University General Course Catalog 2025-2026 (DRAFT)
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, M.S.N (Online)
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 Return to: Programs in the Orvis School of Nursing
This is an online program.
The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program prepares nurses to provide advanced practice in acute care settings through a program of study focused on the care of acutely ill patients and their families. An AGACNP can diagnose and treat medical conditions. In collaboration with the physician and other members of the health care team, AGACNPs provide direct care to patients from hospital admission through discharge. With increasing inpatient and outpatient populations of acute and critical illnesses, research has shown that nurse practitioners within these settings demonstrated evidence of reducing acute admissions, length of stay, hospital costs, and patient complications, while improving communication among the health care team, along with patient and family satisfaction.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- create a systematic approach to clinical reasoning based on best evidence, research, and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to make decisions which optimize the health of populations and the delivery of care across a range of sociocultural settings.
- role model communication strategies and teamwork to intentionally collaborate with interprofessional teams, individuals, groups, and populations across a range of sociocultural settings to advocate for diverse, equitable, and inclusive care in professional environments.
- assume leadership roles in the analysis, delivery and management of nursing practice and the micro through meso levels of health care systems.
- evaluate quality improvement principles, standards, methods, and strategies to identify health and systems problems and translate evidence-based change in practice settings.
- analyze systematic processes across settings using evidenced-based strategies and standards, to promote a just culture of safety, and to prevent or minimize risk to self, patients, and environment.
- appraise health care technology, data, and information literacy, while considering risks and ethical requirements, to plan, implement, and evaluate person and population-centered care and assist in system-wide best practice decisions in a variety of settings.
- integrate person and population centered care that is respectful of differing sociocultural needs based on best evidence, clinical judgment, and sound legal/ethical principles to maximize health for diverse individuals, groups and populations.
- expand professional identity through leadership and advocacy that promotes the needs of self, individuals, groups and populations and the nursing profession while improving the healthcare system.
Contact Information
Stephanie DeBoor, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs
(775) 682-7156
deboors2@unr.edu
Admission Requirements
This is a two-step process, wherein the applicant must first meet the university’s Graduate School requirements as well as the Orvis School of Nursing MSN requirements. Both schools must receive all application materials on or before March 1 for consideration for the fall semester.
- Have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of at least a 3.0.
- Complete a baccalaureate degree with an upper-division major in nursing from and NLNAC-or CCNE accredited nursing school. The baccalaureate degree curriculum must include the following specific course work:
- Statistics
- Growth and development (must cover lifespan)
- Basic research
- Health assessment
- Have verification of current unemcumbered licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the United States. Students must be eligible to practice as a registered nurse in Nevada.
- Submit a statement of intent including graduate-study goals.
- Provide three letters of reference to the graduate program director using the form on the OSN website.
- Successful completion of a graduate level applied statistics course prior to fall admission.
An interview may be required.
The total of required units for completing the degree varies according to the option the student selects. The minimum number of required units for completion of the MSN is 48. With graduate advisor approval, MSN students may apply more than 3 S/U units to the 48 units required.
Applicants who plan to apply graduate-level credit earned at another university to the University of Nevada, Reno may be able to satisfy specific course requirements in the nursing program. Applicants must provide specific course information for review to determine if the transferred courses are equivalent to university requirements. If approved, such courses may be included in the official program of study.
II. Program Total Hours (48-50 units)
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Return to: Programs in the Orvis School of Nursing
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