Post BS-DNP Program

The Adult/Gerontology – Acute Care Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is educated at the master's or doctoral level with expertise in the care of the adult/gerontology population with high intensity nursing and medical needs, including acute, critical, and complex chronic health conditions. The population of interest is adults, from late adolescence through senescence, who have acute, critical and complex chronic health needs. The age and patient status, not the location of the patient, is key; students may care for patients in a variety of settings, including the patient's home, outpatient clinics, medical/surgical wards, critical care units, or emergency/urgent care units. Graduates assume an advanced practice role in the care of adult/gerontology patients with acute illnesses or with exacerbations of chronic illness and with high-intensity nursing and medical needs. While all students are expected to gain proficiency with care of adult/gerontology patients in acute care general medicine settings, students may also select an area of focus within the adult/gerontology population.

The Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) is a Registered Nurse educated at the master's or doctoral level as a nurse practitioner. The focus of care for the AGNP is individuals across the adult age spectrum from late adolescence through older adulthood including comprehensive end-of-life care. Graduates of the UCLA School of Nursing Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program assume an advanced practice role in the comprehensive care of patients with health promotion, disease prevention, chronic disease management and short-term illness or injury needs. Additional coursework in occupational health and environment can be added to prepare graduates in providing care to adults in work settings.

Occupational and Environmental Health certification option available: Students enrolled in the Adult/Gerontology Primary Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner specialties can elect to take additional courses in the UCLA School of Nursing and School of Public Health to prepare them for a role on interdisciplinary teams addressing worker health and safety in today’s global economy with increasingly complex and diverse work settings. With this option, students are educated to provide continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care to adults by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and illness prevention with emphasis on occupational and environmental hazard identification and control, screening, surveillance and rehabilitation of workers.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is a registered nurse educated at the master's or doctoral level as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. The focus of care for the FNP is children and adults of all ages, in the context of the family unit. The FNP is educated to provide high quality, continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care to children and adults by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and illness prevention. The FNP implements evidence-based practice guidelines and critically analyzes and adapts health care interventions based on individualized assessments of individual/family needs. The FNP practices in the context of community, with broad knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of the specific needs of people from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. Family nurse practitioners practice primarily in ambulatory care settings. Graduates of the UCLA School of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioners program assume an advanced practice role in the care of patients within the context of family, culture, and community. Understanding social determinants of health, Family Nurse Practitioners provide care to patients across the lifespan with a focus on health promotion, wellness, chronic disease management, and short-term acute injury and illnesses.

Occupational and Environmental Health certification option available: Students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialties can elect to take additional courses in the UCLA School of Nursing and School of Public Health to prepare them for a role on interdisciplinary teams addressing worker health and safety in today’s global economy with increasingly complex and diverse work settings. With this option, students are educated to provide continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care to adults by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and illness prevention with emphasis on occupational and environmental hazard identification and control, screening, surveillance and rehabilitation of workers.

The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care (PNP-PC) and the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (PNP-AC) is a Registered Nurse educated at the master's or doctoral level as a nurse practitioner. The focus of care for the PNP is newborns to young adults up to 21 years of age. The PNP-PC is educated to provide continual and comprehensive wellness and illness care by providing preventive health services, patient education, disease management and illness prevention. The dual-certified PNP is prepared to implement evidence-based practice guidelines and to critically analyze and adapt health care interventions based on individualized assessments of child/family needs. The PNP-PC practices in the context of community, with broad knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of the specific needs of people from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds. The PNP-AC practices in the context of high-intensity nursing and medical needs, including acute, critical, and complex chronic health needs. Graduates of the UCLA School of Nursing dual PNP program assume an advanced practice role in the care of newborns to young adults. The dual PNP will be able to provide comprehensive wellness and illness care through preventive health services, patient education, acute and complex illness, and chronic disease management.