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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.
*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's of Science Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program (MS-AGACNP) will prepare the baccalaureate prepared nurse (BSN, RN) to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) 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 Colleges of Nursing (AACN) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to have:
Non-BSN Admission Requirements:  RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing may apply to the Master of Science degree in Nursing (MS) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
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 |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 851, NURS 853, NURS 855, NURS 857, NURS 859.
The Âé¶¹app offers a number of academic programs designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in New Hampshire. However, completing a UNH degree/program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like years of work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria.
UNH does not guarantee that its professional licensure programs will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states. Some states maintain different requirements for professional licensure or certification and requirements can change frequently. Federal regulations require the University to make public disclosure of certain information regarding professional licensure or certification programs, regardless of the modality the program is offered (i.e., in-person or online). The University provides guidance below but recommends students contact their state/territory licensing or certification board to ensure a program meets specific state/territory requirements.
Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for information about whether this program meets professional licensure requirements in your state.
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 . 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:
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 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.
Applicants who intend to pursue licensure after completing UNH's online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, M.S. should become familiar with their state's licensure requirements. To assess if UNH licensure programs meet the requirements in your location, visit the Professional Licensure Disclosure Information webpage.
Advance your nursing career with a top-ranked nursing degree from the Âé¶¹app.
The UNH School of Nursing is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
The Âé¶¹app’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 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 .
Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN courses are taught by faculty with excellent practical and pedagogical experience.