Concentration Highlights
Intensive Full-Time Course Immersion
Coursework for the AGPCNP concentration is delivered over 24 months. Courses are administered over six semesters, with an average of 3 courses per semester or 5 – 9 credit hours. Excluding practicum rotations, students complete all required courses online in asynchronous format.
Following a virtual orientation held before the start of the concentration, students are required to complete 45 total credits of nursing coursework, including 12 credits of Core Master of Science in Nursing courses and 34 credits of AGPCNP concentration courses. Students complete these credits over 15 courses, including practicum rotations totaling 570 hours. Students will take classes over 8-week intensive semesters and 16-week full-length semesters.
Hands-On Practicum Hours
The AGPCNP concentration requires students to complete 570 practicum hours. All students must complete these hours to graduate successfully. Practicum rotations allow students to apply the skills they’ve learned throughout the concentration to advanced practice nursing in a primary care setting. Students and faculty work in collaboration to secure practicum rotations at approved sites.
The AGPCNP concentration employs a dedicated Clinical Coordinator to assist students with approving practicum rotation sites, including assistance on proper compliance with State Board of Nursing requirements. View the current list of approved Board of Nursing Authorizations for Preceptor Placements. Due to the intense commitment required to complete practicum rotations, students are encouraged to refrain from maintaining full-time employment while completing them.
Committed Nursing Faculty
UP’s world-class nursing faculty offers students a distinctive and transformative learning experience. Students and faculty alike engage in collegial and collaborative relationships with one another throughout the concentration. Students graduate prepared to serve as nursing leaders within their communities by providing high-quality, evidence-based care to all patients.
An Accredited Nursing Concentration
The University of Providence is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Montana Board of Nursing (MBN). In addition, all baccalaureate and master’s degree programs at the University of Providence are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
*The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is currently seeking accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
*The Post-Masters Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration Certificate is currently seeking accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Exam-Preparedness & Eligibility
Graduates of the AGPCNP concentration will be eligible to apply for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination upon graduation. Students are also eligible to pursue other examinations as deemed appropriate by certifying bodies.
University of Providence AANPCB Pass Rates
2023 – 92%
Application Information
Requirements & Eligibility
Application: Applicants must submit a completed application through NursingCAS
Application Fees: Applicants must submit an $80 application fee required by NursingCAS
College Transcripts: Applicants must submit undergraduate university transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to NursingCAS from the college/university
GPA Requirements: Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Applicants with a GPA below 3.0, or who do not have a transcript with an officially calculated GPA, may be required to complete the GRE exam at the discretion of the program coordinator. Recommended GRE scores are 150 verbal and 149 quantitative.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Applicants must submit an up-to-date resume or CV
Applicants should include all volunteer and extracurricular experiences
Degree Requirements: Applicant must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Degree must be completed and issued through an accredited nursing university
RN License: Applicant must hold an active, unencumbered registered nurse license
RN license must be issued in the state the applicant resides and works in
Admission Deadlines
Applications for the Master of Science in Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration are accepted for the fall and spring enrollments. All applications must be submitted through the NursingCAS Application on the Graduate Admissions Page:
- NursingCAS Spring 2025 Admissions Deadline: December 18, 2024
- NursingCAS Fall 2025 Admissions Deadline: August 2025
Concentration Vision
At the University of Providence Great Falls Nursing, our vision is to set the standard for nursing excellence through transformative education, innovation, and compassionate care. We aspire to empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to lead in the dynamic field of healthcare. Our commitment extends beyond academic excellence to nurturing a community of professionals who are dedicated to improving health outcomes, advocating for vulnerable populations, and contributing to the global health landscape with integrity and respect. We envision our graduates as pioneers of change, equipped to address the complexities of modern healthcare with confidence, empathy, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of all individuals.
Concentration Mission
The concentration’s mission is “to prepare graduates for accountable and professional nursing practice that is relationship-based, vigilant, theory-guided, and grounded in the best possible evidence.”
A graduate of the concentration will be a leader in healthcare. Graduates will be excellent communicators, clinicians, and leaders of change. A graduate is a lifelong learner and will enhance the nursing profession by providing nursing evidence-based practice that is population-centered, as well as grounded in spiritual, ethical, and compassionate care.
