Rise to every challenge and make a lifesaving difference for patients in critical-care settings.
No. 1 in Master of Science in Nursing graduates in the U.S.¹
If you thrive in fast-paced, high-acuity environments, consider Walden’s online MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Learn to diagnose and treat patients 13 and older with complex acute and unstable chronic medical conditions. Build the hard and soft skills you need to rise confidently to every challenge and contribute to improve patient outcomes.
MSN AGACNP online programs academically prepare graduates to perform a hospitalist or intensivist role caring for patients at an advanced level of practice.
Why Choose Walden?
PLAY A ROLE IN SAVING LIVES
Experience the challenges and rewards of caring for patients with unstable chronic conditions, sudden illness, and traumatic injury.
PREPARE FOR THE ANCC EXAM
This program academically prepares you to sit for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner board certification exam.
TRAIN UNDER EXPERIENCED FACULTY
Our faculty are practicing clinicians who bring insights from the field. 100% of our didactic NP faculty hold doctoral degrees.
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER
Find mentors and inspiration through our dynamic community of more than 36,500 College of Nursing alumni.
Join Walden Grand Rounds
Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to critically examine real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your specialty.
Practicum AdvantageTM
Benefit from dedicated teams and support services to help you with successful nursing practicum placement and completion.
We are here to help you find your nursing practicum.
Program Details
Learning Tracks
We have a path to success for every level in your nursing career.
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The RN to MSN track is ideal if you are a registered nurse (RN) entering the MSN program with a hospital diploma or an associate degree in nursing.
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The BSN to MSN track is designed for registered nurses (RN) who have already earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
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The BSN to DNP or BSN to PhD in Nursing tracks are available to registered nurses (RN) who have earned a bachelor’s in nursing degree.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 58 quarter credits
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (35 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Start dates are offered each quarter so you can begin your program when it is convenient for you. Enrollment in this nurse practitioner specialization is currently open to new students.
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7976.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 84 quarter credits
- Foundations courses (26 cr.)
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (35 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Start dates are offered each quarter so you can begin your program when it is convenient for you. Enrollment in this nurse practitioner specialization is currently open to new students.
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7976.
If you are a registered nurse (RN) and have earned your bachelor's in nursing degree, you can use these tracks to get started on your doctoral nursing degree.
Personalized Practicum Support
Practicums are vital to your learning experience. That’s why we offer Practicum Advantage™—an ensemble of resources, self-help tools, and staff who understand the challenges of completing the nursing practicum. This includes the Walden Practicum Pledge™, available for BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. Once you register, a dedicated Field Placement Team partners with you to secure a site and preceptor. If you can’t identify your site and preceptor (along with additional requirements*), we’ll help find you a match.
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations (RN-MSN): Registered nurses who hold a hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or bachelor’s degree (other than BSN)
Program Admission Considerations (BSN-MSN): A bachelor's degree or higher
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts
- The Technical Standards Policy Form, a statement of understanding of the MSN NP practicum requirements.
- Additional Walden admission criteria required. Contact an Enrollment Specialist for more details.
More information for international applicants.
Explore Real-Life Clinical Scenarios With Walden Grand Rounds
As a nurse practitioner student at Walden, you can take part in Walden Grand Rounds several times throughout the quarter. Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to review clinical patient scenarios that are focused on assessing, differentiating, and treating pathological conditions. This is a unique opportunity to connect what you’ve learned in class with real-life situations and challenges you’ll encounter in the field as an NP.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your clinical practicum courses tuition-free.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 58 quarter credit hours | $750 per quarter hour | $43,500 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,190 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $45,330** | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $39,330* |
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*Represents BSN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 25 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 26 RN Foundational quarter credit hours |
$415 per quarter hour | $10,790 |
| 58 MSN quarter credit hours |
$750 per quarter hour | $43,500 | |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,530 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $56,460** | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $50,460* |
||
*Represents RN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe and Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary.
**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 40 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
Program Outcomes
Gain Advanced Practice Skills in Critical Care
In this MSN acute care nurse practitioner online program, you’ll examine how to plan, implement, and evaluate care for critically ill patients. This includes performing diagnostic and therapeutic interventions during rapid physiologic deterioration or life-threatening instability. Build skills in promoting health and disease prevention by assessing risks and providing wellness education to vulnerable patients.
Walden practicum coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions about the practicum.
What’s the Career Impact of Becoming an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?
The demand for nurse practitioners in acute-care settings is greater than ever before, as the expanding and aging population strains the U.S. healthcare system. As a graduate of Walden’s online acute care nurse practitioner MSN program, you’ll be qualified to help meet that need.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for nurse practitioners overall are expected to grow by 52% through 2030.2 The average median pay for an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner is $113,000 per year.3
An MSN-AGACNP can prepare you to work in settings such as:
- Emergency departments and trauma centers
- Intensive care units
- Trauma centers
- Tertiary care, coronary care, and palliative care
- Specialty care centers
- Hospital surgical units, including general, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this specialization, graduates will be prepared to:
- Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
- Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
- Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
- Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
- Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
- Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
- Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Testimonial
I chose Walden to earn my advanced degree because I was pleased with the design and presentation of the curriculum, its flexibility, and the very encouraging reviews of the experiences of current students and alumni.
I was very surprised about how well-prepared I felt for my certification boards after graduation. The program prepared me for entry to practice.
Choosing to specialize as a family nurse practitioner has opened many doors. ... I can explore many areas in nursing and still be a nurse practitioner.
