AGACNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Preparing students to be advanced practice nurses who provide care to acute and chronically ill adults.

• Offered as a master's degree, as a post-master's certificate, or as a specialty track for students enrolled in the BSN to DNP pathway program
• #7 public MSN program at Virginia's #1 nursing school
• Full- and part-time options available
• More than 500 hours of clinical experience
• Two years (full-time) or three years (part-time) to complete
• Graduates are eligible for the adult-gerontology acute care NP certification exam administered by AACN or ANCC
• Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
• Application deadline: January 5

The Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) is an advanced practice nurse prepared to manage adolescent and adult gerontology patients with acute or critical illness or injury and/or chronic disease across the trajectory of their care needs. UVA's program emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice and skills, and systems’ leadership needed to manage these patients and their families for optimal outcomes. AGACNP students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, preparation for prescriptive authority, strategies to communicate and collaborate with clinicians and all members of the interdisciplinary team, and the ability to manage and improve  clinical outcomes. A keen focus on evidenced-based practice, teaching and clinical research are also program hallmarks.

The AGACNP track offers baccalaureate-educated nurses with at least one year of full-time RN experience the opportunity to advance their practice as nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses. The AGACNP is offered at the MSN, post-master's certificate, and as part of the BSN to DNP pathway program.

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Classes

Full-time students begin study in the fall, and complete the program in 21 months, including summer session in year 1. In the first year, the full-time student has didactic classes on Thursdays and Fridays (in the fall and spring). When the student begins AGACNP practicums, the didactic component is generally on one day of the week. Clinical practicum days will vary widely depending on the student’s clinical site and preceptor and may include hours outside the typical work week.

MSN Core Coursework (23-24 credit hours)

• GNUR 6010: Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
• GNUR 6020: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
• GNUR 6027: Advanced Pharmacology Specialty Seminar (1 credit)
• GNUR 6025: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)/GNUR 6025: Advanced Neonatal & Pediatric Assessment and Reasoning (4 credits)
• GNUR 6031: Transition to Advanced Practice (2 credits)
• GNUR 6050: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 credits)
• GNUR 6054: Research & Biostatistical Processes for Health Care (4 credits)
• GNUR 6056: Health Policy: Leading Change to Advance Population Health (3 credits)

AGAC NP Specialty Diagnoses & Management Coursework (10 credit hours)

• GNUR 6310: AGAC Seminar I (4 credits)
• GNUR 6121: Diagnostics & Therapeutics (3 credits)
• GNUR 6315: AGAC Seminar II (3 credits)

AGAC NP Specialty Practicum Coursework (10 practicum hours)

• GNUR 7312: AGACNP Practicum I (5 credits)
• GNUR 7314: AGACNP Practicum II (5 credits)

Clinicals

Students complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the AGACNP track in two semester-long preceptorships (GNUR 7312 and GNUR 7314). The first clinical course is typically completed at the top-ranked UVA Medical Center, which adjoins the School of Nursing. The UVA Medical Center—a nationally-ranked 590-bed, Level I trauma center with 6 adult ICUs—provides an excellent clinical site with a wealth of professional and technological resources. The second practicum may be completed at another facility in Virginia with prior arrangement of the program coordinator. Clinical placement sites are assigned based upon optimal learning experiences, students' requests, interagency contracts, and availability.

All clinical/practicum activities are generally conducted within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Clinical/practice activities may be conducted outside Virginia if the University is authorized to place students in that state and pending faculty approval.

Palliative Care

The UVA School of Nursing is a leader in integrating compassionate care and the central precepts of palliative care into the education of future nurses and advanced practice nurses. Students who attend UVA can be mentored by a growing faculty of over 15 national and international experts in palliative care—educators, clinicians, researchers. Great opportunity awaits the student to develop palliative care as a specialty in their practice—across the lifespan and all care settings. This experience is enriched by the student's access to other disciplinary programs across the University such as religion, ethics, contemplative sciences, mindfulness, and medicine.