DNP in Nursing with Emphasis in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Students who pursue the Clinical Nurse Specialist area of study will be prepared as expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice (Adult-Gerontology). In addition to providing direct patient care, Clinical Nurse Specialists influence care outcomes by providing expert consultation for nursing staff and by implementing evidence-based practice initiatives to support improvements in healthcare delivery systems.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) offer certification as an Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Students who have completed a doctor of nursing practice degree in nursing in the AGCNS emphasis area are eligible to sit for the exam. Previous graduate-level coursework from another institution may be accepted toward the degree depending upon transcript review. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in order to graduate.
Degree Requirements
Students pursuing this degree are required to attend our Graduate Student Success Seminar and Competency Assessments in person on the University of Missouri campus. Please visit the School of Nursing website for details.
Some courses may require synchronous online class meetings. View our course offering schedule here.
| Core Courses | ||
| NURSE 7050 | Introduction to Scholarly Writing | 2 |
| NURSE 7101 | Graduate Student Success Seminar | 0 |
| NURSE 7110 | Advanced Nursing Roles and Professional Communication | 2 |
| NURSE 7160 | Scientific Foundations for Health Sciences | 4 |
| NURSE 8100 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURSE 8170 | Public Health, Sociocultural Issues, and Health Policy | 3 |
| NURSE 8830 | Informatics Applications and Innovations in Health Care Systems | 3 |
| NURSE 8910 | Translational Evidence-Based Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 8920 | Quality, Safety, and Performance Outcomes | 3 |
| NURSE 8930 | Health Program Design and Management | 3 |
| NURSE 9080 | DNP Residency Project | 3 |
| NURSE 9087 | Leadership and Transformational Role Institute | 2 |
| Emphasis Area Requirements | ||
| NURSE 7102 | Level II Competency Assessment | 0 |
| NURSE 7120 | Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURSE 7130 | Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 |
| NURSE 7140 | Advanced Health Assessment and Promotion | 3.5 |
| NURSE 7145 | Procedures and Diagnostics | 3.5 |
| NURSE 8089 | Transition to APRN Practice | 1 |
| NURSE 8103 | Level III Competency Assessment | 0 |
| NURSE 8310 | Health Disparities of Rural and Other Underserved Populations | 3 |
| NURSE 8400 | Adult and Geriatric Primary Care I | 3.5 |
| NURSE 8410 | Adult and Geriatric Primary Care II | 3.5-5 |
| NURSE 8550 | Advanced Diagnostics and Reasoning in Practice | 3.5 |
| NURSE 8710 | Clinical Management of Acute and Critical Care Problems | 2-5 |
| NURSE 8720 | Symptom Management in Acute and Chronic Illness | 3-5 |
| NURSE 9070 | DNP Clinical Residency | 1-5 |
| NURSE 9104 | Level 4 Final Competency Assessment | 0 |
| Electives - As needed to reach 72 credit hours. | ||
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the DNP in Nursing and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program's graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility, and application process. Your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you have applied before official admission to the University of Missouri.