Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

We admit students for the MS, BS-DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs twice a year; Fall and Spring semesters. Please see Application Deadlines for more details.

• MS is completed in 2 years and 4 months (7 semesters).
• BS-DNP in approximately 4 years (12 semesters).
• Post Graduate Certificate is completed in 1 year (3 semesters).

Please see the posted program study plans.

The AG-CNS is a hybrid program. The didactic courses are offered in both an online and in-class format which alternate from semester to semester. The three CNS specialty courses (that come at the end of the program) are taught in an intensive, face-to-face setting, and uses interactive video conferencing to accommodate long-distance students. A CNS faculty will be assigned as your academic advisor and will work with you to develop a program plan to meet your individual needs and learning preferences.

Most students can complete the program at a distance online but need to be able to attend on-campus intensives. The AG-CNS core courses use interactive videos for distance students and local students who come to campus. It is advised students contact student affairs to discuss their specific state requirements prior to applying to the program.

​Yes. The AG-CNS program requires 12 credits of clinical experience, which equals 540 clinical hours.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is responsible for ensuring adequate and sufficient clinical experiences for students in all programs, including students enrolled in distance programs. Clinical placements are arranged by the College of Nursing for students who live in the Denver Metropolitan Seven-County area (Denver, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Broomfield, and Boulder counties.)

For those who live outside of the Denver Metropolitan area, the students are asked to take the primary role in identifying their preceptors. The Specialty Director will assess the preceptor qualifications and student learning needs and will make the final determination regarding student- preceptor match.

In the unusual situation that a rural or out-of-state student is unable to find a clinical preceptor, a student may be required to complete clinical experiences in the Denver Metro (seven counties) area to assure timely academic progression.

This process can take several months to achieve an affiliation agreement, so we highly recommend providing information about an institution to your Specialty Director shortly after program admission. However, if a rural or out-of-state student is unable to find a clinical preceptor(s)/site, the College of Nursing will provide a clinical site, which may NOT be in the geographic location of the student but will provide the student an adequate experience to meet the program outcomes.

Additionally, if there is a concern of a clinical practice, a student may be asked to complete the clinical time in the Denver Metropolitan area for more direct observation and assessment by the College of Nursing faculty/Specialty Director.

Yes. Successful program completion will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for edibility to take the national certification with American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), depending on which examination you choose.

The MS-CNS student interested in continuing their education in the PhD nursing program would meet with the PhD and CNS faculty to develop a program plan that facilitates student progression seamlessly between the two programs and be admitted to the PhD program prior to completion of the CNS. In addition, the PhD program is structured so that individuals frequently work while moving through course work, so you can practice as a CNS while completing this portion of your education.

Preceptors will vary with the type of clinical experience being sought. Preceptors suitable for CNS clinical experiences include advanced practice nurses (APNs) (i.e., CNS or NP), physicians and allied health professionals (e.g., respiratory therapy, nutrition, etc.), and nurse researchers and educators. The majority of your clinical hours should be completed with CNSs. We maintain a list of qualified preceptors in the Denver metro and surrounding areas.

CNSs work primarily in hospitals, but may also work in clinics, corporations, educational institutions, and in community healthcare settings. Our graduates are prepared to work in diverse healthcare practice settings in which care for adults and older adults is provided.​

​Currently, CNS graduates can apply for prescriptive authority in 38 of the 50 states. Requirements differ between states as to how many hours the CNS graduate must be observed prior to being able to apply for and be granted prescriptive authority. State specific information concerning APRN CNS, prescriptive authority, independent practice, and state specific reimbursement policies are available at state specific Board of Nursing websites and at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists is a great website to review and learn more about the CNS as an advanced practice nurse. Current publications, competencies, etc, for the CNS option are housed on the NACNS website.

Yes, you may take up to 12 semester credits as a non-degree student prior to being accepted to the program. You must meet all prerequisite requirements of the course. Non-degree students register on a space-available basis during open enrollment just prior to the beginning of the semester. Please contact the AG-CNS Program Director for guidance on which classes.