The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) major is a 44 credit hour program that prepares registered nurses to provide advanced nursing care to acutely ill adults and their families in various acute care settings.  These settings include general inpatient units and critical care units in hospitals, emergency departments, and extended care facilities. 

Clinical experiences with nurse practitioner and/or physician preceptors are individualized and take into consideration the student’s area of interest.  Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in obtaining a comprehensive health history and physical exam, initiating diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures, interpreting laboratory studies, making diagnoses, and establishing treatment plans.  ACNPs work with physicians and other nurses and health care professionals to improve outcomes of acutely and critically ill patients and families.  Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the ACNP certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Specific Requirements for entry into the Adult Acute Care N. P. Program:

A minimum of two years of recent experience as a registered nurse in an acute care facility is required.