Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Admission to the LLU School of Nursing (SN) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Program follows all application policies and procedures of Loma Linda University and is overseen by the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Admissions Committee. This Admissions Committee’s responsibility is to ensure that applications are qualified for the rigorous curriculum and capable of benefitting from the educational experience. The Admissions Committee reviews the evidence of scholastic competence, required nursing license and clinical experience, the proposed student’s moral and ethical standards and significant qualities of character and personality.

The requirements for admission into the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program are:

• 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:
  • Clergy/Spiritual
  • ICU Nurse Manager or Supervisor
  • RN Co-worker

If Interview is 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

• Application deadlines: Autumn (March 5th); Winter (September 15th)

There are two fees associated with the application:

• $70 for the initial NursingCAS application and a $50 secondary application fee.

AGACNPs are prepared for careers in a variety of settings, including:

• Emergency departments: After completing the Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program at Loma Linda University, graduates can work in emergency departments, providing critical care to adults and older patients. They will be trained to assess, diagnose, and manage complex acute conditions, make quick decision in high-pressure environments, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for patients. Their specialized skills prepare them to handle medical emergencies and provide advanced care to a diverse patient population in urgent settings.
• Hospitals: Graduates can work in hospitals providing specialized care to adults and elderly patients with acute or complex health issues. They will be equipped to assess, diagnose, and manage patients in critical care settings, such as ICUs or surgical units. Their expertise in advanced diagnostics and treatment enables them to collaborate with healthcare teams, make critical decisions, and improve patient outcomes in fast-paced hospital environments.
• Sub-specialty clinics: Once you complete the Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program at Loma Linda University, graduates can work in sub-specialty clinics, focusing on specific areas such as cardiology, pulmonology, or nephrology. They will use their advanced clinical skills to manage complex, chronic, or acute conditions in adult and elderly patients. By collaborating with physicians and healthcare teams, they'll provide specialized care, perform advanced diagnostics, and create tailored treatment plans, improving patient outcomes in highly focused medical fields.
• Intensive care units: Graduates will be skilled in managing life-threatening conditions, performing complex procedures, and making rapid decisions in high-pressure situations. As key members of the healthcare team, they will collaborate with physicians to monitor patients, implement treatment plans, and ensure optimal outcomes in the critical care environment.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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).

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

Acute Care Adult Gero NP sample schedule

Acute Care Adult Gero NP Curriculum Plan