Master's Programs
Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner

Graduates of the Adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner are eligible to apply for American Nurses Credentialing Center/American Association of Critical Care Nurses (ANCC/AACN) certification as an adult Acute/Critical Care Nurse Practitioner.

This option prepares experienced nurses for service in acute and complex care practices such as critical care units, hospitals or specialty services, and in other settings where patients are physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, and highly vulnerable for complications. Clinical experiences in a variety of settings allow students to acquire experience providing adult patient care management across the continuum of acute, chronic and critical care. This option also includes study of nursing theory, research, nursing informatics, statistics and ethics. Full-time and part-time study is available. One year of full time experience as an RN in an acute care setting required prior to clinical sequence.

Application Deadlines
August - for fall entry
December 1 - for spring entry
May 1 - for summer entry

The curriculum for this track is guided by the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (2002), from the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education and the Core Competencies of Nurse Practitioner Practice (2006), from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and other national advance practice, specialty focused standards and guidelines [Scope and Standards of Practice for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (2006) American Association of Critical Care Nurses; and the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (2004) NONPF]. More than 500 clinical hours enable graduates to sit for available national certification exams.

The University of necessity reserves the freedom to change without notice any programs, policies, requirements or regulations published herein. This is not to be regarded as a contract.