Nurse Practitioner
The DNP FNP and ACAG programs are each 8 semesters (2.5 years) full-time study. The application deadline is March 1, 2023 for an August (Fall) 2023 start. Tentative plans are to interview late March 2023.
The Nurse Practitioner Concentration at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing offers two specialty track options:
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Adult Gerontology
- Family Nurse Practitioner Lifespan
Students who complete one of our Nurse Practitioner Concentrations at UTC traditionally score above the national average on their certification examination. For 2022, our Family Nurse Practitioner graduates had a 100% first time pass rate while our Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner graduates had a 90% first-time pass rate. The overall the first-time pass rate all NP students is above 96%.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Adult Gerontology
The Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-AG) Concentration is a eight-semester program. The BSN to DNP program consists of 80 credit hours and 1,050 clinical hours over 2.5 years. Courses are delivered in a variety of formats including online, hybrid, and face to face. Clinical/practicum courses provide experiential learning in the acute care setting.
Didactic and clinical coursework with preceptorships in Advanced Acute Care, Advanced Critical Care, and an Adult Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Residency prepares students for the national certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-AG). The student's education provides theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge and learning experiences emphasizing the development of clinical expertise needed to provide care for young adults (including late adolescents), adults, and older adults (including young-old, old, and old-old adults) in the acute care setting. Course work prepares students in theoretical foundations for advanced practice, health care policy, and clinical assessment and management.
Students have didactic and clinical courses concurrently, reinforcing course work in the clinical setting. Courses include advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology. From there, students complete the advanced practice core courses and the role-specific courses in Advanced Acute Care and Advanced Critical Care. The final ACNP-AG practicum allows immersion in the role as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Once certified, students who earn their DNP as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from UTC may begin work as an ACNP-AG feeling confident that they have the skills needed to work in acute care.
Family Nurse Practitioner Lifespan
The Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration is a eight-semester program. The BSN to DNP program consists of 83 credit hours and 1,050 clinical hours over 2.5 years. Coursework with preceptorships in Adult, Women and Pediatric Primary Care prepares students for the national certification exam offered by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The student's education provides theoretical and evidence-based clinical knowledge and learning experiences for role development as a family nurse practitioner, emphasizing the development of clinical expertise needed to deliver primary care for families. Course work prepares students in theoretical foundations for advanced practice, professional role, health care policy, and clinical assessment and management.
Students have didactic and clinical courses concurrently, reinforcing classroom work in the clinical setting. Courses include advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology. From there, students complete the advanced practice core courses and the three role specific courses in the primary care of adults, children, and women. The final family nurse practitioner practicum allows immersion in the role as an FNP. Once certified, students who earn their DNP as a Family Nurse Practitioner from UTC may begin work immediately as a graduate FNP feeling confident that they have the skills needed to work in primary care as well as a variety of settings.
The master’s degree in nursing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
