Adult Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Preparing DNP students to be Clinical Nurse Specialists who provide care to acute and chronically ill adults and guide their units and peers

In-person class about 1x/month, with the balance of learning completed online
Full- and part-time options available
750 clinical practicum hours, and guidance in finding placements with qualified advanced practice preceptors (Clinical placement requires travel to a specific site to acquire knowledge, experience, and
practice with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Preceptor)
Experience in the School's INASCL-endorsed clinical simulation learning center is required
Graduates eligible for the adult-gerontology acute care CNS certification exam administered by AACN or ANCC
Application deadline: January 5

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) is an advanced practice nurse prepared to manage adult patients in acute, critical and specialty care units. The AGCNS specialty, available to nursing students as a specialty focus who enroll in the BSN to DNP program, emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice, and skills needed to manage adult gerontology patients through all phases of their hospitalization and follow-up.

Since its emergence in the 1950s, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role has been defined by expert advanced clinical practice and systems leadership, positioning CNSs to improve outcomes for complex patients, strengthen nursing practice, and lead change across increasingly complex healthcare systems. CNSs, often called the "nurse's nurse," are on-demand specialists who offer clinicians and patients on the unit, in the clinic, and at the hospital evidence-based guidance and mentoring along with top-notch advanced practice clinical care. CNSs are essential to improving the work environment, advancing evidence-based nursing practice, reducing turnover, and stabilizing the bottom line. Not only do CNSs help achieve optimal patient and quality outcomes, they play a critical role in systems level safe patient care delivery. supporting, mentoring, and retaining their fellow nurses. CNSs hold a unique advanced practice nursing role where they provide population specialty level expertise in implementation science and direct provider level care with full prescriptive authority in most U.S. states.

AGCNS students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making to communicate skills, strategies and collaborate with clinicians and healthcare team members, and the ability to manage and monitor clinical outcomes. A keen focus on evidenced-based practice, quality improvement through system-based leadership, management of population health outcomes, teaching and clinical research are also hallmarks of the AGCNS program.

Learn more about the CNS role by speaking with the specialty track lead or researching the role through the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist (NACNS).

The AGACNS is offered as a post-professional certificate or as a specialty track for students enrolled in the BSN to DNP pathway program.

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Upcoming DNP Admissions Events

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Classes for DNP Students Choosing the AGACNS Concentration

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Students who attend UVA are mentored by faculty members who are experts in their field as educators, clinicians, researchers. Their experiences are additionally enriched by access to other disciplines across the University, including religion, ethics, contemplative sciences, mindfulness, and medicine. All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop.

Though it depends on the degree with which students enter the program (whether it's a BSN or MSN), DNP students who choose the AGACNS concentration typically complete core classes, specialty courses, electives, and 14 credits (750 hours) of direct care practicum. View complete plans of study on our School of Nursing community website.

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BSN to DNP Pathway Admission Requirements

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BSN to DNP pathway applicants must:

Submit a completed application and submit an $85 application fee
Have a baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited (CCNE or NLN ACEN) school
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate study
Submit a resume or CV
All graduate nursing students, except those in the CNL master’s-entry program, and PhD students, are required to have an active unencumbered nursing license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or a compact license from the state in which they reside. We will not accept international nursing licenses
Send official transcripts for all post-secondary study
Be available for an interview, if requested
Beginning with applicants matriculating in fall 2027, admission to the BSN to DNP program requires one year of full-time work experience as an RN by the time the student matriculates into the program (typically Fall of each year)
International applicants have additional requirements

A competitive candidate:

Has an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher
Has an active membership in a national nursing organization, preferably in the applicant's practice area
Exhibits leadership behaviors in their professional practices
Earned a clinical certification, or is on a path to obtaining one
Has excellent writing skills

UVA School of Nursing Alumni are guaranteed admission if:

They meet minimum admission requirements
They have at least a 3.5 GPA from their BSN degree at UVA SON
Program capacity has not been reached

Candidates with generalist MSN degrees (CNL, nursing education, informatics, etc.) should apply to the BSN-to-DNP pathway. Enrolling students may petition to transfer up to 12 credits from their prior MSN degree to the DNP.

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Austin Stajduhar

Assistant dean for admissions

CMNEB 1025

nursing-admissions@virginia.edu

(434) 924-0066

SCHEDULE ADVISING APPOINTMENT

Sarah J Craig, PhD, RN, CCNS, CCRN-K, CHSE, CNE

Associate Professor of Nursing

Acute Care CNS Specialty Lead

sjw5y@virginia.edu

Want to learn more?