Program Overview
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Master Of Science Graduate Program is meticulously designed to cultivate expert nurse practitioners specializing in the acute care management of adult and older adult patient populations. This rigorous program, delivered through distance education with on-site requirements, prepares graduates to expertly address the complex health needs of young adults, older adults, and the frail elderly suffering from acute and chronic conditions. Students will gain comprehensive expertise in developing and implementing effective, patient-centered solutions that cater to individual, population, and systemic healthcare demands. The curriculum is structured to empower students with the advanced knowledge, refined skills, and professional attitudes necessary to confidently manage patient care across the entire spectrum of acuity and within diverse healthcare environments.
Image: Dr. Lenore Lamanna, a faculty member in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Master of Science Graduate Program, highlighting the program’s commitment to expert-led education and advanced nursing practice.
Graduate Program Outcomes
Graduates of this acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program will achieve the following key competencies:
- Advanced Clinical Judgment: Integrate nursing theory, research-based evidence, and a distinct nursing perspective to make informed clinical judgments, forming the bedrock of advanced nursing practice at its highest level.
- Holistic Person-Centered Care: Synthesize advanced scientific knowledge with essential collaborative skills, acknowledging the interconnectedness of social determinants of health, to design and deliver holistic, respectful, equitable, evidence-based, and person-centered care.
- Population Health Leadership: Collaborate effectively with diverse partners across various settings to identify population-focused health priorities. Assess healthcare systems’ capabilities to meet these needs and take a leadership role in shaping healthcare policies and practices aimed at improving equitable population health outcomes.
- Nursing Scholarship and Evidence Translation: Advance the field of nursing scholarship by applying nursing’s unique insights to lead the translation of research evidence into practical applications. This aims to optimize patient care and actively address health inequities, systemic racism, and system-wide disparities.
- Quality and Safety Improvement: Employ principles of improvement science to rigorously evaluate the quality and safety of care delivered. Utilize these evaluations to design system-level improvements and health policies that proactively minimize risks to both patients and healthcare providers, enhancing overall system effectiveness.
- Interprofessional Collaboration and Communication: Lead interprofessional communication and foster robust collaboration to seamlessly integrate evidence-based strategies. These strategies are designed to improve healthcare system processes and optimize health outcomes for diverse patient populations.
- System Effectiveness and Innovation: Optimize healthcare system effectiveness by expertly leveraging care coordination strategies, informatics processes, and cutting-edge technologies. This ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, equitable, and efficient healthcare services that consistently adhere to best practices, professional standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Professional Identity and Accountability: Embody a resilient professional identity characterized by accountability, a broad perspective, ethical conduct, and a collaborative approach. This reflects nursing’s core mission and dedication to the individual patient, society, and the nursing profession itself.
- Lifelong Learning and Professional Growth: Demonstrate robust self-reflection and cognitive flexibility to cultivate environments that actively promote lifelong learning, continuous professional growth, proactive self-care, overall well-being, and resilience. Support the ongoing acquisition of nursing expertise and the confident assertion of leadership within healthcare settings.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Completed Application: Submission of a fully completed application form.
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): A Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing from an accredited nursing program is required. Note: RN applicants holding a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field should refer to the Clinical Practice Portfolio requirement detailed below.
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Minimum GPA: Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
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Transcripts: Submission of unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. For international transcripts, a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES accredited service like World Education Services (WES) is necessary. Official transcripts will be required upon formal admission.
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Registered Nurse (RN) License: A current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license valid in the state where clinical practice will be undertaken.
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Curriculum Vitae/Resume: A current Curriculum Vitae or Resume detailing relevant professional experience.
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Relevant Experience: A minimum of one year of recent relevant experience is highly preferred.
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Letters of Recommendation: Submission of three online letters of recommendation from professional references.
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Prerequisite Coursework: Completion of a three-credit undergraduate course in Health Assessment and a three-credit undergraduate course in Statistics.
