Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Specialization in Adult Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

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The AG-CNS (Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist) program is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses with specialized expertise in adult and geriatric patient care across various healthcare settings. This program integrates evidence-based practice, leadership, and systems thinking to improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare delivery, and influence policy. Students develop advanced clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic conditions while focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and transitional care. Graduates are equipped to serve as expert clinicians, educators, researchers, and consultants, driving innovation and quality improvement in healthcare systems.

Requirements for RN/BSN students

Advanced Practice Foundation Courses

19 credits, including:

NURS 6001 - Advanced Health Assessment: Lab 2 credit hours
NURS 6004 - Pharmacology for Registered Nurses 3 credit hours
NURS 6022 - Advanced Pharmacology 5 credit hours
NURS 6024 - Advanced Pathophysiology 4 credit hours
NURS 6075 - Clinical Reasoning 3 credit hours
NURS 6101 - Advanced Health Assessment: Theory 2 credit hours

Foundation Courses

45 credits, including:

NURS 6010 - Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World 3 credit hours
NURS 6014 - Theory Informed Critical Inquiry I 3 credit hours
NURS 6015 - Critical Inquiry II 3 credit hours
NURS 6017 - Health Care Economics and Finance 3 credit hours
NURS 6018 - Health Program Planning, Development and Evaluation 3 credit hours
NURS 6020 - Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk 4 credit hours
NURS 6110 - Ethical Care for Social Justice 4 credit hours
NURS 6111 - Health Informatics 3 credit hours
NURS 6120 - Population-Based Health Care 3 credit hours
NURS 6130 - Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice 3 credit hours
NURS 6160 - Leadership in Health Care Systems 3 credit hours
NURS 6190 - Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies 3 credit hours
NURS 6901 - DNP Internship I 3 credit hours
NURS 6903 - DNP Project Internship II 2 to 4 credit hours
NURS 6905 - DNP Project Internship III 2 to 4 credit hours

Adult Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialization Courses

61 credits, including:

NURS 6104 - Management of Gynecologic and Reproductive Health: Lab 2 credit hours
NURS 6204 - Management of Gynecologic and Reproductive Health: Theory 3 credit hours
NURS 6401 - Diagnostics and Procedures 1 credit hour
NURS 6411 - Diagnostics and Procedures Laboratory 2 credit hours
NURS 6402 - Acute Care I - Management of Chronic Conditions in the Acute Care Setting 3 credit hours
NURS 6403 - Acute Care Practicum I-Management of Chronic Conditions during Acute Alterations in Health 5 credit hours
NURS 6404 - Acute Care II- Management of Acute and Complex Conditions 3 credit hours
NURS 6406 - Advanced Inpatient and Critical-Care Pharmacology 3 credit hours
NURS 6407 - Acute Care III: Management of Critical and Unstable Conditions 3 credit hours
NURS 6412 - Acute Care I-Lab: Management of Chronic and Complex Conditions 2 credit hours
NURS 6414 - Acute Care II-Lab: Management of Acute and Complex Conditions 2 credit hours
NURS 6417 - Acute Care III-Lab: Management of Critical and Unstable Conditions 2 credit hours
NURS 6602 - CNS Practicum II-Fostering high-quality care for patients with acute and chronic health conditions 5 credit hours
NURS 6603 - CNS Practicum III-Leading System Change to enhance care of patients with acute and chronic conditions 5 credit hours
NURS 6604 - CNS Practicum IV-Synthesis of CNS role to enhance care of patients with acute and chronic conditions 5 credit hours

Minimum credits required for degree: (110)

NOTES:

All students completing the DNP must have completed the equivalent of 90 quarter credits beyond the bachelor’s degree.
B- is the minimum passing grade for all 6000-level courses.