Fall 2024 Graduate Open House
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Become an expert in managing care for acutely ill, traumatically injured, and chronically complex patients in both hospital and outpatient settings.
About the Program
Acute care is determined by patient needs, not the provider’s workplace.
Through this top ranked program, we prepare acute care nurse practitioners to manage the care of acutely ill, traumatically injured, and chronically complex patients. Graduates gain expertise across the continuum of acute care services, wherever acutely ill or medically complex patients are found, and are prepared for, among other things:
- Physical assessments
- Complex clinical decision-making
- Diagnostics and therapeutic interpretation
- Performing advanced procedures
A hands-on approach through clinical experience.
Penn Nursing does the legwork to match you with a preceptor within various acuity levels ranging from intensive care to ambulatory specialty care clinics. Our extensive network of preceptors, made up of acute care nurse practitioners, physicians, and collaborative teams, works closely with clinical faculty to provide hands-on experience and application of newly acquired skills. Clinical practice opportunities cover various specialties, including:
- General and specialty surgery (i.e. neurosurgery)
- Hospitalist medicine
- Specialty medicine (i.e. cardiology)
- Oncology
- Critical care
- Trauma care
- Palliative care
All of Penn Nursing’s programs are accredited. To learn more about the accreditation and pass rates, please visit our Accreditation page.
Program Information
Full-Time
Program Length
15 months
Financial aid available?
Yes
Start Semester
Summer
Learning Format
In-person *
Although this program is in-person, to accommodate the busy schedules of our students some courses will be offered in an online or hybrid format. Clinical placements are in person and arranged not only within the Penn network, but also within other leading local and mid-Atlantic health care systems.
Part-Time 2 years
Program Length
2 years
Financial aid available?
Yes
Start Semester
Year-round
Learning Format
In-person *
Although this program is in-person, to accommodate the busy schedules of our students some courses will be offered in an online or hybrid format. Clinical placements are in person and arranged not only within the Penn network, but also within other leading local and mid-Atlantic health care systems.
Part-Time 3 years
Program Length
3 years
Financial aid available?
Yes
Start Semester
Year-round
Learning Format
In-person *
Although this program is in-person, to accommodate the busy schedules of our students some courses will be offered in an online or hybrid format. Clinical placements are in person and arranged not only within the Penn network, but also within other leading local and mid-Atlantic health care systems.
Program Details
Curriculum
The program follows a curriculum that includes theoretical content and mentored clinical experience that emphasizes research and holistic patient care within a collaborative team approach. Our program’s plan of study consists of 12 courses including the 3 P’s (Pathophysiology, Physical Assessment, and Pharmacology), 3 acute care diagnosis and management courses, a technology course, an advanced research course, and a year long clinical sequence (3 courses). Students can explore an area of interest through an elective or a 3-4 course minors, such as oncology, palliative care, global health, and more.
Students can complete the program as a full-time student in 15 months or part-time over two to three years. We are committed to a individualized graduate program with personalized attention and accessible in-person faculty.
Click the link below to view the curriculum and plans of study for this program in the University catalog.
View curriculum and plans of study
Requirements
Minimum qualifications for the program
BSN degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Prerequisites
College level statistics course
Licensure
RN
Experience
Minimum of 1 year work experience, off probation, caring for acutely ill, critically ill, or medically complex patients
Application Deadlines
Full-time Enrollment
Priority Deadline: November 4, 2024 |
Final Deadline: February 3, 2025 |
Part-time Enrollment
Spring 2025 Enrollment | Summer 2025 Enrollment | Fall 2025 Enrollment |
Deadline: October 15, 2024 | Deadline: March 15, 2025 | Deadline: April 1, 2025 |
*Dates subject to change without notice.
Costs & Tuition
Discount available for employees of our Academic Practice Partners. Click here to learn more.
Total Estimated Cost (12 CUs starting in 2024)
| Full-time: $86,636 |
| Part-time, 2 years: $87,317 |
| Part-time, 3 years: $90,683 |
Your program costs will depend on your individual plan of study. Tuition is charged per CU based on your enrollment for the semester.
*Summer semesters are charged per CU regardless of enrollment status
**Registration for less than 4 CUs is charged per CU
***Registration for 4 CUs is charged the full-time rate
Tuition and fees do not represent the full cost of attendance for your program. Learn more about these expenses by visiting the University’s Student Registration & Financial Services website.
Program Outcomes
At the completion of this advanced level of nursing education, Penn Nursing MSN graduates will:
- Use scientific inquiry to translate evidence into practice and promote clinical scholarship
- Perform advanced nursing skills for specialty and subspecialty nursing practice
- Lead quality improvement and manage care delivery models across settings
- Leverage strong networks to advance in professional role
These overarching outcomes for all MSN program/tracks reflect the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials.
Certification
After graduation, you’ll be prepared to sit for national certification from the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Upon successful completion of the exam, you are eligible to become certified or licensed to practice.
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