Mobile button
Navigation
Button (primary, tracking enroll)
Button Label
Open apply now modal window
Button (secondary, tracking rfi)
Title (title extra extra large)
Online MSN-AGACNP Program
Column Title
Total tuition
Column Content
totalMarketedCost
Column Title
Duration
Column Content
duration
Column Title
Modality
Column Content
modality
Button (primary, tracking enroll)
Button Label
Open apply now modal window
Button (secondary, tracking rfi)
Title (title large)
Overview
Column
Ref:column (content1)
Column
Ref:column (content2)
Title (title small)
Prepare for Advanced Acute Care Leadership
Content
The online MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program at Hawai‘i Pacific University prepares registered nurses to manage the complex, acute, and critical care needs of adult and older adult patients.
This flexible, online MSN-AGACNP program features a CCNE-accredited curriculum and local clinical placements in hospital-based settings such as ICUs, trauma units, and emergency departments. Graduates are eligible for national board certification and APRN licensure.
Title (title extra small)
CALENDAR
Content
Application Deadline:
December 5, 2025
Upcoming Start Date:
January 12, 2026
December 5, 2025
Upcoming Start Date:
January 12, 2026
Title (title large)
Program at a Glance
Icon
Content
100% online coursework with mobile-friendly delivery
Icon
Content
Small classes with accessible faculty who care about your success and well-being
Icon
Content
Prepare to pass the ANCC’s AGACNP certification exam on your first attempt
Icon
Content
Dedicated student support from first contact through graduation
Icon
Content
Earn your MSN-AGACNP in as few as 28 months
Icon
Content
Transfer up to 12 credits
Title (title large)
Why Choose the AGACNP Concentration at HPU?
EXPERT-LED ACUTE CARE TRAINING
Learn from active nurse practitioners and acute care faculty with real-world experience in emergency and ICU settings.
FOCUSED CURRICULUM FOR HIGH-ACUITY ENVIRONMENTS
- Master advanced clinical decision-making with evidence-based courses in critical care diagnostics, pharmacology, and patient assessment.
- Build hands-on skills in simulation labs and practicums, focusing on patient management, cutting-edge technologies, and critical care interventions.
- Develop leadership skills and explore topics like reimbursement, advanced practice leadership, and care strategies for adult and gerontologic patients.
CLINICAL PLACEMENT SUPPORT
HPU helps place you in qualified acute care settings for supervised clinical training near your location.
PREPARES YOU FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
Graduates are eligible for board exams through the ANCC and licensure as a nurse practitioner.
Preferred Experience: Prior exposure to acute care or inpatient settings is recommended.
Button (primary, column)
Button Label
MEET OUR MSN FACULTY
Icon
Content
Member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Icon
Content
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Hawai‘i Pacific University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Icon
Content
Member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
Icon
Content
Accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC/WSCUC)
Icon
Content
Participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education in member states
Title (title large)
AGACNP Career Outcomes
Column
Ref:column (content1)
Column
Ref:column (content2)
Title (title medium)
Practice Settings
Content
- ICUs and step-down units
- Emergency departments
- Hospitalist teams and post-surgical floors
- Specialty acute care clinics
Title (title medium)
Job Outlook
Content
- Median Salary: $129,480 (BLS)
- Projected Growth: 40% increase from 2023 through 2033 (BLS)
- High demand driven by aging populations and increased hospital complexity
Title (title large)
Ready for your next step?
Button (primary, column)
Button Label
Get Program Details
Title (title large)
MSN-AGACNP Curriculum Overview
Content
While foundational MSN coursework is shared across concentrations, AGACNP students complete specialized courses. These are:
- Fundamentals of Acute Care I, II, and III
- Advanced Clinical Decision Making
- Practicum I, II, and III
- Project Proposal Paper
Title (title large)
Core Courses
Content
Students may transfer up to 12 eligible credits from another college or university into HPU’s online MSN program.
Content
18 credits
Summary
NUR 6000 Introduction to Advanced Practice Roles / 3 Credits
Main Content
This course covers the definitions of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles in community environments. Theoretical content includes ethics, multicultural population-focused care, community coordination strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and leadership. Roles of the nurse as case manager, administrator, educator, researcher, consultant, and practitioner are explored. Communication issues including assertive behavior, conflict resolution, and the dynamics of change are examined.