Conceptual Framework
The concentration’s mission is supported by a conceptual framework consisting of the following constructs:
Relationship-Based Care
The University of Providence’s Masters of Science in Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration honors the patient and family as the center of the care delivery team. In relationship-based practice, excellent patient care outcomes are achieved through collaborative and sacred relationships among the patient, his or her family, and the healthcare team.
Vigilance
Nursing vigilance is reflected in unwavering attention to both the patient and the care delivery environment. This vigilance protects patients from harm and ensures their safe passage as they journey through the continuum of their care experience.
Professional Accountability
The professional nurse is accountable for nursing outcomes of care delivery by ensuring vigilant care processes, maintaining expertise in practice, and creating healing care environments. The professional nurse is answerable for practice that consistently meets established standards. This accountability includes the steadfast pursuit of opportunities to coach and mentor other members of the inter-professional healthcare team. Nurses are at all times responsible for their own self-care, professional development, and proactive career management.
Change
Constant, complex change is the expected norm and sets the context for contemporary life in health care delivery. Professional nurses thrive in–and are prepared to lead and manage positive change in improving health, with patients, colleagues, and communities.
Concentration Themes
Nursing students at the University of Providence will learn these themes and more:
- Compassion, ethics, and spirituality
- Patient and family-centered care
- Leadership and effective advocacy
- Evidence-based practice
- Population and Community Health
- Transforming healthcare
- Safety and quality outcomes
- Professional accountability
- Collaboration and inter-professional teams
- Reflective practice and lifelong development
Concentration Information
Learning Outcomes
AGPCNP concentration students at the University of Providence will achieve these outcomes and more:
- Integrate findings from the sciences and humanities toward the continual improvement of nursing care across diverse settings.
- Apply knowledge of organizational and system leadership practices.
- Select and apply quality improvement strategies to optimize safety and outcomes.
- Utilize clinical scholarship as a foundation for practice.
- Apply technology to enhance care, promote lifelong learning, and facilitate data generation and use.
- Promote social justice and human dignity through policy and advocacy.
- Lead and collaborate in interprofessional teams to improve individual and population health outcomes.
Skills You’ll Learn
AGPCNP concentration students at the University of Providence will learn these skills and more:
- Nursing Research
- Advanced Assessment
- Diagnosis & Care Plans
- Interprofessional Collaboration With Healthcare Professionals & Patients
- Health Promotion & Preventative Care
Concentration Themes
AGPCNP concentration students at the University of Providence will learn these themes and more:
- Advocacy for social justice and human dignity
- Inquiry and scholarship
- Optimization of safety, quality, and outcomes
- Innovation
- Leadership
State Preceptor Information
Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration Board of Nursing authorization for preceptor placements:
- Alaska | Preceptor Registration Link: Alaska State Board of Nursing
- ** Must Submit Specific Board Of Nursing Paperwork
- Arizona | Preceptor Registration Link: Arizona State Board of Nursing
- California | Preceptor Registration Link: California Board of Registered Nursing
- Idaho | Preceptor Registration Link: Idaho Board of Nursing
- Montana | Preceptor Registration Link: Montana Board of Nursing
- Nevada | Preceptor Registration Link: Nevada State Board of Nursing
- Oregon | Preceptor Agreement Link: Oregon Board of Nursing
- Washington | Preceptor Registration Link: Washington State Department of Health
** Students in states other than those listed above must work with the University of Providence and the designated State Board of Nursing for appropriate preceptor approval BEFORE rotations begin.
Concentration Curriculum
The Master of Science in Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration is administered over 24 months, with new cohorts accepted in the fall (August) and spring (January) enrollment periods. Students will enroll in 6 semesters with an average of 3 classes per semester or 5 – 9 average credit hours per semester. Students will complete a total of 45 credits upon graduation. Students also complete 570 practicum hours.
