Mission
The Mission of the Uniformed Services University Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) program is to educate safe, competent Clinical Nurse Specialists for independent practice in support of global military missions, delivering expert care across the wellness-to-acute continuum for adult-geriatric populations.
Philosophy
The AG-CNS program at USUHS educates nurses in the uniformed services for the advanced practice role of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). The program focuses on adult and geriatric care, with specialties in perioperative and perinatal nursing.
The curriculum integrates clinical practice, leadership, evidence-based practice, education, and consultation. Students learn to analyze scientific literature, evaluate outcomes, and translate evidence to improve healthcare safety and outcomes for patients and families.
Design
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) AG-CNS program is 36 months of full-time study combining didactic and clinical experiences across the wellness through acute care continuum within the five domains of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): leader/manager, consultant, educator, scholar (evidence-based practice) and clinical expert within the three spheres of impact for CNS practice (patient, nurse and organization). Within the three-year program, on average, graduates will obtain over 1800 hours of clinical experience USUHS graduates are uniquely qualified to provide quality care within Federal health care systems and austere settings. Evolving nursing roles, new scientific knowledge, and concerns about the quality and outcomes of patient care necessitated the creation of an enhanced curriculum that includes expanded coursework in healthcare leadership, research translation, and advanced clinical knowledge and skills.
The DNP AG-CNS program is a 36-month, full-time program in which didactic, simulation and clinical experiences are tightly and deliberately integrated using a life-span approach that supports the development of critical thinking skills. The program was built to achieve goals of the AACN 2021 Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, NACNS Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education (2019) , and the Competencies for Women’s Health and Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist (2023).
Across the three-year program, each graduate will acquire over 1800 direct practice hours, will create and implement a DNP project addressing a healthcare system problem and will create a personal portfolio demonstrating how they have achieved each of the 10 Essentials for Advanced-level Nursing Education.