Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Program Outcomes

To prepare clinical nurse leaders, nurse educators, family nurse practitioners and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners who:

• apply knowledge of evidence-based practice,
• engage in life-long learning, and
• serve South Dakota, the region, the nation, and the world in urban, rural, and frontier health care settings.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate skills and knowledge specific to the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) role.
• Function in an acute care setting providing acute care to adults, older adults, and elderly patients with acute, chronic, and critical conditions.

Certificate Requirements

• NURS 738 - AGACNP Integration I Credits: 3
• NURS 739 - AGACNP Integration II Credits: 3
• NURS 741 - AGACNP Practicum Credits: 1-9 (9 credits required)

Notes

For additional information, refer to the Graduate Nursing Department webpage.

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 81 Internet-based
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
IELTS: 6.5 total band
Duolingo: 110

In addition to meeting basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants for graduate study in nursing must have:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse and FNP in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
• Completed graduate level courses in Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan), Advanced Pathophysiology (Lifespan), Advanced Pharmacology / Pharmacotherapeutics (Lifespan) with a course grade of 3.0 within the last 5 years. A gap analysis review will be completed on the courses to determine if the courses meet the program requirements. Applicants should send the course syllabi for each course along with an unofficial transcript to Assistant Director of Nursing Student Services to initiate the review.
• Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
• Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
• Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, and TB test.
• For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States:
  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
  • Master’s degree in nursing (from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
• For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States:
  • A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
  • A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Master’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system. 
  • International students: prior to admission: eligible to practice nursing in your country of residence — and RN licensure in one of the 50 states in the United States. We suggest the same state in which you will fulfill your clinical/research requirements; RN licensure in state(s) where you will satisfy clinical requirements or conduct research, if applicable to your course of study.
  • Meet the technical standards.

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.