Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares graduates to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care to adults and older adults who are physiologically unstable, technologically dependent, or highly vulnerable to complications, requiring frequent monitoring and intervention. Coursework and supervised clinical experiences prepare the graduate to provide a full-spectrum of care including disease prevention, acute and critical care management, chronic and long-term care, and palliative care. The developmental, life-stage needs of adults across the age spectrum are incorporated into patient care.
DNP degree concentrations include pathways for initial Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification and APRNs with or without current Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner credentials.
DNP Program Design and Outcomes
The DNP degree represents the culmination of study that prepares graduates for advanced levels of nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on nursing care that is based upon philosophical, ethical, and scientific principles. In addition to the advanced clinical practice series, all students enroll in core courses focusing on concepts essential for the analysis and evaluation of practice outcomes. Students select an area for scholarly examination of internal and external factors that influence nursing care in their clinical areas. This process guides the students in the identification and evaluation of practice issues. Students collaborate with expert clinicians in their specialty areas.
Coursework in all DNP concentrations, besides Nurse Anesthesiology, is conducted primarily online, with specific on-campus days determined by each concentration. The Advanced Health Assessment course requires on-campus demonstration of a comprehensive physical examination and attendance of the sensitive examination with standardized patients. Faculty meet with students during the on-campus sessions for classroom instruction, competency testing, and advisement. Clinical experiences are scheduled in proximity to the student’s residence when possible.
Students wear their UTHSC picture identification while on campus and at clinical sites. Preceptors verify student placement in clinical sites, and faculty conduct clinical site visits or videoconferencing sessions with the student and preceptors.
Upon completion of the DNP Program, the graduate will be able to:
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Demonstrate proficient clinical reasoning in advanced nursing practice.
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Lead within health care systems to deliver safe, quality care for diverse populations.
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Disseminate findings from evidence-based practice and research for optimal healthcare outcomes.
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Integrate health information and patient care technologies to transform healthcare outcomes across the lifespan.
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Advocate for social justice and equity through strategic initiatives to influence public policy.
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Lead interprofessional teams to improve patient and population health outcomes.
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Integrate concepts of social determinants of health, epidemiology and ethics to improve population health.
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Design, implement, and evaluate quality care based on science to facilitate optimal patient outcomes
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Description
Admission Process and Minimum Requirements
Registered nurses with either a bachelor of science in nursing or a master of science in nursing seeking preparation for advanced practice may apply to the following DNP program concentrations: (1) Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, (2) Family Nurse Practitioner, (3) Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, (4) Nurse Anesthesiology, (5) Nurse Midwifery, (6) Nurse Executive, (7) Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, (8) Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and (9) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Applicants may choose to complete a plan of study enabling completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration with either (a) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or (b) Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Applicants may choose to complete a dual Pediatric Primary Care/Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner plan of study.
Applications for all concentrations in the DNP program, except Nurse Anesthesiology, open each year in August. We accept students before the start of the term until each class meets capacity. All application materials (for example, application, application fee, recommendations, test results, and official transcripts from all colleges attended) must be submitted by the application deadline for students to be considered for admission. Applications for the Nurse Anesthesiology concentration open March 15th and close August 15th.
Instructions for submitting applications to the DNP Program are available on the College of Nursing website: https://www.uthsc.edu/nursing/dnp/index.php. Applications are submitted through Nursing CAS: http://nursingcas.org. Admission to the DNP Program is competitive. Only applicants who meet minimum academic requirements will be considered for admission; however, applicants who meet minimal requirements are not guaranteed admission.
Academic Preparation and Achievement Admission Criteria
Applicants must document evidence of having earned a bachelor of science in nursing or a higher degree from an accredited nursing program. Only applicants with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 based on all collegiate work or a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 earned during the applicant’s most recently completed degree program will be considered for admission. The GPA calculation for the most recently completed degree will be based only on those grades earned at the degree-granting institution. Applicants may submit additional documents to demonstrate professional scholarship and leadership abilities that could make them more competitive. The College of Nursing uses a holistic admission process.
Essay, Professional Recommendations, and Interview Criteria
In addition to academic qualifications, applicants are assessed through (1) an essay, (2) professional recommendations, and (3) interviews.
- Essay - The purpose of the essay is to provide the College of Nursing Admissions Committee further insight into the applicant’s professional goals, motivation, and expectations and to evaluate written communication skills. Applicants are asked to provide written responses to specific questions during their interview session.
