More time to apply for fall admission
Prospective students may now submit their application through June 1, 2026.
The AGACNP program trains advanced practice nurses to manage complex adult health conditions across diverse settings.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program prepares advanced practice nurses to manage complex acute and chronic conditions in adult patients across rapidly changing clinical environments. AGACNPs address both physiological and psychological needs while providing evidence-based interventions during episodes of acute illness. Role activities include managing patient health states, fostering therapeutic nurse–patient relationships, teaching and coaching, functioning as a professional leader, coordinating care across healthcare systems, ensuring quality and safety, delivering family-centered care, and demonstrating cultural competency. The short-term goal of care is to stabilize patients and prevent complications, while the long-term goal is to optimize health outcomes and reduce future risks. Care is provided across diverse settings, including hospitals, subspecialty clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
The School of Nursing accepts Acute Care Adult-Gero students in the Fall and Winter Quarters. All admission requirements must be completed by the deadline. Deadlines are as follows:
- Fall – April 15 (quarter begins in September)
- Winter – October 1 (quarter begins in January)
Education
- Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing from an accredited institution.
Academic Performance
- Minimum GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing coursework.
Licensure
- Current unencumbered United States RN license at the time of application.
- California RN license must be obtained before the start of classes and maintained throughout the program.
Experience
- Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience is required before matriculating into clinical courses (applies to most programs).
Certification
- Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required before matriculation and must be maintained until program completion.
Recommendations
Two electronic recommendations following:
- Required: Recent nurse manager or director
- Additional may be either of the following:
- Nursing peer
- Spiritual advisor
Interview Process (if granted by the Admissions Committee)
- Completion of the Emotional Intelligence Interview Process, which includes a meeting (in person or via Zoom) with the program coordinator and another Graduate Nursing Program faculty member.
There are two fees associated with the application:
- $70 for the initial NursingCAS application and a $50 secondary application fee.
NursingCAS Applicants - Transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution(s) directly to NursingCAS. You must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions that you have attended. This includes all colleges, universities, military credit, and unaccredited schools. Transcripts provided in any other manner are considered unofficial and will not be accepted for admission.
Returning LLU Applicant - If transcripts were previously sent to Loma Linda University prior to your NursingCAS application, please contact [email protected] with your full name, application term, program name, and a brief message requesting assistance with the transcript process.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) are prepared for advanced clinical practice in a variety of acute and specialty care settings. Graduates of the Loma Linda University School of Nursing AGACNP program develop the expertise to assess, diagnose, and manage complex health conditions in adults and older adults across multiple environments.
Hospitals and Acute Care Units
AGACNPs are highly trained to deliver specialized care to adult and geriatric patients facing critical or complex illnesses. They provide expert management in intensive care units (ICUs), step-down units, and medical-surgical floors, using advanced diagnostic reasoning to stabilize patients and improve outcomes.
Sub-Specialty and Outpatient Clinics
Graduates can work in focused clinical areas such as cardiology, pulmonology, or nephrology, applying advanced skills to manage acute and chronic conditions. They collaborate with physicians and interprofessional teams to perform comprehensive assessments, order and interpret diagnostics, and design evidence-based treatment plans that enhance long-term patient health.
Critical and Intensive Care Settings
AGACNPs excel in high-pressure environments where rapid decision-making is essential. They perform complex procedures, monitor unstable patients, and respond to life-threatening conditions with confidence and precision—playing a key leadership role in the continuum of acute care.
Take charge of your learning with Loma Linda’s Hybrid model. Enjoy the freedom of online learning—without sacrificing the in-person experiences that make you a confident, practice-ready nurse practitioner. Study remotely when life demands it, then join us on campus to refine the hands-on clinical skills that set Loma Linda graduates apart.
All DNP programs are offered in our Hybrid format, blending online instruction with scheduled live sessions for real-time connection and collaboration. During each 11-week quarter, you can attend in person or online for select core courses—usually around mid-quarter (week 5).
Our Hybrid model combines the convenience of online learning with the irreplaceable value of face-to-face clinical mastery. Clinical/Lab/Simulation courses will be hybrid to allow students to have hands-on practice, preparing them for their clinical practice setting. Schedules will be provided to students for required meetings during the quarter in advance. This allows you to refine your practical expertise in person and graduate with exceptional skills that set you apart from other Advanced Practice Nurses.
NGRD 264 Advanced Health Assessment 4u
This course has mandatory synchronous lab meetings 4-6 meetings during the quarter. The schedule will be given in advance for planning.
All clinical and practicum courses
- Direct Clinical Hours: 630-750 hours, depending on the specialty. Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations within Southern California (within a 90 mile radius of Loma Linda).
- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace, allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.
Loma Linda University is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The BS, MS, and DNP Programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Nurse Anesthesia Concentration is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
Advanced practice nurse graduates, Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), are certified by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing and eligible to apply for certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Corporation, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, as appropriate for the area of professional practice.The California State Board has approved all programs offered at the Loma Linda University School of Nursing. Many states may offer a compact license to individuals already licensed in California. If this opportunity is of interest to you, please contact your program director. Students who decide to pursue a license in another state should check with the applicable licensing authority in that state.
Our programs address and meet outcome expectations as articulated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master’s (AACN), and DNP Essentials.
View Expected Cost of Attendance Here
Reach out if you have questions
Print a PDF with information regarding pre-requisites, admission requirements, and deadlines
States authorizing Loma Linda University online students