MSN Degree Programs

• Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Subspecialty
  

Overview

This Master of Science in Nursing program prepares professional nurses to assume leadership roles at an advanced practice level in the care of critically ill or injured patients and their families. Within this major, students can choose either the acute-care nurse practitioner (ACNP) and/or the clinical nursing specialist (CNS) role.

Within the acute-care nurse practitioner option, students can concentrate in either the emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) subspecialty or the critical-care subspecialty. ACNP and ENP students have the option of taking additional clinical and adding the CNS portion to their existing program. Each role shares a blend of practice, education, consultation and collaboration. After completing the program, students will be prepared to practice at an advanced practice level in a critical-care, emergency-care or acute-care setting.

Curriculum

The Acute Care Nursing specialty tracks consist of 42 to 49 semester hours of study. The program plan provides students with core nursing courses, specialty courses, and clinical courses required for advanced practice certification and licensure. For more information, please see ACN program plans for each program (linked above).

Clinical Experience Requirement

2,000 hours of recent clinical nursing experience is required prior to beginning the first practicum in the nursing specialty to which you are applying.  CEN certification is required of all FNP/ENP and ACNP/ENP students prior to the start of clinical.  CCRN certification is required of all ACNP and AC CNS students prior to the start of clinical.