Are you a registered nurse aspiring to specialize in acute care? The University of Miami’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program provides comprehensive training to equip you for the demanding yet rewarding field of managing acutely and critically ill patients. This program distinguishes itself by emphasizing research and evidence-based practice, ensuring graduates are adept at delivering holistic patient care within collaborative, interprofessional healthcare teams.
The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to integrate theoretical foundations with practical clinical experiences, with opportunities to focus on specific patient populations that align with your interests. A cornerstone of the program is its commitment to preparing students for advanced practice through guided practicums. Students are paired with experienced acute care nurse practitioners, physicians, or collaborative teams in diverse clinical settings. These immersive experiences are crucial for developing expertise in holistic patient care and interprofessional collaboration.
A significant advantage of the University of Miami program is its direct pathway to board certification. Graduates are eligible to undertake the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) certification exams offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Achieving these certifications validates your specialized knowledge and skills in acute care nursing.
The program offers flexible study options to accommodate different learning paces and schedules. You can complete the 37-credit program in one year through full-time study or extend your studies to one and a half years on a part-time basis. The full-time program commences each Fall semester, while the part-time option begins in the Spring. To facilitate a smooth transition into graduate-level coursework, students are encouraged to participate in an online Advanced Practice Preparation (APP) module before the start of classes, particularly to prepare for advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology courses.
Instruction is delivered by the University of Miami’s esteemed faculty, renowned for their expertise and commitment to evidence-based and patient-centered practices. The program leverages the rich and diverse healthcare landscape of South Florida for clinical placements. Students gain invaluable experience in a variety of hospitals and healthcare facilities serving South Florida’s multicultural population. This exposure includes managing acutely ill and critically injured adult patients from diverse backgrounds, including those from South Florida, the Caribbean, and South America, spanning adolescent, young to middle-age, and older adult populations (65 years and older).
