The concentration will train graduate-level nurses to provide care for critically ill and medically complex adult patients.
Lincoln Memorial University’s Caylor School of Nursing has expanded its graduate nursing courses with the new Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration. The AGACNP concentration will train nurses to care for critically ill and medically complex adult patients, as the need for these skills has been increasing in the local workforce. The concentration will become available for the Fall 2027 semester.
According to an article on Lincoln Memorial University’s website, Jennifer Stocks, DNP, FNP-BC, who serves as the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and FNP Program Director, was quoted as saying of the new offering, “With a proven track record of student success and certification pass rates that consistently surpass the national average, LMU is uniquely positioned to expand our graduate nursing program While our Family Nurse Practitioner concentration focuses on primary care and chronic disease management in outpatient settings across the lifespan, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration bridges a critical gap. This new concentration answers a vital need for providers specifically trained to manage high-complexity, critically ill adult patients within hospital or specialized clinic settings. Offering both concentrations allows LMU to support our local healthcare partners in meeting all facets of our community’s healthcare needs.”
The regional healthcare workforce has been reporting a shortage of individuals to fill roles in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, and as a result, nurses without these specialized skills have been hired and trained on the job through specialized training and residency programs. With the addition of the concentration at the Caylor School of Nursing, more nurses will come to the job with the skills already on hand, resulting in less burden on the employers to train them.
The new AGACNP concentration will require 44 credit hours, with the program being offered in a hybrid format. Students will take online courses, and then will be scheduled to complete on-campus intensives to give them hands-on learning opportunities. Students will be able to complete the program in four semesters if attending full time and seven semesters if attending part time.
For more information about Lincoln Memorial University, visit the school’s website.