Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP) Program Details

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is available to both bachelor’s and master’s-prepared nurses. With a growing US adult population and the increasing popularity of doctorally-prepared nurse practitioners, specializing in adult-gerontology primary care offers great opportunity and flexibility now and in the future.

Between 2014 and 2030 the population of adults is expected to grow by:

• 37.5% for adults 65 years and above
• Almost 9% for adults 18 to 44 years of age

The AGPCNP graduate has expanded role opportunities to function as a generalist in a primary care setting or work in specialty clinics with a specific population of patients. The program affords students the opportunity to have clinical experiences in both internal medicine settings and specialty areas of interest where our own NP faculty serve as clinicians and leaders.

Study Format

Typically programs may be completed as follows:

• The BSN to DNP option can be completed in three and one-half years
• The MSN to DNP option varies in length depending on the type of master’s program previously attended*

*A gap analysis will be performed and an individualized program of study will be developed based on previous graduate education.

If you attend the program on a part-time basis, you will take about two or three courses each term. Most students can continue to work full time until starting management and clinical courses, which is about two-thirds into the program. You will need to set aside time for school and study. When you start your clinical practicum, reserve one to two days a week in order to complete the required hours. The residency clinical practicum requires three days a week.

Sample Plan of Study 

Campus Visits

All students are required to be on campus for a minimum of 5 visits for the following activities:

• Simulation experiences: total of 3-4 experiences, one time per semester during clinical management courses. Usually lasts one day.
• DNP Project proposal: usually 1-2 days tied in with other on-campus days.
• DNP Project final presentation: usually 1-2 days tied in with other campus visits.

Clinical Experiences

As a student, you must have at least one year of nursing experience upon starting your specialty clinical practicum. This can be garnered during your first year in the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program.

The program features accessible clinical practice sites with individualized clinical practica precepted by expert health care practitioners. Clinical experiences to meet your professional goals are available in a variety of settings in the Chicago area. This program is best completed by students living within regional proximity of Chicago.

The program includes two terms of clinical practicum and one term of residency (756 clock hours) focused on developing the AGPCNP competencies. The first term is 168 clock hours, second term is 252 clock hours and third term is 336 clock hours. The DNP clinical project hours (252) are primarily taken before the start of direct clinical practice hours. The total practica hours for both the DNP project and advanced practice nurse role are 1008 clock hours.

Certification

The program is designed to provide the didactic and clinical experiences to prepare students with the AGPCNP competencies. Graduates will be prepared to take the AGPCNP exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

 

Common Applicant Questions for all Nursing Programs