Madonna University ACNP Programs (Acute Care) Online

Madonna University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

MSN – AGACNP
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

The programs prepare students to comprehensively assess, diagnose, and treat complex acute, critical, and chronic health conditions in young adults, adults, and older adult populations in acute care inpatient settings.

Program Tracks Overview

Program Name	Est. Tuition	Est. Duration
MSN AGACNP	$51,700	2-2.5 years full-time
Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP	$13,200-$16,500	1-1.5 years

Key features include:

Rolling admissions for Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters with interview required
100% first-time certification exam pass rate in 2020
University holds contracts with all major healthcare systems in tri-county area and beyond for clinical placements

Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is approximately $51,700 (based on 47 credits at $1,100 per credit), and the program takes approximately 2-2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.

MSN Curriculum

The 47-credit curriculum includes nursing core courses, advanced practice core courses, and the AGACNP specialty track preparing graduates to manage critically ill patients:

Nursing Core (12 credits):

NUR 6120 – Scientific Foundations Informing the Advanced Practice Role (3 credits)
NUR 6150 – Translating and Integrating Scholarship for the Advanced Practice Role (3 credits)
NUR 7010 – Health Policy Analysis and Advocacy (3 credits)
NUR 7020 – Organizational and System Leadership (3 credits)

Advanced Practice Core (18 credits):

NUR 5070 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology I (2 credits)
NUR 5080 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology II (2 credits)
NUR 5240 – Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
NUR 5270 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
NUR 5280 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
NUR 5290 – Clinical Readiness and Skill Building (2 credits)
NUR 7030 – Advanced Practice Role Development and Integration (3 credits)

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Track (17 credits):

NUR 5330 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (4–5 s.h.)
This course introduces the AGACNP role in caring for adult and older adult patients with acute and chronic conditions. Students build assessment skills, establish therapeutic relationships, and apply evidence-based strategies in acute care settings. The course includes didactic instruction and supervised clinical practicum hours.

NUR 6540 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (4–5 s.h.)
This course expands management of complex acute and chronic conditions across the adult lifespan. Students focus on disease progression, complications, mental health impact, and stabilization of high-risk patients. Learning combines classroom content with acute care clinical practicum experiences. Prerequisite: NUR 5330.

NUR 6751 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III (4–5 s.h.)
This advanced course emphasizes clinical judgment, systems thinking, and ethical accountability in acute care practice. Students manage specialized populations, including hospitalized older adults and trauma patients. Didactic content and clinical practicum hours prepare students for high-acuity decision making. Prerequisite: NUR 6540.

NUR 6810 – Nurse Practitioner Immersion (3–4 s.h.)
This immersion experience supports transition into independent advanced practice. Students manage complex adult-gerontology cases using advanced assessment, intervention, and team-based collaboration skills. The course blends focused didactic content with intensive clinical practicum hours to prepare graduates for autonomous practice.

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

The program provides a minimum of 849 clock hours of supervised practicum experience with a minimum of 600 clock hours in direct patient care:

600 minimum direct patient care hours required
849 total supervised practicum hours
Clinical experiences in variety of acute care inpatient settings and specialties
Clinical hours integrated throughout AGACNP specialty courses
University contracts with major healthcare systems in tri-county area provide placement opportunities

MSN Prerequisites & Admissions

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from accredited college or university
Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on 4.0 scale
Current unencumbered RN license in State of Michigan
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Curriculum vitae or resume highlighting work experience as Registered Nurse
Admission essay addressing short- and long-term professional goals including population focus of interest
Two recommendations: one from current nursing leader or undergraduate clinical faculty, one from advanced practice professional
Interview with program director or designee
Criminal background clearance
Application submitted to Graduate Admissions (not through centralized system)

Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate is approximately $13,200-$16,500 (based on 12-15 credits at $1,100 per credit), and the program takes approximately 1-1.5 years to complete.

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum

The certificate requires 12-15 semester hours of graduate-level coursework beyond prerequisite sequence, with gap analysis determining individualized requirements:

Prerequisite Sequence (16 credits – usually met by current APN certification):

NUR 5070 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology I (2 credits)
NUR 5080 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology II (2 credits)
NUR 5240 – Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
NUR 5270 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
NUR 5280 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
NUR 6120 – Scientific Foundations Informing Advanced Practice Role Development and Integration (3 credits) OR NUR 7030 – Advanced Practice Role Development and Integration (3 credits)

Certificate Requirements (12-15 credits):

NUR 5330 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (4-6 credits)
NUR 6540 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (4-5 credits)
NUR 6751 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III (4 credits)

More curriculum details are available here.

Post-Master’s Certificate Clinicals

The certificate provides 600 clock hours of supervised direct patient care with waivers available for currently certified NPs expanding practice:

600 direct patient care hours required
Currently certified NPs may request waiver of selected courses and clinical experiences
Gap analysis determines individualized clinical requirements
Maximum 240 hours (4 credits clinical) of prior acute care advanced practice experience can be applied to certificate requirements with supervisor validation
Clinical experiences in acute and critical care environments across continuum of health care services

Post-Master’s Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions

Master of Science in Nursing degree (must be completed prior to certificate award)
Current national certification as Advanced Practice Nurse (NP or CNS)
Current unencumbered RN license in State of Michigan
Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
Curriculum vitae or resume
Admission essay addressing professional goals and population focus
Two recommendations from healthcare professionals
Interview with program director or designee
Criminal background clearance
Gap analysis completed at admission to determine course waivers and requirements

Tuition

Graduate nursing students pay $1,100 per credit hour for MSN programs and post-master’s certificates.

Madonna University does not charge additional program-specific fees beyond standard graduate fees. Students may incur optional costs including copyright fee ($45), liability insurance ($21), and parking fees.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Application Deadlines

Madonna University accepts admissions applications on a rolling basis for Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters. Once a completed application file is received by the Nursing Department, applicants are notified to schedule an admission interview. Admission decisions are sent within one month following the interview.

Accreditation

Madonna University’s master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Upon graduation, students are prepared to become certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and to obtain Nurse Practitioner specialty certification by the State of Michigan. The program’s 2020 first-time certification pass rate was 100%, well above the national average.