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Technical Standards: Must meet the Technical Standards for Admission and Retention as outlined by the program.
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Clinical Practice Portfolio: RN applicants with a bachelor’s degree outside of nursing must submit a clinical practice portfolio for evaluation post conditional admission. Successful portfolio completion is required for full program admission. Failure to meet portfolio standards will prevent program progression. This portfolio requirement is only for conditionally accepted RNs with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees.
Additional Requirements Upon Admission
Upon acceptance into the acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program, students must also fulfill these additional requirements:
- Official Transcripts: Submission of official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities. For international institutions, include an official transfer equivalency credit evaluation from a NACES accredited service such as WES.
- CastleBranch Documentation: All newly admitted students will receive detailed instructions via email from [email protected] regarding the use of CastleBranch, a web-based system for managing required health and professional documents. A one-time fee applies for using this system. NP Student Malpractice Insurance is mandatory from admission through graduation.
- New York State RN License: A current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license specifically from New York State.
- Certifications: Certification in Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider (BLS) w/AED and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
- Technology Requirements: Adherence to the program’s specified Technology Requirements.
Graduates of this acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program are eligible for certification and registration as Nurse Practitioners by the New York State Education Department. Furthermore, they are also prepared to pursue National Certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).
The Stony Brook University School of Nursing retains the right to modify admission and program criteria to align with evolving accreditation, regulatory, and registration mandates.
Clinical Experience Process
The Office of Clinical Placements facilitates all aspects of clinical placements for students within the baccalaureate, master’s, advanced certificate, and DNP programs. Working closely with faculty, the office identifies and secures appropriate clinical placement sites. Students initiate the process by submitting a clinical placement request form once a suitable site is identified. The office diligently maintains electronic records pertaining to students, clinical sites, affiliation agreements, contracts, and preceptors. A cornerstone of the clinical placement process is the establishment of a formal clinical affiliation agreement and contract between SUNY and the clinical site. Upon final agreement execution, SUNY provides the site with necessary insurance documentation. These agreements outline responsibilities and terms throughout the agreement’s duration. Please note: Stony Brook Medicine policy prohibits the School of Nursing from participating in or approving clinical placements that require payment from the School, student, or any third party.
Graduation Requirements and Curriculum
To successfully complete the acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program, students must fulfill the curriculum requirements outlined below:
| Graduation Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | |
| HNH 503 Organizational Leadership and Role Transformation | 3 |
| HNH 504 Quality Improvement, Safety, and Health Care Technologies | 3 |
| HNH 505 Health Care Policy and Advocacy | 2 |
| Research Courses | |
| HNG 541 Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice I | 3 |
| HNG 543 Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice II | 3 |
| Pharmacology Course | |
| HNG 540 Clinical Pharmacology | 3 |
| Health Assessment Course | |
| HNG 515 Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| Pathophysiology Course | |
| HNG 588 Clinical Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Clinical Courses | |
| HNG 519 Advanced Theory and Clinical Practice in Adult-Gerontology Nursing Across the Continuum I | 4 |
| HNG 529 Advanced Theory and Clinical Practice in Adult-Gerontology Nursing Across the Continuum II | 5 |
| HNG 509 Advanced Theory and Clinical Practice in Acute Care Adult/Gerontology Nursing I | 5 |
| HNG 559 Advanced Theory and Clinical Practice in Acute Care Adult/Gerontology Nursing I | 5 |
| HNG 580 Advanced Skills, Technologies & Clinical Decision-Making in Acute Care | 3 |
| Total Credits | 45 |
The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing/Master’s degree program in Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or advanced certificate program at Stony Brook School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) [https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE]. This accreditation signifies the high quality and rigorous standards of the acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program.
Graduates are well-prepared to sit for national certification exams, including the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) [https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/].
For further inquiries regarding the acute care nurse practitioner master of science graduate program, please contact:
Dr. Dolores Bilges
Email: [email protected]
