Become a leader in equitable care for adult and geriatric populations with the #1 AGPC NP MSN program in the U.S.
According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, more than 73 million Americans will be over age 65 by 2030, with that number expected to surpass 80 million by 2040. This trend, combined with a growing emphasis on global health concerns, has created a critical shortage of nurse practitioners who can deliver specialized care to patients from adolescence to older adulthood.
Duke University School of Nursing’s top-ranked Master of Science in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPC) program addresses this urgent need. We prepare you to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care across the lifespan, collaborating effectively alongside physicians and other health care providers.
Our AGPC program equips you to be more than an assistant to physician providers. By the time you graduate, you’ll have at least 560 clinical hours of experience, ensuring you’re prepared to hit the ground running as a confident and skilled adult-gero primary care nurse practitioner.
#1
Master's Nurse Practitioner Adult / Gerontology Primary Care
Preparing advanced practice nurses as experts in adult and geriatric primary care in private practices, public clinics, hospital-based outpatient clinics, retirement communities, home care, and specialty practices.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Post-Graduate Certificate
For students who already have a master’s from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing school or in another approved discipline, we also offer an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate. This program allows you to build on your expertise with specialized skills and knowledge, advancing your career potential.
MSN Program in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Highlights
U.S. News & World Report ranks our adult-gero primary care nurse practitioner program as the top MSN program in the country due to our expert clinical mentorship and our accessible yet rigorous 42-credit hour curriculum that prepares future AGNP-PC nurse practitioners to adapt to the ever-changing health care sphere. The AGNP-PC major requires less time to complete, allowing you to begin your career sooner — all without sacrificing valuable clinical hours:
Distance-based learning:
Our adult-gerontology primary care program is designed with working nurses in mind. With our flexible online classes, you can advance your skills from wherever you are while still having time for your personal and professional commitments.
Expansive clinical partnerships:
During your adult-gerontology primary care program, you’ll complete at least 560 clinical hours to prepare you for certifications. Our program is more accessible, as you can complete your clinical training at one of our 2,000+ worldwide clinical partner sites. Our team will work with you to find the right one near you.
Advancing health equity:
In the coming decades, rural and underserved populations throughout the U.S. will be the most impacted by the severe shortage of adult gerontology primary care providers. Duke University is committed to preparing our AGNP-PC students to address this disparity by increasing access to care, understanding the impact of social determinants of health outcomes and finding lasting solutions to health inequities.
What Can You Do With an MSN in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care?
When you join our MSN program in adult gerontology primary care, you’ll focus on comprehensive and continuous care for patients throughout the lifespan, from adolescence to senescence. This means that among your many clinical skills, you’ll be especially adept at developing long-term relationships with your patients and their families.
With your MSN in adult-gerontology primary care, you’ll be able to:
- Take care of an increasingly aging population who desires to remain at home and requires less costly outpatient and home care.
- Work with teenagers, adults and older individuals as a primary care provider.
- Collaborate with doctors and other nurses to improve health care in your community.
- Care for veterans through our VA Nursing Academic Partnership program.
This expertise will prepare you to become a generalist in adult-primary care in a wide variety of settings, including:
- Community health centers
- Family practice/internal medicine clinics
- Hospital-based units
- Outpatient clinics
- Primary care clinics
- Private practices
- Public clinics
- Retail clinics
- Senior living and long-term health care facilities
- Specialty practices
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job opportunities for advanced practice registered nurses to grow up to 38% by 2032, making it one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country. While exact figures vary depending on location, experience, practice specialty and other factors, the BLS reports a median annual salary of $129,480 for APRNs, with the highest 10% earning more than $211,820.
Featured Faculty
Mary Lou Affronti
DNP, MHSc, RN, ANP, FAAN
Dr. Affronti is a three-time graduate of the Duke School of Nursing and has been an adult oncology advance practice provider (APP) for more than 40 years. As one of the first Duke oncology nurse practitioners who incorporated primary care in her practice with the Duke’s Bone Marrow Transplant Program and Brain Tumor Center, she became the Adult Clinical Director and led interdisciplinary teams to provide evidence-based clinical care while advocating for APP roles as a clinical nurse researcher.
Learn more about Mary Lou Affronti: Scholars@Duke
Meet Our MSN Faculty
Our internationally renowned AGACNP faculty foster a supportive learning environment that prioritizes your academic and professional success. They bring their real-world experience as nurse practitioners into the classroom, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your field.
The Duke Difference
Earn your Duke nursing degree or certificate while you continue to work.
Discover our unwavering focus on creating innovative, nurse-led models of care.
Learn from experts in distance-based and hybrid education for over 20 years.
Learn & practice at one of the most advanced health systems in the world.
Our faculty are leaders in their field, with real world clinical experience.
We have exceptional students, learning alongside talented & dedicated classmates.
MSN Admissions
The MSN program employs a holistic admissions strategy. We consider each candidate’s unique life experiences alongside their academic performance, grades and test scores. This ensures that our nurse practitioner students represent the diversity of patients you will care for in your career.
If you need additional assistance, contact our admissions team by email or phone: 877-415-3853.
We offer DROP-iN Chat for virtual Q+A Sessions along with PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS for application help.
Student Testimonials
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The School of Nursing has prepared me to take on a position in any specialty. I can say with certainty that I feel I could contribute to any unit, in a hospital or community setting because of the experiences and training that the school has afforded me. I want to give myself to others and be a servant to those in need. It’s hard to explain the call to be a nurse, but when you know, you know. I want to be a source of comfort and security for those in my care.
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Good, ethical medicine will rise naturally from the nurturing of good clinical relationships. Clinical practice that is virtuous – that seeks to know and accompany the patient in every moment, especially the most routine and mundane, will beget clinicians with a sense of their patient’s good.
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Duke University School of Nursing was my first option when I decided to pursue my PhD in Nursing, mostly because of the prestige of the school. I was initially skeptical about applying because I felt I wasn’t good enough to gain admission into such a prestigious school, but my initial conversations with some of the professors in the school changed my mind. The availability of the funding also provided an added incentive especially for an international student.
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It has been an utter delight to have the insight of all of my instructors. Each and every one of them has always given me the extra time and attention I request.
Financial Aid and Scholarships for MSN Students
As part of our mission to meet the needs of nurse practitioners nationwide, Duke School of Nursing offers a variety of financial aid options for MSN students. These include merit- and need-based scholarships up to full tuition for select MSN students. There are also federal student loan options to fully fund your MSN degree.
Learn More About Financial Aid & Scholarships