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FAQ About Walden’s Online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who are trained to work in high-acuity environments to diagnose and treat seriously ill patients. They care for patients age 13 years and older, unlike family nurse practitioners, who are trained to care for patients across the life span. AGACNPs provide this specialized care in hospitals and other acute settings and are prepared to perform a hospitalist or intensivist role when caring for patients throughout a hospital or ICU stay.
In general, primary care refers to clinic-based medical care where you see a patient multiple times over the years, providing continuity of care, treating occasional and chronic health issues, and helping the patient mitigate health risks. A master’s degree program in nursing focused on primary care will teach you how to assess risk factors, treat illness, and promote healthy living in adolescents (13+), young adults, and older adults. Acute care, on the other hand, refers to medical care given to treat a specific, pressing medical problem, often short-term care requiring rapid intervention to restore the health of the patient. A master’s degree program in nursing focused on acute care will teach you how to treat acutely or chronically ill patients age 13 years and older from initial assessment and diagnosis to developing a treatment and care plan.
An AGACNP will:
- Manage complex acute, critical, and unstable chronically ill patients at risk for urgent and emergent conditions.
- Perform diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and evaluate effectiveness.
- Prioritize diagnoses and implement interventions during rapid physiologic deterioration or life- threatening instability.
- Promote health and disease prevention by assessing risks and providing wellness education to acute, critical, and complex chronically ill patients.
Learning Environment
Walden’s MSN-AGACNP online classrooms feature state-of-the-art learning technologies, media, and support materials. With interactive simulations, engaging case studies, a comprehensive online library, and NP exam prep tests and materials, you will have a well-rounded educational experience.
Student Support
Walden offers a dedicated support staff—including student success advising, graduation counseling, and practicum coordinators—to assist students.
National Certification Preparation
Students in Walden’s online MSN-AGACNP program will be academically prepared to sit for the national certification exam for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner upon graduation. Qualifications to sit for certification exams are determined by the certifying body.
AGACNPs practice in settings such as:
- Hospital emergency departments
- Intensive care units
- Trauma centers
- Tertiary care units
- Coronary care units
- Hospital surgical units, including general, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery
- Specialty care centers (e.g., oncology, radiology, neurology)
- Palliative care units
After you successfully complete your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a specialization in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, you will need to pursue licensure and certification. AGACNP licensure requirements are set at the state level, meaning each state’s nursing board has the authority to determine the requirements for licensure. It’s best for individuals to check with their state board of nursing for licensure and certification requirements; however, the vast majority of states require individuals to be certified by a national certification board.
Each national certification exam is a competency-based examination that tests clinical knowledge in specific focus areas. Each autonomous national nursing certification board assesses entry-level nurse practitioner knowledge and practice competencies required to provide safe and quality healthcare. There are two primary national certification boards that offer the exams necessary for credentialing AGACNPs: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
An AGACNP who is certified has fulfilled the requirements of a national certification board. Certification boards do not license individuals as AGACNPs. In order for an individual to be licensed as an AGACNP, individuals must meet the requirements as set forth by their state nursing board.
Yes, Walden’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In fact, three of Walden’s nursing degree programs are CCNE accredited: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) Completion Program, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.
No other university in the U.S. graduates more nurses with MSN degrees than Walden.* Didactic coursework in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program is 100% online, making it possible to earn your degree while you continue to work. Walden does not require travel for health assessments like other universities often do, and students can attend on a part-time or full-time basis. In addition, class sizes are small and students are taught by 100% doctorally prepared faculty in their didactic courses.
Walden offers exceptional support services that include a robust online library, Student Success Advisors, practicum support staff, career planning and development, and more.Walden is also committed to positive social change, which is emphasized throughout the curriculum.
*Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s degrees (Award level 7). Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data (Retrieved February 2020; may consist of or include provisional release data).
A nursing practicum gives you valuable practical experience by allowing you to apply your new knowledge and skills in real-life situations and settings. Although you’re responsible for initiating your search for a field site based on your location preferences, Walden offers Practicum Advantage™ that provides Student Success Advisor coaching, resources, and self-help tools you need to identify a practicum site and nursing preceptor that fit with your education and career goals.
For the nurse practitioner (NP) specializations in our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, we are excited to announce the new Walden University Practicum Pledge™. You will benefit from our large network of field sites and preceptors, an additional dedicated Field Placement Team that partners with you to identify a site and preceptor. If you’re unable to identify your own nursing practicum site and preceptor after several attempts, we’ll assist in finding you a suitable match (along with additional requirements*).
1Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s degrees (Award level 7). Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data.(Retrieved January 2021; may consist of or include provisional release data.)
2Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, SOC Code 29-1171. Retrieved September 2021. National job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee job growth, and are subject to change.
3Source: American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP). Are You Considering a Career as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner? Retrieved April 2021. Salary data from 2020 AANP National NP Sample Survey: Compensation. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on a number of individual factors, including but not limited to prior education, certifications, additional skills, number of years spent practicing, geographic location, and place of employment. National salary estimates may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual salaries, and are subject to change.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Note on licensure: Walden’s MSN nurse practitioner specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own license for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. Learn more about professional licensure.
No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will obtain licensure to practice as a nurse practitioner. We encourage students to consult the appropriate board of nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide information relating to licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensure for the state in which they intend to practice, as requirements vary widely.
Note on certification: Walden’s MSN program is designed to academically prepare graduates to apply for national certification. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve national certification. We encourage students to consult an appropriate certifying body for the specific certification eligibility requirements. Students should also consult their state board of nursing or other state agency to determine what certifications are required or accepted in that state. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.
Enrollment Restrictions by State
Walden currently cannot enroll residents of the following states/districts into any nurse practitioner specializations: Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.