Program Overview

Program Description

The Primary Care Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares primary health care providers for the community and ambulatory setting. It is designed to prepare the NP to exercise independent judgment in assessment, supervision, and management of the primary health care needs of the individual in consultation and collaboration with primary-care physicians.

The Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) program at the Loma Linda University School of Nursing will prepare students to exercise independent judgment in assessment, supervision, and management of the primary health care needs of adults and elders. The AGNP program emphasizes preventative care for patients 12 years of age and older. A part-time option is also available. The program is offered in a hybrid format, requiring only four days on campus each quarter.

As an AGNP, students will work with adult and elderly patients to diagnose illnesses, conduct exams, and prescribe medication as necessary. Working in collaboration with primary care physicians, students will receive training applicable in the community and ambulatory setting.

The Primary Care Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner BS to DNP hybrid program is 3 years and 9 months full-time, with a part-time option also available. The program is divided into four parts:

1. Core Courses: Most of the DNP Program Core courses and the prerequisite clinical courses require students to participate on-campus for 4 to 8 hours during Seminar Week in the middle of each quarter. Students are also required to be on campus to take all course exams, including the midterm and final exams.
   • NGRD 657 Intermediate Statistics: has four mandatory synchronous class meetings during each quarter, and students are required to participate in them either face-to-face or by Zoom.
   • NGRD 624 Advanced Health Assessment: has mandatory synchronous lab meetings every two weeks during the quarter.
2. Concentration Courses: Pharmacology I & II, and Advanced Pathophysiology meet up to four times a quarter.
3. Clinical Experience: The clinical experience is a combination of clinician hours and DNP Project hours, totaling at least 1000 hours. Students in the CNS and NP clinical courses will be assigned clinical rotations in the Inland Empire (IE) region of Southern California.
4. DNP Project: The DNP Project can be done in the workplace, allowing students to collect evidence-based research data.

Program Length

The program is 3 years and 9 months full-time, with a part-time option available.

Possible Careers

Graduates can pursue careers in private practice, clinics, nursing homes, and any environment where primary care is given.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: April 15 (quarter begins in September)
• Winter: October 1 (quarter begins in January)

Admissions Requirements

• Education: Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing from an accredited institution.
• Academic Performance: Minimum GPA of 3.0, both cumulative and in nursing coursework.
• Licensure: Current unencumbered United States RN license at the time of application, and California RN license must be obtained before the start of classes and maintained throughout the program.
• Experience: Minimum of one year of full-time RN experience is required before matriculating into clinical courses.
• Certification: Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) certification.
• Recommendations: Two electronic recommendations, including one from a recent nurse manager or director, and an additional recommendation from either a nursing peer or spiritual advisor.
• Interview Process: Completion of the Emotional Intelligence Interview Process, which includes a meeting with the program coordinator and another Graduate Nursing Program faculty member.

Discipline Accrediting Agency

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are prepared for certification by the State of California and the American Nurses Association as a Nurse Practitioner.

State Accrediting Agency

Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The California Board of Registered Nursing granted continuing approval in 2010 to the School of Nursing.

Expected Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. Estimated amounts may vary based on several factors.

Required Program Costs

• Tuition & Fees:
  • Year 1: $23,092
  • Year 2: $26,104
  • Year 3: $32,128
  • Year 4: $38,152
• Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance:
  • Year 1: $2,865
  • Year 2: $1,560
  • Year 3: $1,850
  • Year 4: $550

Other Educational Costs

Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.

• Living Expense (Food & Housing Allowance):
  • On Campus Dorm: $12,447 (Year 1), $16,596 (Year 2-4)
  • LLU Owned Rental Property: $21,942 (Year 1), $29,256 (Year 2-4)
  • LLU Owned Rental w/ Dependents: $22,437 (Year 1), $29,916 (Year 2-4)
  • Undergraduate Dependent w/ Parents: $7,650 (Year 1), $10,200 (Year 2-4)
  • Off Campus: $21,942 (Year 1), $29,256 (Year 2-4)
• Transportation Allowance: $3,150 (Year 1), $4,200 (Year 2-4)
• Miscellaneous Personal Expenses: $3,285 (Year 1), $4,380 (Year 2-4)
• Federal Student Loan Fees: $216 (each year)
• Cost of Obtaining Professional License: $2,200 (Year 4)
• Dependent Care and Disability-Related Expenses: available upon request

Notes

• Tuition/Fees is an estimation based on 3 quarters with an average of 10 units per quarter.
• Living Expenses are calculated for financial aid purposes and are based on 3 quarters (9 months).
• Actual amounts may vary.
• 70-75% of LLU Nursing students receive financial aid.
• Estimated amounts are for the academic year specified only and are expected to increase each year consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.