Nursing (Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner), DNP (Online)

Program Description

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) role is designed to meet the specialized physiologic and psychological need of adults with complex acute and chronic health conditions. AGACNPs respond to rapidly changing clinical conditions, including the recognition and management of emerging health crises, organ dysfunction and failure. In accordance with this practice focus, AGACNP role activities encompass a wide range of NP practice strategies including contributions to the management of adult's illness/health states, the client-nurses relationship, the teaching-coaching function, the professional role, managing and negotiating healthcare delivery systems, monitoring and ensuring the quality of health care practice, providing family centered care, and demonstrating cultural competency. The short-term goal of care is stabilization of the adult, minimizing complications, and providing physical and psychological care measures. The long-term goal of care is to restore maximal health potential through implementation of NP strategies to reduce health risks. The continuum of care spans the geographic settings of the home, emergency departments, hospitals, sub-specialty clinics, and intensive care units.

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP hybrid program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. Part-time option is available. The DNP Program has been approved as a hybrid program with much of the academic work completed in an asynchronous manner on line. Students are required to attend and actively participate in any scheduled Zoom and face-to-face meetings scheduled for the DNP Program courses. 

The program is divided into 4 parts:

1- Core Courses- Most of the DNP Program Core courses and the prerequisite clinical courses require that students participate on-campus for 4 to 8 hours during Seminar Week in the middle of each quarter. Students are also required to be on campus to take all course exams including the midterm and final exams. 

• NGRD 657 – Intermediate Statistics – has four mandatory synchronous class meetings during each quarter and students are required to participate in them either face-to-face or by Zoom. Students must attend take the midterm exam and the final exam on campus during scheduled face-to-face meetings. Additional optional group sessions held both face-to-face and by Zoom are available for students enrolled in NGRD 657.
• NGRD 624 – Advanced Health Assessment – has mandatory synchronous lab meetings every two weeks during the quarter. Students must attend each of these sessions. The faculty coordinate the course exams including the midterm and final exams so that they are scheduled when the student is on campus for a scheduled lab session.

2- Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Advanced Pathophysiology meet up to four times a quarter.

3- Clinical Experience: The clinical experience is a combination of clinician hours and DNP Project hours to total at least 1000 hours. Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations in the Inland Empire (IE) region of Southern California (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). The CNS and NP Program faculty members arrange all clinical rotations for students as required by the California Board of Registered Nursing Regulations (Sections 1484, h (11) of Division 14 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations). The CNS and NP clinical courses meet at least four (4) times per quarter face-to-face on campus and all exams are administered on campus. The NP Program skills courses meet weekly during the quarter that the skills course is scheduled. Attendance at each of the assigned labs is mandatory for students enrolled in the skills course.

4- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.

Program Length

3 years and 9 months full-time

Possible Careers

AGACNPs are prepared for careers in a variety of settings, including emergency departments, hospitals, sub-specialty clinics, and intensive care units.

Application Deadlines

Quarter	Application Open	Priority Deadline	Final Deadline
Autumn of 2024	Oct 1, 2023	—	Apr 23, 2024

Admissions Requirements

• Application with personal statement
• Baccalaureate or Masters degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Science GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States with an unrestricted Registered Nurse license in California BEFORE matriculation and the California RN license must be maintained until program completion.
• Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience in an acute care setting in an adult critical care area where the RN must have developed critical decision making and psychomotor skills; competency in patient assessment; proficiency in monitor and calculating infusion rates for critical care medicines and monitoring those infusions; and the ability to use and interpret advanced monitor techniques including, but not limited to mechanical ventilation and invasive monitoring for cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological status. A critical care area is defined as one, where on a routine basis, the RN manages one or more of the following: invasive, hemodynamic monitors such as pulmonary artery catheter, central venous pressure monitoring (CVP) and arterial lines; cardiac assist devices; mechanical ventilation; and vasoactive infusions. Examples of Adult Critical Care Units may include, but are not limited to Surgical Intensive Care Unit; Trauma and Neurological Intensive Care Unit; Medical Intensive Care Unit; Coronary Intensive Care Unit; Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit; or a Comprehensive Licensed Emergency Department affiliated with an acute care hospital that has specialty designation such as a Level I or II Trauma Center, a Stroke Center of a Cardiac Care Center. Post-Anesthesia Care Units are NOT considered critical care units for admission.
• Current certifications – American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification are required before admission and must be maintained until program completion. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification is optional.
• • Three strong letters of recommendation using the LLU form provided.
• Spiritual Advisor or Pastor
• Immediate supervisor in the critical care area in which the applicant is currently working
• Critical care/ICU co-worker
• Interview granted by the Acute Care NP Program Admissions Committee
• Completion of Emotional Intelligence Screening and continued participation in the Emotional
• Intelligence Program and course work through completion of the program

Discipline Accrediting Agency

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are prepared for certification by the State of California and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (program approval pending).

State Accrediting Agency

Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Integrating faith and health

Loma Linda University educates and encourages a balanced life by living our values of humility, compassion, justice, integrity, excellence, freedom and self- control. You will be surrounded by faculty who are committed to healthcare innovation and research while engaging your spirituality.

Expected Cost of Attendance

The following estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. Estimated amounts may vary based on a number of factors. Students may use these estimates when applying for financial aid.

Required Program Costs

Academic Year 2024-2025

Year of Program Months Enrolled	Year 1 9	Year 2 9	Year 3 9	Year 4 9
Tuition & Fees	$28,504	$33,239	$37,974	$39,868
Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance (May or may not be purchased through the school)	$2,350	$1,560	$1,850	$550

Other Educational Costs

Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.

Year of Program Months Enrolled	Year 1 9	Year 2 9	Year 3 9	Year 4 9
Living Expense (Food & Housing Allowance) Students will be assigned one of the following Living Expense Budget Options:
On Campus Dorm	$11,835	$11,835	$11,835	$11,835
LLU Owned Rental Property	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900
LLU Owned Rental w/ Dependents	$19,800	$19,800	$19,800	$19,800
Undergraduate Dependent w/ Parents	$7,200	$7,200	$7,200	$7,200
Off Campus	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900	$18,900
Transportation Allowance	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150	$3,150
Federal Student Loan Fees	$219	$219	$219	$219
Cost of Obtaining Professional License	0	0	0	$2,100
Dependent Care (See Budget Revision Request form)	Available upon Request
Disability-Related Expenses (See Budget Revision Request form)	Available upon Request

Notes

• Estimated amounts are for the academic year specified only. Amounts are based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on these amounts.
• Amounts are expected to increase each year consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
• To qualify for financial aid, most students must be enrolled at least half time in an aid eligible program and be taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.