- Recommendation Forms - Applicants must submit 2 Recommendation Forms from graduate-prepared nurses or faculty members who can address their potential or ability for functioning in the advanced practice role (clinical skills, critical thinking, independent decision making, collaborative skills with other health professionals, and nursing leadership). Applicants currently enrolled in a BSN or MSN program should have at least 1 Recommendation Form submitted by a faculty member in that program.
- Interview - Applicants meeting admission criteria and selected for further admission consideration must participate in an interview for the purpose of evaluating communication and decision-making skills, educational goals, and current leadership, scholarship, practice roles, and activities. The interview may be conducted via video or web conferencing unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a change. The Assistant Dean for Graduate Program is charged with the responsibility for making decisions related to “extraordinary circumstances.” Match of applicant’s educational goals with faculty programs of practice is an important factor assessed in the interview.
English Language Proficiency
If the native tongue is not English, evidence of proficiency in English is documented through the submission of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Minimum proficiency scores: 550 on TOEFL paper version, 213 on TOEFL computer version, and 80 on TOEFL Web-based version. TOEFL scores must have been earned within two years prior to application. Applicants may request exemption from the TOEFL examination requirement, for example, an earned high school degree from a U.S. secondary education institution. Requests must be submitted before the application deadline to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, (901) 448-6125.
Detailed DNP program description, admission requirements, and program curricula can be found at https://www.uthsc.edu/nursing/dnp/index.php
Pre-Matriculation Requirements
Students must complete required immunizations, a successful criminal background check, and a drug screen prior to admission. Students must receive medical clearance to meet technical and performance standards. Registered nurses must have and maintain an unencumbered nursing license with the authority to practice in Tennessee for the duration of the program. Evidence of current cardiopulmonary certification must be presented and certification must be maintained throughout the program. Background checks and drug screens may be repeated during the student’s program of study. Students must maintain health and professional liability insurance during enrollment in the program.
If a student cannot fulfill these Technical and Performance Standards, with or without accommodations, at any time in the program, the student will be ineligible for admission or continued progression in the DNP Program. In addition to assuring that students can meet the intellectual, emotional, and physical criteria for the DNP Program, it is of utmost importance that students have the ability to provide for the safety and welfare of their patients and others. Reasonable accommodations will be provided, when appropriate, to help students meet these Technical and Professional Standards. The Office of Accessibility and Accommodations must determine eligibility and make recommendations for accommodations. Any student wishing accommodations must contact the university’s Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at https://uthsc.edu/tlc/disability-services.php.
Accreditation
The DNP program and the Post Graduate Program are currently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through 2034. The Nurse Anesthesia concentration is also accredited through the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesiology Educational Programs (COA) through 2029. The Nurse Midwifery concentration is pre-accredited through the American College of Midwifery Education (ACME) through 2024. The Midwifery program hosted an ACME site visit in November 2024, with expected continued accreditation confirmed in Spring 2025.
Classroom, Clinical and Lab Hours Ratio per Credit
The clinical and laboratory hour per credit hour ratio in courses taught in the DNP program is 4:1. Thus, 1 credit equates to 60 hours of clinical or laboratory experience over the course of the term, as well as additional student effort of approximately 30 hours related to preparation for the clinical and laboratory experiences. For didactic courses, a traditional 3 credit-hour course using a face-to-face lecture format involves approximately 45 contact hours as well as 90 or more hours of additional student effort over the course of the term. For didactic courses taught online or using a hybrid format, a 3 credit-hour course would involve at least 135 hours of student effort over the term.
Length of Program and Sample Curricular Schema
Detailed descriptions of DNP program concentrations and concentration-specific program curricula can be found at https://www.uthsc.edu/nursing/dnp/index.php. Samples of typical curricular full-time curricular schema are provided for each DNP concentration, including pathways for students entering with or without advanced practice certification. Any modification in the schemas for a given entering class will be provided during new student orientation.
For students enrolled full-time in the DNP program, the length of the program is 2-3 years, dependent upon whether the student (1) enrolls post-BSN or post-MSN; (2) is post-MSN with advanced practice certification in the area of study; or (3) is enrolling in a dual program. Structured part-time plans of study are available in select DNP concentrations and can be completed in 2.5 to 4.5 years. Part-time study is unavailable for Nurse Anesthesiology students or dual concentrations. Plans of study are provided during advisement sessions with course
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