Summary
NUR 6010 Advanced Pathophysiology / 3 Credits
Main Content
This course covers the in-depth exploration of pathophysiological responses involved in processes affecting the body's optimal functioning. The ability to implement diagnostic reasoning, critical thinking, and the integration of scientific concepts with psychosocial and spiritual aspects of the human condition are enhanced using case studies. Human pathophysiological responses across the life span that incorporate the individual, families, and communities are surveyed.
Summary
NUR 6020 Advanced Nursing Research / 3 Credits
Main Content
A broad range of quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry are explored as a means to forward nursing research.
Summary
NUR 6025 Advanced Pharmacology / 3 Credits
Main Content
This course covers advanced knowledge of pharmacology integrated with the needs of the community served by the practitioner. A case-study method is utilized to support increased knowledge, development, and application.
Summary
NUR 6030 Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning / 3 Credits
Main Content
This course expands upon health assessment skills and diagnostic reasoning concepts to determine the health status of clients across the life span. Focuses on the collection and interpretation of clinical data derived from the history and physical exam.
Summary
NUR 8050 Development and Implementation of Health Care Policy / 3 Credits
Main Content
In this course the DNP student will develop knowledge, skills, and tools toward the DNP terminal competencies related to policy, policy development, and change to maintain high-quality care while remaining accessible and using scarce resources wisely.
Title (title large)
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum
Content
At the conclusion of the program, AGACNP students will have completed a total of 630 clinical hours:
- NUR 6984 AGACNP Practicum I – 126 clinical hours
- NUR 6986 AGACNP Practicum II – 252 clinical hours
- NUR 6987 AGACNP Practicum III – 252 clinical hours
28 credits
Summary
NUR 6980 Fundamentals of Acute Care I / 3 Credits
Main Content
This evidence-based course investigates the evaluation and management of adult and gerontologic populations experiencing acute and critical illnesses, including disease classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, assessment, and diagnostic evaluation. An emphasis is placed on advanced clinical decision-making, integrating advanced pharmacology, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual factors, genetics, and the impact of aging.
Summary
NUR 6982 Advanced Clinical Decision Making / 3 Credits
Main Content
This didactic and Sim Lab course focuses on critical care diagnostics and management technologies, including ABG analysis and ventilation management; cardioversion and pacing; lab; radiology; and CT interpretation. Emphasis is on obtaining comprehensive medical histories, conducting examinations, analyzing biotechnological data trends, performing differential diagnosis, and decision-making for critically ill adults.
Summary
NUR 6983 Fundamentals of Acute Care II / 3 Credits
Main Content
This evidence-based course investigates evaluating and managing adult and gerontologic populations experiencing acute and critical illnesses. This includes disease classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, assessment, and diagnostic evaluation. An emphasis is placed on advanced clinical decision-making that integrates advanced pharmacology; psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual factors; genetics; and the impact of aging.
Summary
NUR 6984 AGACNP Practicum I / 3 Credits
Main Content
This first practicum course will explore and apply the adult-gerontological ACNP role within the infrastructure of American health care. The focus will be on developing ACNP competencies and clinical decision-making. Discussions will include reimbursement, billing, role development, nursing and medical interventions, and other activities.
Summary
NUR 6985 Fundamentals of Acute Care III / 1 Credit
Main Content
This third evidence-based course investigates evaluating and managing adult and gerontologic populations experiencing acute and critical illnesses. This includes disease classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, assessment, and diagnostic evaluation. An emphasis is placed on advanced clinical decision-making; integrating advanced pharmacology; and psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual factors.
Summary
NUR 6986 AGACNP Practicum II / 6 Credits
Main Content
This first practicum course will explore and apply the adult-gerontological ACNP role within the infrastructure of American health care. The focus will be on developing ACNP competencies and clinical decision-making. Discussions will include reimbursement, billing, role development, nursing and medical interventions, and other activities.
