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Nursing
The online B.S. to M.S. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at UNH offers advanced training in acute patient care and clinical management. Here you'll be able to develop expertise across multiple areas—from diagnostic reasoning to evidence-based treatment of acutely ill patients.
With a focus on online learning flexibility, practical skill development, and comprehensive clinical preparation, our program prepares you for AACN or ANCC certification, with no prior work experience required. Through intensive coursework and clinical training, you'll master the essential competencies needed to provide expert care for acute and complex patient needs.
UNH nursing licensure programs accept only students seeking licensure in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont.
*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.
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If you enjoy complex clinical patient management in a fast-paced environment, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role may be the right fit for you. Acute care nurse practitioners are respected members of the healthcare team and are recognized in the medical field for their contributions to improving patient care. The need for these providers continues to grow with changing national demographics and increasing acuity. Geared for the hospital and acute settings, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioners use skills in diagnostic reasoning and management of the acutely ill patient using evidence-based practice.
This master’s degree program prepares students to sit for certification as an Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with the AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses) or ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center). You will learn to stabilize acute and critically ill patients, formulate diagnoses and evidenced-based treatment plans, prescribe therapeutics, assess outcomes, prevent readmission and create safe discharge plans. At UNH you’ll be supported by a productive faculty and state-of-the-art facilities as you advance your nursing career. Our faculty has extensive experience in the field, and they coordinate with the student success coach team to support you from application through graduation.
The Master of Science Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MS-AGACNP) program will prepare the baccalaureate prepared nurse (BSN, RN) to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and increase access to acute care medical and surgical services. Building upon a background in nursing, graduates can apply newly learned knowledge and skills within the acute care setting, including and not limited to hospitals and ambulatory care centers. Successful completion of this program permits students to sit for national certification with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Admission Requirements
Clinical Hours: 750*
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| NURS 818 | Foundations of Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS 816 | Health Promotion Theory and Population Health | 3 |
| NURS 910 | Genomics & Ethics | 3 |
| NURS 820 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 812 | Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 3 |
| NURS 814 | Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 911 | Diagnosis & Management - Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 |
| NURS 850 | Foundations in Acute Care | 3 |
| NURS 851 | Foundations in Acute Care Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 852 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I | 3 |
| NURS 853 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 854 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II | 3 |
| NURS 855 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 856 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III | 3 |
| NURS 857 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 858 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner IV | 3 |
| NURS 859 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner IV Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| NURS 815 | Leadership, Role, and Collaboration | 3 |
| NURS 917 | Biostats and Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 969 | Health Systems Policy, Economics & Financial Planning | 3 |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 851, NURS 853, NURS 855, NURS 857, NURS 859.
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the Master's nursing program, the graduate student is prepared to:Location/Delivery: School of Nursing [Online Program]
This program is designed to prepare graduates for professional licensure/certification as follows:
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification
The University of New Hampshire has determined this program meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in:1
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Additional information and related resources are available on the Office of the Registrar's website.
State specific post-education requirements are subject to change. Students are responsible for confirming these requirements in their state of residence and intended practice.
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
Application fee: $65
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
This program requires an enrollment deposit of $200. If admitted the deposit will be due by the deadline specified in your admit letter. For more information please see our enrollment deposits help page.
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
"By completing an M.S. when I first began nursing, I developed early in my career the tools to become an excellent nurse. The dual investment of hard work and education delivers top-notch skills and advanced career options."
Brittany Biega, RN, NP demonstrates the success of an accelerated nursing path. Within three months of earning a B.S. from the University of South Florida, she enrolled in their AGACNP program to complete an M.S. while simultaneously working as a clinical nurse at Tampa General Hospital. An adjunct teacher for our AGACNP program, Biega served as an Acute Care Practitioner with NYU Langone Health for four years. She graduated from the online DNP program in 2024.
Advance your nursing career with a top-ranked nursing degree from the University of New Hampshire.
UNH's Nursing Department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The University of New Hampshire’s online graduate tuition and fees information is available on the UNH Business Services Website. Program costs and technology fees are subject to change.
Course Fees: Specific courses may have additional course fees. Visit the course schedule for more information.
TUITION & AND FEES INFORMATION
Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans are a form of federal financial aid available to Graduate Students. To apply, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN courses are taught by faculty with excellent practical and pedagogical experience.
We recommend the Nursing Major BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
With your credentials, we recommend the Master of Science in Nursing (Direct Entry MSN)
Two academic tracks are available to you:
*Students are eligible for CNL certification exam
These graduate certificates are available to you:
Two academic tracks are available to you: