AGNP Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program FAQs

An AGACNP is an advanced practice nurse with a specialty certification in acute care. Students are equipped to provide person-centered care to the young adult, adult and older adult patients across the wellness-to-illness health care continuum. Graduates of the program are prepared to lead the delivery of complex care for the acute, chronic, and critically ill patient.

For the AGACNP, RNs must complete an MSN program which includes 500 + hours of direct care of the complex adult patient. Required courses include advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. At the University of Miami’s AGACNP program, students will complete 500+ hours of clinical time. Students will also be able to demonstrate clinical competence via simulation-based learning and skills lab performance in our state-of-the-art simulation hospital.

The AGACNP may be employed in a variety of healthcare settings. Graduates of the program are prepared for a wide range of employment opportunities in the hospital setting (ICU, PCU, medical-surgical, procedural suites, urgent care, emergency department, etc). Our graduates are also ready to manage complex patients in outpatient clinics specializing in but not limited to cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, and nephrology.

Recently AGACNP have been placed as leaders in rapid response teams in many hospital settings and perform in the inpatient hospitalist role.

The nurse who thrives on variety and autonomy in practice is well suited to the AGACNP role. They are comfortable working in challenging environments, making sound decisions in dynamic clinical settings, and have developed strong rapid decision-making skills. They are effective members of interdisciplinary teams, demonstrate adaptability, and work well in a variety of situations on a daily basis. Empathy is also critical to the AGACNP role, as patients and their families are often under significant stress due to critical illness or complex chronic disease states.

A student with a strong background in pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical decision-making, and critical thinking, who actively seeks opportunities for learning and personal growth, remains calm under pressure, demonstrates flexibility, works well with others, and exhibits strong communication, leadership, and compassionate patient-care skills, particularly when caring for patients and families during their most vulnerable moments.

The program identifies preceptors with a high level of expertise in managing the acutely ill and/or medically complex patient. We coordinate student clinical experiences in a variety of health care settings that provide clinical rotations which support students meeting program objectives.

Interviews may be scheduled at the discretion of the faculty. Interviews may be in person or virtual.  Applicants will be responsible for all associated travel expenses.

We suggest that students preparing for the program or trying to improve their admission packet take a graduate level science course such as biochemistry, or take a graduate-level statistics course.  An online/remote pre-immersion course is offered prior to the start of each new cohort to help students prepare for their first semester.

Registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in another discipline may apply to the program.  However, they must have had at least an introductory statistics course and sufficient formal education in science in order to be prepared for master’s level coursework.

Yes! Please click HERE for more information about our post-master’s certificate program.