Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP

Our Approach

You learn from faculty who are active practitioners at top-tier academic medical centers, other large medical centers and community hospitals within the Chicago area.  

This means many program advisers and clinical faculty are practicing nurse practitioners who have clinical experience that will enrich your learning. 

We offer tracks for both bachelor’s and master’s-prepared (APRNs and non-APRNs) nurses who want to attain a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. 

This is a hybrid program with 75% of didactic courses delivered online and 25% of coursework offered in a weekly on-campus format. 

You are expected to be on campus to attend selected courses, student conferences and some clinical evaluations.  

The program features accessible clinical practice sites with individualized clinical practica precepted by expert health care practitioners.  

Clinical experiences to meet your professional goals are available in a variety of settings in the Chicago area. This program is best completed by students living within the regional proximity of Chicago.  

You will work closely with your adviser to establish individual professional goals and clinical objectives. This includes working collaboratively with faculty to arrange clinical experiences.

Program Length and Location

Coursework begins as part-time but requires a full-time commitment halfway through the program. 

Three-quarters of the didactic course work is delivered online. One-quarter of the coursework is offered in a weekly on-campus format. 

Our program takes approximately 3 ½ years to complete for students who have a bachelor’s degree. 

If you have a master’s, your program completion time will vary depending on previous coursework completed. An individualized program of study is developed based on a gap analysis. 

Clinical experiences

Clinical practice sites are located in the Chicago area.

Most students can continue to work full-time until management and clinical courses begin, which is about two-thirds into the program.

You will need to set aside time for school and study. When you start your clinical practicum, reserve one to two days a week to complete the required hours.

The residency clinical practicum requires three days a week. We advise students not to work during their full-time residency.

Certification

After completing the program, you will be eligible for the following:  

Certification as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Nurses Association  

State licensure or certification where available 

Program Tuition

At Rush University, we know your education is a big investment. We want to make sure you have all the information to be able to make the best financial decisions for you and your family. 

Tuition for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program is $1,344 per credit hour.

Learn about student financial aid options

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP Career Opportunities

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners practice in academic medical centers, community hospitals and practice.  

They work in a variety of settings, including the following: 

• Critical care units 
• Inpatient units 
• Outpatient settings 
• Specialty practices, such as neurosurgery, cardiology, hematology, trauma and orthopedics 
• Subacute settings 

Employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 40% from 2021-31. This is much faster than the average for other professions.  

Research has shown that nurse practitioners in this field provide quality care, decrease length of stay and improve patient and family satisfaction.  

The addition of AGACNPs to the health care team improves communication and overall patient care.