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 program is crafted to equip advanced practice nurses with the expertise needed to manage complex acute and chronic health conditions in adults. This role is essential for addressing both the physiological and psychological needs of patients facing rapidly changing clinical conditions, including 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 the 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 program is divided into 4 parts:
- Core Courses: 4 days each quarter on-campus with online interaction, mentored-inquiry courses.
- Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Advanced Pathophysiology meet up to four times a quarter.
- Clinical Experience: The clinical experience is a combination of clinician hours and DNP Project hours to total at least 1000 hours
- DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.
PROGRAM LENGTH
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP hybrid program is 3 years and 9 months full-time. The program can be taken part-time or full-time and must be completed within 7 years.
Admissions Deadlines
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)
Admissions Requirements
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.
Application Fee (NursingCAS and Secondary Application)
There are two fees associated with the application:
- $70 for the initial NursingCAS application and a $50 secondary application fee.
Transcript Information
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.
Possible Careers
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.
Course Structure/Format
Take charge of your learning with Loma Linda’s Hyperflex 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 Hyperflex 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).
Face-to-Face Course Structure
Our Hyperflex 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.
Accreditations
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.
Cost of Attendance
View Expected Cost of Attendance Here
Sample Schedule
Full-time: 3 years, 9 months (15 academic quarters).
Part-time options are available.
Adult Gero Acute Care NP sample schedule
Adult Gero Acute Care NP Curriculum Plan
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