Learn More: Master of Science in Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration Curriculum
Masters of Science in Nursing CORE Courses
- MSN 515: Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 522: Research & Nursing Practice (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 530: Social Justice, Law & Policy In Healthcare (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 540: Organizational Leadership (3 Semester Credits)
Nurse Practitioner Concentration Courses
- MSN 510: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 519: Applied Physiology & Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 Semester Credits
- MSN 529: Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 575: Advanced Health Assessment (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 590: Clinical Practical Seminar (1 Semester Credit)
- MSN 602: Patient Care Management of the Adolescent & Young Adult (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 603: Patient Care Management of the Adult (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 604: Patient Care Management of the Older Adult (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 620: Patient Care Management Practicum I (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 630: Patient Care Management Practicum II (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 640: Patient Care Management Practicum III (3 Semester Credits)
- MSN 655: Transition to Advanced Practice Nursing (3 Semester Credits)
Total Master of Science in Nursing CORE Semester Credits: 12
Total AGNP Concentration Semester Credits: 34
Nurse Practitioner Practicum Hours: 570
** Upon admission to degree candidacy, a student may submit up to six (6) semester credits of appropriate graduate coursework with grades of “B” (3.0) or better from accredited graduate schools to satisfy degree requirements. The Program Coordinator, upon the advice of the Faculty Advisor, may accept transfer credits from an official transcript reflecting those credits. Acceptability of transfer credit rests on its relevance to the course of study being pursued and on the date of the instruction. Coursework older than six (6) years at graduation may not be submitted for transfer credit.
Additional Links & Resources
University of Providence Quick Links
- Tuition & Fees at the University of Providence
- How to Apply to the University of Providence
- University of Providence Mission & Catholic Identity
- School of Health Professions News & Announcements
- University of Providence Accreditation Information
MSN-AGPCNP Concentration Quick Links
Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive
The University of Providence is committed to supporting the healthcare workforce by empowering current healthcare professionals to start, enhance, or advance their careers in healthcare. The Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive (HPTI) Program provides currently employed healthcare professionals with the opportunity to apply tuition discounts to in-demand programs offered through the School of Health Professions catalog.
Visit the Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive Program page to learn more.
Providence Health & Services Partnership
UP’s unique partnership with Providence Health allows eligible Providence Caregivers and their dependents to receive an exceptional education from an accredited, faith-based, university. Caregivers and their dependents who enroll at the University of Providence may receive many possible benefits, such as discounted tuition rates and preferred admission, as part of their education benefits. Visit the Providence Human Resources Service Portal to learn more about caregiver education benefits, the application process for the programs, and tuition discounts.
Careers as an AGPCNP
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners are critical in facilitating the primary care of adult patients. The responsibilities of an AGPCNP include but are not limited to assessing a patient’s overall health, diagnosing patient health conditions based on symptoms, and creating patient care plans to improve and maintain a patient’s health in the short and long term.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners work in various healthcare settings, including long-term care, private healthcare practices, community or organizational healthcare clinics, urgent-care facilities, and more. Job growth for Nurse Practitioners is projected to increase significantly between 2021 and 2031 – with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting the addition of 118,600 new jobs. The job outlook for Nurse Practitioners is expected to increase by 40%, much faster than the average rate of 5% for all occupations.
Program Costs
The University of Providence is committed to affordability and providing pricing transparency for all School of Health Professions programs. Pricing transparency at UP includes:
- Accessible and up-to-date information on tuition costs, university fees, application and admission fees, deposit amounts, and additional program costs.
- Cost of attendance worksheets outlining specific tuition layouts by program and semester.
- Information about scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts for specific groups.
- Information about the financial aid process.
Visit the Tuition and Fees page to access the latest pricing information. Access the Master of Science in Nursing Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Concentration Estimated Cost Breakdown sheet to view pricing information for this concentration, including a cost breakdown by semester and associated concentration costs. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more about the financial aid process.
Accreditation
The University of Providence’s Bachelor and Masters of Science in Nursing programs are fully accredited through regional and national accrediting boards.
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The University of Providence is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Information can be found on the NWCCU website, and Comments can be directed to the NWCCU staff at the following address:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558-4224
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The baccalaureate degree programs (RN-BSN and ABSN) in nursing and master’s degree programs in nursing at the University of Providence are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791
Montana Board of Nursing
The University of Providence is accredited by the Montana Board of Nursing. Information can be found on the Montana Nursing Board website, and Comments can be directed to the Montana Nursing Board staff at the following address:
Montana Board of Nursing
PO Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2380
