Acute Care Advanced Practice Program (NP/CNS)
Program
Acute Care Nursing Master's
Sub-Plans
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Program Focus
Education
The Acute Care Advanced Practice Program focuses on the care of patients with complex health problems including the care of adults with acute/critical and chronic illness. The U-M education and clinical preparation of Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialists includes a strong foundation in pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based management of complex patient problems, and leadership within the health care system. The foundational preparation is broad with increasing opportunities to specialize toward the end of the program which enables students to focus on a particular area of interest. All practicum are arranged by U-M faculty and offer rich learning environments for developing expertise in acute care nursing and for refining clinical leadership skills.
The main difference between the two courses of study is the subject matter each emphasizes. In the Nurse Practitioner program of study, emphasis is placed on advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning and decision making, therapeutic interventions, and consultation and referral skills. In the Clinical Nurse Specialist program of study, emphasis is placed on strategies to implement the CNS role, including evaluation and quality monitoring of nursing practice for selected patient populations, the establishment of collaborative and collegial relationships with health team members, and promotion of change within the health care delivery system.
Practice
The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) program trains graduates to practice as advance practice nurses in adult acute/critical care. More specifically, graduates are prepared to care for patients with complex health problems including those with acute, critical, and chronic health conditions. Pharmacology, diagnostic reasoning and decision-making, therapeutic interventions, advanced assessment, consultation and referral skills are intrinsic components of their practice.
The Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse who provides expert nursing care, implements evidence-based interventions and influences the delivery of care within the health care system. The course of study prepares a clinical nurse specialist to function autonomously and in collaboration with health care providers as a practitioner, educator, consultant, researcher and manager.
See the application requirements for this program.
"The Michigan Difference” in Acute Care
World-Class Faculty Leaders in Education, Research, and Practice
The faculty who teach in our program are excellent instructors, researchers, and practitioners.Living up to the title "leaders and the best," our faculty are actively involved in national organizations, using their expertise to help shape and advance the future of care and education.
Expert Faculty Practitioners in a Wide Variety of Clinical Settings
Our faculty also maintain active practices in a wide variety of clinical settings within the University of Michigan Health System – a premier health care organization. This varied range of faculty practice roles translates to a richer education and a broad range of clinical opportunities for our students. In addition, our faculty members are experts in evidence-based practice to optimize patient outcomes in all of their practice settings.
Diverse Settings and Talented Clinical Preceptors for Students
Not only does the does the University of Michigan School of Nursing have a broad scope of talented clinical preceptors available within the entire University of Michigan Health System, but we also commonly place students with skilled and knowledgeable preceptors at all of the major health systems in southeast Michigan and other locations across the state to meet student needs.
Faculty Coordinated Clinical Placement Assistance for Students
To help ensure that students receive the clinical experience that best fits their unique needs, interests, and goals, clinical faculty members play a key role in students' placement process. Through one-on-one discussion, our experienced faculty come to understand a student's position and then help match that student to a location that will engage and develop the student's skills.
Scope
The University of Michigan School of Nursing Acute Care Advanced Practice Program meets and surpasses the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies as outlined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).
According to the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies, the art and science of the profession is characterized by the following hallmarks:
- Health promotion, protection of disease and treatment with particular focus on assessment and diagnosis of health status and initiating a plan of care and implementing treatment
- Building the nurse practitioner/patient relationship
- Teaching/coaching function skills of the nurse practitioner
- Professional role development
- Managing health care delivery systems
- Monitoring the quality of health care promotion
- Care in regards to cultural competency
Specialty Appeal
Acute care nurses are in demand. With the increasing intensity and shortened length of stay of acutely ill patients in hospitals and the decrease in medical resident hours, a shift in hospital employment trends has increased demand for ACNs. According to SimplyHired.com, national job growth in this field was 23% from March 2008 through August 2009.
Consequently, over the years, as the role of ACNs has increased in capacity, the number of practice settings where acute care nurses work is continually expanding. Potential employment opportunities for graduates include intensive care units, trauma units, specialty practices, cardiopulmonary/neurology/surgery/oncology fields, emergency departments, long-term care facilities, home health care, and the list goes on.
In addition to being in demand and having a variety of practice settings to choose from, salaries for acute care nurses are highly competitive and rank among the highest for advanced practice nurses.
Finally, being an acute care nurse is both challenging and rewarding. ACNs are experts in the care of acutely ill patients with multiple complex problems, and research has shown that they provide quality care, decrease length of stay, and improve patient and family satisfaction. Furthermore, the addition of ACNs to the health care team improves communication and overall patient care. Acute care nurses frequently report satisfaction in their role and in their collaboration with physicians, often citing autonomy, involvement with patients and patients’ care, and collaboration as advantages.
For more information about the profession, visit the following websites:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
Curriculum
Listed below is the basic plan of study and required courses for the Acute Care Advanced Practice Program. The School of Nursing is committed to working with students to help them balance the demands of graduate education with their other personal and professional commitments. As such, students can select from full-time and part-time program plans.
Course Number | Course Name | Course Credits |
|---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
The Theoretical Base for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 | |
Strategy for Nursing and Health Care | 3 | |
Utilization of Nursing Research in Advanced Practice (An approved statistics and undergraduate research course must be taken before registering for N536) | 2 | |
Data Management, Analysis and Representation for Advanced Practice in Nursing | 2 | |
Nursing Scholarly Project | 2 | |
Specialty Courses | ||
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 4 | |
Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses | 3 | |
APN Role Development | 2 | |
Acute Care and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Theory I | 3 | |
Acute Care and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Theory II | 3 | |
Acute Care and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum I* | 3 | |
Acute Care and Gerontological Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum II* | 3 | |
Acute Care, Gerontological and Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nursing Theory III: Managing and Negotiating Health Care Delivery | 3 | |
Acute Care, Gerontological and Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum III* | 4 | |
Required Cognates | ||
P659 | Pharmacology I | 3 |
P660 | Pharmacology II | 4 |
Total Credits = 47 *NP and CNS students are placed in clinical settings appropriate to their roles | ||