Summary
NUR 6987 AGACNP Practicum III / 6 Credits
Main Content
The third practicum course will solidify the ACNP role with the expansion of advanced clinical competencies and clinical decision-making. Clinical experiences will focus and substantiate the utility of comprehensive patient assessment, management, and intervention strategies across the continuum of acute care. Seminars will focus on a variety of professional role development.
Summary
NUR 7000 Project Proposal Paper / 3 Credits
Main Content
This course is a rigorous culminating scholarly endeavor in which the student will integrate theoretical knowledge, clinical experience, and research in a faculty-guided project proposal.
Title (title large)
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university
- 3.0 GPA from undergraduate degree preferred
- U.S. unencumbered state RN license
- Before or during the program, applicants must also demonstrate completion of a Statistics and Research (Evidence-Based Nursing) course. This may be listed on transcripts as Statistics, Research Methods, or Evidence-Based Practice
To complete your application, you’ll need:
- Application and application fee
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of purpose
Button (primary)
Button Label
Start your application
Title (title medium)
Transfer Credits
Content
Students wishing to transfer course credits from an outside institution will need to meet with their Program Chair to review transcripts, course syllabi and fill out appropriate forms. A maximum of 12 semester credits of graduate work is transferrable if the following requirements are met:
- The institution is accredited
- Official transcripts and syllabi are available for review
- The courses are deemed to be equivalent in level, content, objectives, and competencies to the HPU graduate course it will be replacing
- The proficiency attained is equivalent to a "B" grade or higher
- Courses were completed within five calendar years of admission to HPU graduate nursing
Content
The following courses cannot be transferred to HPU for credit:
- Final project/paper or Capstone course
- Courses taken as part of a granted degree. For example, if a student has had a Master's degree in Public Health conferred, a health policy course taken during that curriculum may not be transferred in and applied to another degree requirements.
Content
Graduate-level attainments completed at institutions or through programs or examinations, evaluated by the ACE (American Council on Education) will be considered for appropriate transfer credit on the same basis as prospective transfer credit from graduate programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The Program Chair will use the ACE credit award recommendation as the starting point for the deliberation of credit award; in no case will more credits be awarded than the ACE recommends; usually the award will be more stringent.
Title (title large)
FAQs: MSN-AGACNP
Summary
How long is the AGACNP program?
Main Content
You can complete the MSN-AGACNP in as few as 28 months, depending on your course load and clinical placement scheduling.
Summary
Can I work while enrolled?
Main Content
Yes, the coursework is 100% online and designed for working nurses.
Summary
Where will I complete my clinicals?
Main Content
You’ll complete clinicals in a hospital or acute care setting near you, with placement assistance from HPU.
Summary
Do I need ICU or acute care experience before applying?
Main Content
Experience is helpful but not required. While prior experience in hospital or critical care settings is recommended, it’s not mandatory. Students with strong foundational nursing skills and a genuine interest in acute care can succeed in this concentration.
Summary
What certification exams will I be eligible for?
Main Content
ANCC or AACN board exams. Graduates may sit for either the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) or AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) AGACNP certification exams, qualifying them for APRN licensure.
Summary
Can I become licensed in another state after graduation?
Main Content
Yes, in most cases. HPU’s MSN-AGACNP program meets national standards and prepares you for APRN licensure in most U.S. states. Requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state board of nursing.
Summary
What’s the difference between AGACNP and AGPCNP?
Main Content
AGACNPs (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners) are trained to manage unstable, complex, and critically ill adult and older adult patients. They typically work in acute and hospital-based settings such as ICUs, emergency departments, and surgical units.
AGPCNPs (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners) focus on wellness, disease prevention, and chronic care management in outpatient settings such as private clinics, primary care practices, and community health centers.
Title (title large)
Tuition & Financial Aid
Content
HPU’s online MSN program is designed to be affordable, flexible, and accessible for working nurses advancing into APRN roles.
- $1,117 per credit
- Program length and total cost vary by specialization
- Eligible for federal financial aid and scholarships
- Employer-sponsored tuition assistance welcome
- Special tuition benefits available for active-duty military and veterans
Button (primary)
Button Label
View Full Tuition & Fees Info
Connect
{xf::fragments/connect}
Image
