR 921
- NUR 915: Evaluating Evidence for Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits) – Prerequisites: statistics & NUR 925
- NUR 940: APRN Seminar I (3 credits) – Prerequisites: NUR 925; pre or co-requisites: NUR 921, 922, 923
- NUR 902: Nursing Leadership in Health Care (3 credits)
- NUR 919: Quality and Safety in Nursing & Health Care (3 credits)
Year 2 Courses:
- NUR 903: Applied Biostatistics for Outcome Evaluation (3 credits) – Prerequisite: approved graduate statistics
- NUR 909: Proposal Development (2 credits) – Prerequisites: MSN degree or NUR 915, grad statistics, approved DNP advisory committee formation
- NUR 941: APRN Seminar II (3 credits) – Prerequisites: NUR 940, 922, 923; Co-requisite: NUR 943
- NUR 943: Clinical (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 940; Co-requisite: NUR 941
- NUR 918: Protection of Human Subjects (1 credit) – Prerequisites: NUR 909 & approved DNP project proposal
- NUR 942: APRN Seminar III (3 credits) – Prerequisites: NUR 941, 922, 923; Co-requisite: NUR 944
- NUR 944: Clinical (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 941; Co-requisite: NUR 942
- NUR 906: Application of Biostatistics & Epidemiology for Strategic Decision Making (3 credits) – Prerequisites: grad statistics and NUR 903
- NUR 917: Informatics & HC Technologies for Advanced Nursing Practice (2 credits)
- NUR 912: Complex Systems Leadership and Innovation (2 credits)
- NUR 914: Economic & Financial Aspects of Clinical & Population-Based Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits)
Year 3 Courses:
- NUR 907: Population Health Assessment, Planning & Policy (3 credits)
- NUR 778: Pro Seminar in Contemporary Health & Nursing Policy Issues (3 credits)
- NUR 930: Problems in Advanced Practice Nursing (4 credits, 0 didactic/4 clinical)
- NUR 910: DNP Project (2 credits, 0 didactic/2 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 918
- NUR 930: Problems in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical)
- NUR 910: DNP Project (2 credits, 0 didactic/2 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 918
BSN-DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,020 total direct care clinical hours distributed across Years 2 and 3. Clinical hours include 180 hours with NUR 943, 180 hours with NUR 944, 360 hours in Year 3 Fall, and 300 hours in Year 3 Spring, totaling 780 direct care clinical hours plus additional project hours.
BSN-DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from accredited institution
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- Unencumbered RN licensure required in state where clinicals take place
- Goal statement required
- Scholarly writing sample required
- Three references required
- Resume/CV required
- Interview required
- Application opens September 15 and closes January 15 for Fall enrollment
- Final admission recommendations made on competitive basis
MSN-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-DNP AGACNP is $53,371-$55,187 and takes 3 years to complete on a part-time basis or 2 years full-time.
Estimate based on 51 credits at $1,046.50 per credit for online students.
MSN-DNP Curriculum
The MSN-DNP curriculum totals 51 credits over 3 years (part-time plan). A GAP analysis is performed upon admission to determine current competencies and required courses based on prior MSN coursework.
Required Prerequisite Courses (if not completed in MSN program):
- EPE 557: Gathering, Analyzing and Using Educational Data or comparable course
- NUR 902: Nursing Leadership in Health Care
- NUR 915: Evidence Based Practice
- Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits minimum)
- Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits minimum)
- Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits minimum)
Year 1 Courses:
- NUR 905: Doctor of Nursing Practice Seminar (1 credit)
- NUR 903: Applied Biostatistics for Outcomes Evaluation (3 credits) – Prerequisite: EPE 557 or equivalent
- NUR 778: Proseminar in Contemporary Health & Nursing Policy Issues (3 credits)
- NUR 940: APRN Specialty Seminar I (3 credits) – Prerequisite: NUR 921; pre or co-requisites: NUR 922 & 923
- NUR 927: Special Topics in Pharmacology: Adult Gero Acute Care (1 credit)
- NUR 906: Application of Biostatistics & Epidemiology for Strategic Decision Making (3 credits) – Prerequisites: grad statistics & NUR 903
- NUR 919: Quality & Safety in Nursing & Health Care (3 credits)
- NUR 907: Population Health Assessment, Planning & Policy (3 credits)
Year 2 Courses:
- NUR 909: Proposal Development (2 credits) – Prerequisites: statistics, approved DNP advisory committee formation
- NUR 941: APRN Specialty Seminar II (3 credits) – Prerequisite: Specialty Seminar I
- NUR 943: Specialty Clinical w Seminar II (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical) – Prerequisite: Specialty Seminar I; Co-requisite: Specialty Seminar II
- NUR 918: Protection of Human Subjects (1 credit) – Prerequisites: NUR 909 & approved DNP project proposal
- NUR 942: APRN Specialty Seminar III (3 credits) – Prerequisite: Specialty Seminar II
- NUR 944: Specialty Clinical w Seminar III (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical) – Prerequisite: Specialty Seminar I; Co-requisite: Specialty Seminar II
- NUR 914: Economic & Financial Aspects of Clinical & Population-Based Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits)
