You would have to complete an AG-ACNP program and pass the certification exam before being permitted to care for acutely ill patients. For example, if you’re a nurse with several years of experience working in an ICU and you complete and graduate from a family nurse practitioner or other primary care NP program, you don’t have the formal education and training to manage acute diseases and conditions. Implementation of the Consensus Model and its adoption by the state boards of nursing requires that NPs work with the patient population for which they received a formal education, were nationally certified, and received licensure. ACNPC-AG certification exam offered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.AG-ACNP certification exam offered by ANCC.Adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AG-ACNP) students now choose to take one of the two national certification exams: The duration and design of post-graduate fellowships vary.Īfter development of the Consensus Model in 2008, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam was changed from adult acute care to adult gerontology acute care to reflect the population focus outlined in the Consensus Model (see bit.ly/2JKWklb). Postgraduate fellowship programs can help ease transitions and increase knowledge and clinical experiences, especially in high acuity settings like critical care. Some organizations offer fellowships or additional training. Many hospitals and outpatient practices have established onboarding processes and competency-based orientations to help provide a smooth transition. For example, an RN who has spent several years working in an epilepsy unit and is then hired into the neurology practice as an AG-ACNP to manage the same population with the same providers might need less orientation time than an AG-ACNP who worked on a surgical unit as an RN but is hired onto a hospitalist team to manage patients with acute medical issues. Differences in AG-ACNP programs and previous nurse experience mean that orientation should be individualized. (See Certification and consensus.) Orientation and onboarding for new AG-ACNPs vary by institution, individual provider, and role. Learning doesn’t stop after graduation and certification. A variety of clinical rotations allows students to explore specialty areas, network with other providers, and observe practicing AG-ACNPs. AG-ACNP students complete a minimum of 500 hours in faculty-supervised clinical rotations, which usually include different acute care settings and patient populations, giving students the opportunity to apply concepts learned in didactic classes and simulation to gain real life experience. Simulation frequently is used to teach and evaluate clinical decision-making and criticalthinking skills. Technology courses teach advanced diagnostics, including electrocardiogram (ECG) and x-ray interpretation, central venous catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion, and lab result interpretation. AG-ACNP programs also focus on epidemiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for a range of acute and chronic illnesses and injuries. NP students often draw from previous clinical situations or patient encounters while learning in the classroom and participating in NP clinical rotations.Ĭore curricula vary across AG-ACNP programs but they all must include advanced physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment (the “Three Ps”). An understanding or familiarity with acute care diagnoses and interventions provides a baseline for learning advanced assessment and diagnosis skills and how to manage acute diseases or acute exacerbations of chronic conditions. Many AG-ACNP graduate programs (masters, post-masters, or doctor of nursing practice) require 1 to 3 years of experience working as an RN in an acute care setting. Knowing about the educational preparation required for AG-ACNPs, as well as the settings, roles, scope of practice, and job outlook, will help you decide if this is the right career step for you. They care for adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. But the truth is, AG-ACNPs manage patients based on their acuity and needs, not the setting. Perhaps you think that adult-gerontology acute care NPs (AG-ACNPs) are limited to the hospital. Your perspective of the nurse practitioner (NP) role may be shaped by the NPs you encounter at work. This growing field offers opportunities in a variety of settings.
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