Deciding on the right path for your advanced nursing career is a significant step. If you’re a registered nurse (RN) passionate about providing critical care to adult and older patients, an acute care nurse practitioner program could be the ideal choice. This guide explores the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Nursing, helping you determine if this program aligns with your professional aspirations.
What are the prerequisites for applying to this program?
To be eligible for this rigorous and rewarding acute care nurse practitioner program, you’ll need to meet specific academic and professional criteria. These requirements ensure that admitted students have a strong foundation for the advanced coursework and clinical practice that the program entails. The application prerequisites include:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree: You must hold a BSN from a regionally accredited institution. Furthermore, the nursing program from which you graduated must be accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). For RNs holding a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, UCF offers pathways to address prerequisite coursework before applying to the AGACNP program.
- Undergraduate Statistics Course: Successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course is mandatory. This requirement highlights the program’s emphasis on evidence-based practice and data-driven decision-making in acute care settings.
- Registered Nurse (RN) License in Florida: Applicants must possess a current and unencumbered RN license in the State of Florida. For out-of-state applicants, eligibility for Florida RN licensure is required at the time of application, and the Florida RN license must be obtained prior to commencing clinical courses within the program.
What kind of curriculum can I anticipate in this acute care NP program?
The curriculum of this acute care nurse practitioner program is meticulously designed to equip graduates with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the demanding field of acute and critical care nursing. You can expect a comprehensive and challenging academic experience that focuses on several key areas:
- Advanced Practice in Acute and Critical Care: The core curriculum is specifically tailored to prepare nurses for advanced practice roles focusing on patients experiencing acute and critical illnesses. This specialization ensures graduates are well-versed in the complexities of managing acutely ill patient populations.
- Collaborative and Interprofessional Learning: The program fosters a collaborative learning environment through both online and classroom courses. This approach emphasizes interprofessional education, mirroring the team-based nature of modern healthcare and preparing graduates to effectively collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
- Evidence-Based Practice and Leadership: A significant emphasis is placed on evidence-based practice, leadership development, and organizational analysis. Students are trained to critically evaluate research, implement best practices, and assume leadership roles within healthcare organizations, contributing to improved patient outcomes and system-level improvements.
- Analytic, Critical Thinking, and Diagnostic Reasoning Skills: The curriculum is structured to hone your analytic, critical thinking, and diagnostic reasoning skills. You will learn to thoroughly assess complex patient situations, analyze data, and apply diagnostic reasoning to develop effective and innovative practice strategies.
- Experiential Learning and Simulation: The program incorporates a blend of experiential learning, state-of-the-art laboratory simulations in a team-centered environment, and direct clinical practice education. This multifaceted approach ensures a well-rounded learning experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application in realistic and safe settings.
A hands-on learning experience in the simulation lab, a key component of the acute care nurse practitioner program at UCF, providing students with realistic clinical scenarios.
The coursework within this acute care nurse practitioner program is aligned with the eight DNP essential competencies defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This alignment ensures that the program meets national standards for doctoral nursing education and prepares graduates to lead and transform healthcare.
What is the learning format – online, in-person, or blended?
The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program at UCF College of Nursing utilizes a mixed-mode format, designed to offer flexibility while maintaining crucial in-person learning experiences. This blended approach caters to working professionals while ensuring robust clinical skill development. Here’s a breakdown of the format:
- Mixed-Mode Format with Reduced On-Campus Time: The program is primarily delivered online, reducing the need for frequent on-campus attendance, making it accessible for students across a wider geographical area.
- DNP Intensives: A key component of the program involves mandatory live intensives. These intensives are held on campus for two consecutive days, once each in the fall and spring semesters. These intensive sessions provide invaluable opportunities for face-to-face interaction, collaborative learning, and networking.
- Live Lab Courses: Certain lab courses (NGR 5003L, 6063L, 6230L) are offered in a live, on-campus format. These hands-on lab sessions are crucial for developing practical skills in a controlled environment.
- Clinical Simulation Workshops: AGACNP clinical courses (NGR 6211L, 6212L, 6215L) include a mandatory one-day per semester simulation workshop held on campus. These workshops allow students to apply their knowledge in simulated acute care scenarios, enhancing preparedness for real-world clinical settings.
- Board Certification Exam Reviews: Live, on-campus examination reviews are provided to assist students in preparing for board certification exams. While these reviews are optional, they are highly recommended to maximize the chances of successful board certification.
It’s important to note that all on-campus requirements are subject to change based on evolving circumstances. However, lab and intensive dates are communicated well in advance to enable students to effectively plan their work and personal schedules.
What is the purpose of the DNP Intensive?
The DNP Intensive is a required on-campus, two-day event held each fall and spring semester within the acute care nurse practitioner program. This intensive serves several critical purposes to enhance the learning experience and professional development of students:
- Enhanced Learning Opportunities: The intensive provides enhanced learning opportunities directly related to course content. Faculty utilize this time for in-depth sessions, workshops, and activities that complement the online coursework.
- Program-Specific Competency Education: A significant focus of the intensive is on program-specific competency education. This ensures that all students achieve a consistent level of proficiency in core acute care nursing competencies.
- Interaction with Faculty and Advisors: The intensive facilitates direct interaction with course faculty, program advisors, and university-related services. This face-to-face contact fosters stronger mentorship relationships and provides students with readily accessible support networks.