- NUR 912: Complex Systems Leadership & Innovation (2 credits)
Year 3 Courses:
- NUR 910: DNP Project (2 credits, 0 didactic/2 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 918
- NUR 930: Problems in Advanced Practice Nursing (4 credits, 0 didactic/4 clinical)
- NUR 910: DNP Project (2 credits, 0 didactic/2 clinical) – Prerequisite: NUR 918
- NUR 930: Problems in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits, 0 didactic/3 clinical)
MSN-DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,020 total clinical hours including 180 hours with NUR 943, 180 hours with NUR 944, 360 hours in Year 3 Fall, and 300 hours in Year 3 Spring, totaling 780 direct care clinical hours plus additional DNP project hours.
MSN-DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from accredited institution
- National certification in MSN specialty required
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- Unencumbered RN licensure required in state where clinicals take place
- GAP analysis performed upon admission to determine required courses
- Goal statement required
- Scholarly writing sample required
- Three references required
- Resume/CV required
- Interview required
- Application opens September 15 and closes January 15 for Fall enrollment
- Coursework may transfer from prior graduate nursing programs if deemed comparable
Postgraduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Postgraduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP is approximately $17,080-$25,620 based on GAP analysis results (20-30 estimated credits at $854.50 per credit for online health professional students).
Postgraduate Certificate Curriculum
The Postgraduate APRN Certificate curriculum varies based on individual GAP analysis of prior graduate coursework. Students complete didactic and clinical courses required for the AGACNP specialty.
Required Prerequisite Graduate Courses (if not completed previously):
- Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Physical Assessment
AGACNP Specialty Courses include:
- Differential diagnosis and management courses for acute disorders
- Advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning
- Pharmacology specific to acute care populations
- Clinical practicum courses with supervised clinical hours
- Population-specific content for adult-gerontology acute care
GAP analysis determines which courses transfer and which must be completed as part of the certificate program.
Postgraduate Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hours vary based on GAP analysis and prior clinical experience. Students complete supervised clinical practicums in acute care settings serving acutely and critically ill adult patients across intensive care, progressive care, hospital units, specialty clinics, and specialty physicians’ offices.
Postgraduate Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Advanced practice graduate degree in nursing (MSN, DNP, or PhD)
- Current graduate degree in nursing from different population focus
- GAP analysis completed to determine transfer credits and required courses
- Unencumbered RN licensure required in state where clinicals take place
- Application opens September 15 and closes January 15 for Fall/Spring enrollment
- APRN certificate courses offered in hybrid immersion format
- On-campus attendance required up to 6 days per semester (up to 3 days at start, up to 3 days at end)
Tuition
The BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP programs cost $1,046.50 per credit hour for online students (both resident and non-resident).
The Postgraduate APRN Certificate costs $854.50 per credit hour for online health professional students (both resident and non-resident).
On-campus tuition rates differ: resident graduate students pay $825.50 per credit, while non-resident graduate students pay $2,060.50 per credit.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
All AGACNP programs at University of Kentucky prepare graduates for national board certification.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner exam with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Other Nursing Programs
- BSN-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
- BSN-DNP Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- BSN-DNP Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- BSN-DNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- BSN-DNP Executive Leadership in Health Care
- MSN-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN-DNP Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN-DNP Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN-DNP Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- MSN-DNP Executive Leadership in Health Care
- MSN-DNP Clinical Leadership in Health Care
- MSN Healthcare Systems Leadership
- Postgraduate APRN Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Postgraduate APRN Certificate – Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Postgraduate APRN Certificate – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Postgraduate APRN Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Postgraduate Executive Leadership Certificate
- Postgraduate Teaching Nursing Certificate
- PhD in Nursing
Other ACNP Programs for Kentucky Nurses
- Bellarmine University - Louisville
- Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights
- University of Louisville - Louisville