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Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Quick Facts
Total Credit Hours: 48
Total Clinical Hours: 540
Time to Completion: 30 months*
Tuition: $732 per credit hour**

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program

The demand for nurses to deliver comprehensive advanced acute nursing care to the adult population is growing rapidly. As an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), you will use advanced nursing skills to diagnose and create comprehensive holistic treatment plans. Within the advanced practice role of the master of science in nursing (MSN) program, you will further develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide advanced nursing care across acute care settings, making a positive impact on the health of your patients and communities. Learn more about Âé¶¹Ö±²¥’s online AGACNP program below or request more info! 

prepare for a career as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care np (AGACNP) 


  • 95% passage rate for all nursing programs on national certification exams
  • Become eligible to sit for the ANCC certification exam as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or the AACN certification exam as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Adult-Gerontology.

Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected growth rate for nurse practitioners in , much faster than average for all occupations.

Median Salary

The national median salary for an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) salary is $117,670, per the .

Faculty Spotlight


Jill Vaughn, PhD(c), ACNP-BC

Image of Jill Vaughn, a faculty member at Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University.

Jill Vaughn, PhD(c), ACNP-BC, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University and a doctoral candidate in Population Health and Health Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Rhode Island.

Vaughn brings more than fifteen years of advanced clinical practice across medicine, surgery, and critical care. She is board certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ANCC) and holds active licensure as both a nurse practitioner and registered nurse in the State of Maine. Her clinical background spans coronary and intensive care at Brown University Health, plastic and craniofacial surgery at Brown University, college health, urgent care, and medical-surgical nursing at the Veterans Affairs Hospital.

At Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University, Professor Vaughn developed and leads the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGAC-NP) graduate program, a collaboration with Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center to address the shortage of acute care providers in rural and underserved areas in Maine and nationally.

Professor Vaughn currently serves as President of the American Nurses Association–Maine (ANA-Maine), representing more than 27,000 nurses at the state and national levels. In this capacity, she leads initiatives on healthcare policy, professional advocacy, and education. In 2026, she served as Healthcare Provider of the Day for the Maine State Legislature. 


 

What You Will Learn

healthcare-program-agacnp.jpegÂé¶¹Ö±²¥ University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate online will prepare you to become a leader in healthcare. You’ll study subjects such as advanced health assessment, physiology and pharmacology. You’ll learn from experienced, practicing faculty – healthcare practitioners who share their expertise with you. Our graduate nursing students have achieved a 95% passage rate on national certification exams, demonstrating the delivery of exceptional education in our online AGACNP programs.

Please visit our state authorizations page to see whether this program is available in your area.

*Potential for 24-month accelerated track. **All rates subject to change. Please see Cost and Aid for more information.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ().

AGACNP Courses

Why Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Online

Start When You're Ready

 

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Multiple start dates and no set class times or locations.

View Flexible Start Dates

Experiential Learning

 

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Gain even more real-world experience.

 

Read about internship benefits

Academic Support

 

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Reach your goals with our personalized online support services.

Explore Student Support Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Adult Gerontology acute care nurse practitioner?

An acute care nurse practitioner cares for patients by providing immediate and significant treatment due to sickness, recovery from surgery, injury, and the management of complicated medical disorders. They have the training to deal with difficult patient situations, assess a patient's urgent health state, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and establish a treatment plan to stabilize a patient.

An acute care nurse practitioner can specialize, too. At one time, an acute care nurse practitioner could get certification in acute care, pediatrics or adult-gerontology acute care. Since 2014, the certification exams have only been available for pediatric or adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners.

Whatever specialty you choose, the primary goal is to provide a broad spectrum of care for patients with acute and complex issues. Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of settings, including emergency rooms, acute care units and trauma settings. They may also find roles in long-term care facilities and urgent care clinics.

What are some of the responsibilities of an AGACNP?

An adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) works with older adults. Their role is to assess the patient’s general health and provide intervention where needed. As these patients are typically older, often the focus is on acute pain management and preventative care.

Where can acute care nurse practitioners work?

Today’s acute care nurse practitioner has a variety of work environments available, including home care, ambulatory care, urgent care, long-term rehab facilities, hospice, emergency room and hospitals. They can be part of a community public health service, as well.

How to become an acute care nurse practitioner

Once you earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you can enter a graduate nursing program to earn a master’s or doctorate. The minimum requirement is a master’s degree. You can earn your advanced nursing degree via in-person classes or online. You will then need to obtain your AGACNP certification.

Post-Masters APRN Certificate  

Our Post-Masters APRN certificate programs are designed for registered nurses with MSN degrees seeking to develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to practice in another area of advanced practice nursing. Choose from three track options (Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) and engage in clinical experiences that match your specialty area.

Your Career Begins Here


How to Apply

The admissions process breakdown

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Tuition

An affordable education to help you increase your earnings potential

 

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Financial Aid

Explore ways to help cover costs of your degree

 

Learn How to Reduce Your Costs

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Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ().

For more information

Name
Phone and Email Address
Graduate Admissions Graduate Admissions

207.404.5661
graduateschool@husson.edu
130 Peabody Hall
1 College Circle
Bangor, Maine 04401