- Professional Networking and Continuing Education: Intensives offer valuable opportunities for professional networking with peers and experts. They also often feature continuing education credits associated with regional, national, and international experts, broadening students’ perspectives and knowledge base.
What distinguishes an acute care nurse practitioner from a primary care nurse practitioner?
Understanding the distinction between acute care and primary care nurse practitioners is crucial when considering an acute care nurse practitioner program. The primary difference lies in the patient population and practice settings:
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Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs): AGACNPs specialize in caring for patients with acute and/or critical conditions, often superimposed on chronic or episodic illnesses. Their patient focus is on individuals 18 years and older experiencing acute medical needs. AGACNPs typically practice in settings such as hospitals, intensive care units, emergency departments, specialty clinics, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and private practices. They are uniquely skilled to provide advanced healthcare functions to physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, and highly vulnerable hospitalized patients. A key differentiator is that AGACNPs complete clinical rotations in hospital or acute care settings, unlike primary care NPs.
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Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNPs & FNPs): Primary care nurse practitioners, including Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNPs) and Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), provide care to patients across the lifespan (AGPCNPs: 13 years and older; FNPs: all ages) with a focus on acute, chronic, and complex health conditions in a variety of settings, excluding hospital-based rotations. These settings include clinics, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and private practices, emphasizing longitudinal care and disease prevention.
Both AGPCNPs and AGACNPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), requiring graduate-level education, national certification, and state licensure. Graduates of UCF’s acute care nurse practitioner program are eligible for national certification, ensuring professional recognition and portability of their credentials.
Download the BSN to DNP Comparison Sheet
Am I responsible for finding my own clinical sites and preceptors?
A significant advantage of UCF’s acute care nurse practitioner program is the support provided in securing clinical placements. The program alleviates the burden of independent site and preceptor searching:
- Program-Directed Clinical Placements: The AGACNP Program Director currently assumes responsibility for assigning students to clinical sites and preceptors. This relieves students of the often-stressful task of самостоятельно arranging their clinical experiences, ensuring a more streamlined and supportive educational journey.
Can I maintain employment while enrolled in the program?
Balancing work and rigorous graduate studies is a common concern. The acute care nurse practitioner program at UCF is academically demanding and requires careful consideration of external commitments:
- Work Hour Reduction Recommended: Students in this nurse practitioner track are strongly advised to reduce their work hours to effectively manage program demands. Full-time students should seriously consider part-time employment only. Part-time students may also need to decrease their work hours, particularly as clinical coursework commences, which involves substantial time commitments in clinical settings. Prioritizing the balance between work and academic responsibilities is crucial for student success in this challenging program.
How many clinical hours per week will I be engaged in?
Clinical experience is integral to this acute care nurse practitioner program. The clinical hour commitment is directly tied to course credit hours:
- Clinical Hour Calculation: Each credit hour of clinical coursework corresponds to 60 patient-contact hours in a clinical setting. Therefore, a typical 3-credit hour clinical course translates to 180 patient-contact hours dedicated to direct patient care within a clinical environment.
Is it possible to complete the program outside of UCF’s service area?
Program delivery and clinical placements are geographically focused:
- Central Florida Service Area Restriction: The AGACNP program is designed to be completed within UCF’s service area in greater Central Florida. This service area encompasses Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Brevard, Osceola, Flagler, Northern Indian River, and Marion counties. Completing the program outside this designated region is not currently feasible due to clinical placement logistics and program structure.
Will I be eligible for AGACNP national certification upon graduation?
National certification is a critical step in becoming a licensed and practicing acute care nurse practitioner. UCF’s program is designed to ensure graduates’ eligibility:
- CCNE Accreditation and Certification Eligibility: The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) programs at UCF are nationally accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This accreditation signifies that the program meets rigorous national standards and fulfills the educational eligibility criteria for national certification. National certification is a prerequisite for obtaining licensure to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) in Florida.
- Eligible for National Certification Exams: Graduates of UCF’s AGACNP Post-Bachelor’s DNP or AGACNP Post-Master’s Certificate program are eligible to sit for either the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) National Board Certification Examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Adult Gerontology (ACNP-AG) National Board Certification Examination offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Successful passage of either of these exams meets the national nurse practitioner board certification requirements and the licensure requirements for the state of Florida.
UCF is a participating institution in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), committed to transparency regarding state licensing and certification requirements. However, UCF cannot confirm specific educational and licensure requirements for states outside of Florida. Applicants intending to pursue credentialing outside of Florida are advised to contact the relevant credentialing authority in their intended state of practice to ascertain specific requirements and program eligibility. For further questions regarding certification and licensure, prospective students can contact the College of Nursing’s Assistant Dean of Students for guidance.
How many students are admitted to the AGACNP DNP program annually?
Program admission is competitive and occurs once per year:
- Fall Semester Admission: The AGACNP DNP program admits students once annually, in the fall semester. Class sizes are subject to variation each year, contingent upon faculty availability and college resources.
I am ready to apply. What are the next steps?
If you are ready to take the next step towards becoming an acute care nurse practitioner through UCF’s esteemed program, further information on the application process and specific requirements is readily available.
- Doctoral Admissions Page: Visit the Doctoral Admissions page on the UCF College of Nursing website for comprehensive details regarding the application process, deadlines, required documentation, and further instructions on how to apply to the acute care nurse practitioner program.
