Master of Science in Nursing

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The nurse practitioner is a skilled health care provider who uses expert clinical judgment and decision making in conducting comprehensive health assessments, making differential diagnoses, and prescribing of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in the direct treatment of health problems. Nurse practitioners function as care providers, case managers, researchers, consultants, and educators. Two nurse practitioner tracks are offered at the college: family nurse practitioner and acute care nurse practitioner.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Graduates of the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track are eligible to sit for national certification as both an ACNP and as Adult Nurse Practitioner. Acute care nurse practitioners focus on the care of adults with acute or chronic illnesses and may practice in the hospital, home, or clinic setting. The ACNP provides expert interventions focused on health promotion, illness prevention, and health care management. They make rounds with and without their collaborative physician, write progress notes and orders, do discharge teaching and follow up with patient referrals and continuing care. Some see patients in the office setting managing the full spectrum of care.