This option prepares nurses for advanced practice roles as primary care providers, managing the health of individuals from adolescence through adulthood and the end of life. Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNPs) work in various settings, including long-term care, hospital-based clinics, and private practice, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and empowering older adults to lead healthy lives. The program requires the completion of 53 credits and 1,031 practice hours, after which graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
Sample Plan of Study
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
| Year 1 | NURS 510 Theoretical & Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing – 3 credits NURS 590 Colloquium – 1 credit NURS 803 Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse – 3 credits Credit total – 7 | NURS 587 Ethics in Health Research – 1 credit NURS 588 Healthcare Policy for Nurse and Healthcare Scholars – 3 credits NURS 804 Pharmacologic Therapy for the Advanced Practice Nurse – 3 credits Credit total – 7 | NURS 802 Advanced Health Assessment of Adult Populations (18 DPH) – 3 credits NURS 831 Evidence-Based Practice II (75 DPH) – 4 credits Credit total – 7 |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester | |
| Year 2 | NURS 870 Nurse Practitioner Role with Healthy Individuals and Families – 3 credits NURS 872D Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum (225 CPH) – 3 credits Credit total – 6 | NURS 837 Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development (75 DPH) – 3 credits NURS 871 Nurse Practitioner Role with Individuals and Families with Complex and/or Chronic Health Problems – 3 credits NURS 873D Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum (150 CPH) – 2 credits Credit total – 8 | NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits NURS 874D Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Integrative Doctoral Practicum (225 CPH) – 3 credits NURS 877 Clinical Practice Synthesis for Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (38 DPH) – 3 credits Credit total – 8 |
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | May | |
| Year 3 | NURS 808 Population Health Perspectives – 3 credits NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits Credit total – 5 | NURS 835 Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (75 DPH) – 2 credits NURS 836 Healthcare Informatics – 3 credits Credit total – 5 | Commencement |
DPH – Doctoral Practicum Hours | CPH – Clinical Practicum Hours
Learn more about program’s courses by visiting the University Bulletin »
DNP–NP Practicum
A total of 1,031 hours of post–B.S. practicum is required in the hybrid DNP nurse practitioner program. Your required hours will be accomplished through courses in the DNP curriculum that include practicum hours as part of the coursework.
Practicum hour plans will be developed in consultation with the course’s faculty member and with the approval of the DNP faculty adviser.
- Development of the plans for practicum experiences begins with your admission to the program.
- The practicum planning process involves establishing a site affiliation agreement with the practicum site and identifying a preceptor(s).
- Our clinical placement team supports students in finding practicum sites and preceptors, but cannot guarantee top-choice placements. Students are responsible for starting this process early to maximize their chances of securing optimal placements.
- Some students choose to complete practicum requirements at their place of employment and other students identify alternate practicum sites.
