MSN: Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Online)

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Why Earn an MSN Nurse Practitioner Degree at Rivier?

Rivier University is ranked as the #1 nursing school in New Hampshire and a top 50 private nursing school nationally by Nursing Schools Almanac. Our online nurse practitioner programs rank #6 in the nation by Nurse Practitioner Online.

There is a great need for Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AG-ACNPs). Rapid expansion of the over-65 population has increased the need for AG-ACNPs significantly, yet only 7% of all nurse practitioners in the U.S. carry this certification. Rivier’s AG-ACNP degree prepares you to assess patients’ health conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and develop and oversee treatment plans.

Multiple Entry Paths

The MSN: Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree is a 46- to 52-credit program of study depending upon entry path:

• MSN—for nursing baccalaureate-prepared RNs
• MSN Bridge Option—for non-nursing, baccalaureate-prepared RNs
• RN-to-MS Option—for experienced associate degree RNs
• Post-Master’s Certificate—for RNs with an MSN degree who are seeking AGACNP certification

Rivier offers multiple term starts throughout the year in September, January, and May.

State-of-the-art Equipment

Students train with an extensive suite of advanced clinical equipment designed to mirror contemporary acute care environments. Hands-on experience with mechanical ventilators, high-fidelity patient simulators, cardiac pacing and defibrillation systems, invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring, and pulmonary artery catheters strengthens clinical judgment and physiologic assessment skills.

Procedural task trainers. including lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion, tracheostomy, airway management, rapid sequence intubation, video laryngoscopy, and point-of-care ultrasound, support the development of advanced technical proficiency.

Licensure

Registered nurses who complete this advanced degree coursework and clinical education are qualified to sit for the national exam to become certified as an Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC).

Rivier University is unable to accept students from some states due to the post-secondary higher-education requirements. There are also some restrictions for programs that lead to professional licensure due to the various requirements of individual state boards of nursing. For more information, visit our Licensing information page.

A Commitment to Quality

Rivier University’s ASN, BSN, MSN, Post Master’s Certificates, and DNP programs located in Nashua, NH are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program.

Track-Specific Outcomes

Students will develop advanced skills in:

• Patient-Centered Care: Provide patient-centered care recognizing cultural diversity, patient values, beliefs, and the patient or designee as a full partner in all decision-making.
• Safety: Analyze factors (human, environmental, systems) that pose risk to patients, providers, and healthcare systems, and consider plans to mitigate this risk.
• Evidence-Based Practice (EBP): Evaluate available evidence utilizing knowledge of research design to develop plans of care and evaluate patient outcomes. Utilize EB guidelines and adapt in accordance with patient preferences, as appropriate, to develop plans of care.
• Informatics: Utilize appropriate technologies (e.g., EMR, electronic databases) to access, document, and disseminate knowledge and data to promote optimal patient outcomes.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Integrate intra- and inter-professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enhance patient-centered care and optimize healthcare outcomes.
• Quality Improvement: Utilize leadership skills, knowledge of healthcare delivery systems, behavior, and quality improvement measures to advocate for improved access to care, optimum healthcare delivery, and improved patient outcomes.

Program Overview

You will explore advanced theory and clinical nursing topics such as pathophysiology, health assessment, acute care theory, pharmacology, health policy, and more. Coursework includes, but is not limited to:

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Acute Care Theory and Seminars
• Acute Care Skills Labs and Practicums
• Advanced Role of the Nurse
• Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
• Leadership and Management
• Quality Healthcare Improvement
• Healthcare Finance
• Biostatistics for Health Sciences
• Healthcare Information Systems

Where Will Your Online AG-ACNP Degree Take You?

Rivier’s online AG-ACNP degree prepares you with the skills needed to succeed in advanced clinical practice and leadership roles in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.

You’ll enjoy a rewarding career in this in-demand profession. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics,

• The median salary for all nurse practitioners is $132,050 per year; nurses that work in hospitals and outpatient care centers, which most AG-ACNPs do, earn over $137,000 annually.
• The need for advanced practice nurses/nurse practitioners will grow 35% between 2024 and 2034.

Explore Other Tracks

There are four other tracks offered in the online Master of Science in Nursing program.

• MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner (Online)
• MSN: Nursing Education (Online)
• MSN: Leadership in Health Systems Management (Online)
• MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Online)