Post-Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): AGACNP Program
What Is a Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate?
Lifelong learning and ongoing professional development are particularly important in the medical field. A post-master’s certificate at Grand Canyon University enables nurse practitioners to advance their knowledge and skills in a specialty area. The Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with an Emphasis in Adult-Gerontology Certificate is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions. It’s available to students who hold a master’s degree in nursing and wish to enhance their career qualifications.
The post masters online acute care adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGACNP) program focuses on adult and geriatric acute care patients. It also focuses on sub-acute patients and those who suffer from exacerbations of chronic diseases. Classes are available through GCU’s online learning platform in select states. Students must undergo a supervised clinical/practicum and two on-campus experiences at GCU. In addition to classroom instruction, students are guided in hands-on, experiential activities to sharpen their skills.
The AGNP certification program is designed to align with the standards established by the following organizations:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Nursing Association (ANA)
- Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Take Classes That Mirror Real Care Situations
A blend of classroom instruction and hands-on experience in a collaborative environment comprise this post-master’s certificate program. Students prepare to provide advanced practice nursing care in acute, critical and complex care settings. Working through an evidence-based AGACNP certification program, students “practice hands on skills” of advanced health assessments, clinical diagnostics, procedural skill acquisition and the care management of diverse patient populations. Graduates are prepared to confidently lead nursing teams, make ethical decisions and skillfully communicate to diverse audiences. Some of the specific courses students take include the following:
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning with Skills Lab
- Health Promotion and Maintenance and On-Campus Experience I
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I and II
This post-master’s acute care adult-gerontology nurse practitioner certificate includes 675 hours of directly supervised clinical practice to align with national norms. Students are required to attend two on-campus experiences. The clinical experiences explore the physiological and psychosocial effects of acute and critical illnesses.
During the first on-campus experience, there are emphases on simulation experiences, skills, procedures, and specific lectures to prepare for clinical. The experience also focuses on examining community resources and integrating family and support systems into care. The second on-campus experience reinforces the foundational knowledge of advanced Pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment in preparing for the scope of a nurse practitioner. This experience also focuses on the preparation for the National certification board exam.
Career Opportunities as an AGACNP With a Post-Master Certificate
Nurses qualified as AGACNPs specialize in diagnosing and treating the acute medical conditions of patients from adolescence into advanced age. Some of the main objectives of an AGNP are to:
- Stabilize the patient
- Lower the risk of complications
- Restore the patient to optimal health
- Offer palliative care
- Make appropriate referrals to specialists
Since AGACNPs focus on acute care and chronic care management, they may pursue work at hospitals, clinics and other outpatient facilities.As an alternative to working directly with patients, some AGACNPs may decide to pursue opportunities as postsecondary nursing instructors.
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles. This course is used to guide the advanced nursing practice student in understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms and diagnostic markers indicative of illness. Emphasis is placed on the following systems: cellular environment and inflammatory changes; fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance; genetics, genetic diseases, and the role of the environment; stress, disease, and the development of neoplasms; hematology and alterations in immunity. In addition, the physiology and pathophysiology of the endocrine, pulmonary, renal, digestive and integumentary, cardiovascular and lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and neurological systems, including mood disorders, are addressed. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate nursing program or college approval.
Course Description
This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice. This course also places an emphasis on the strong influence of physiological variables (age, ethnicity, or pregnancy) and pathological conditions (hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiac dysfunction) on drugs’ pharmacological response. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between patient’s physiological/pathological variables and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics can provide additional insight for practitioners in predicting potential drug interactions, and thus will provide additional guidance in prescribing strategies. This course also includes clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; clinical toxicology; and pathology and pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone and joint, infectious, reproductive, and dermatological disorders. Prerequisite: NUR-631.
Course Description
This course builds upon the student's undergraduate and clinical assessment skills, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role. This course addresses the completion and interpretation of a head-to-toe assessment in addition to focused assessments for chief complaints that include physical, psychosocial, spiritual, risk, and functional assessments in diverse populations and across age groups. Students learn a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making to establish differential diagnoses. Prerequisites: NUR-631, and either NUR-632, NUR-633, or NUR-635.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Students explore concepts relevant to acute care, including integration of the family and patient support systems into care. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Students examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Students explore concepts relevant to acute care, including integration of the family and patient support systems into care. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Students examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course focuses on evidence-based theory and research related to adult-gerontological patients experiencing acute illnesses with comorbidities. Students synthesize data from a variety of health resources related to the care of the adult-gerontological patient. Students analyze common problems seen in the acute care setting to develop prioritized differential diagnoses, make clinical judgments, and recommend appropriate treatments for acute alterations in health with particular emphasis on restorative care. Clinical practice affords students the opportunity to refine their clinical decision-making skills in advanced health assessment, clinical diagnosis, procedural skill acquisition, and care management of acute and chronically ill adult-gerontological patients. Practicum experiences emphasize the physiological and psychosocial impact of acute and critical illness on patients, family, and community. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: ANP-635.
Course Description
This course continues to focus on evidenced-based theory and research related to acute illnesses in the adult-gerontological population in the acute care setting. Students build on prior knowledge and synthesize data from a variety of health resources related to the care of the acutely ill patient. Utilizing a systems framework, students further develop clinical judgment and decision-making skills in order to recommend treatments for alterations in different systems as they develop an evidence-based plan of care. Clinical practice affords students the opportunity to refine their clinical decision-making skills in advanced health assessment, clinical diagnosis, procedural skill acquisition, and care management of acute and chronically ill adult-gerontological patients. Practicum experiences emphasize the physiological and psychosocial impact of acute and critical illness on patients, family, and community. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: ANP-650.
Course Description
This course serves as the final synthesis of evidenced-based theory and research related to care of complex, acute, and critically ill adult-gerontological and frail elderly patients with comorbidities. Students continue to build on prior knowledge and synthesize data from a variety of health resources related to the care of the acutely ill patient. Utilizing a systems framework, students further develop appropriate clinical judgment and decision-making skills regarding appropriate recommendations and treatments related to alterations in different systems as they develop an evidence-based plan of care for adult-gerontological patients. Practicum experiences emphasize the physiological and psychosocial impact of acute and critical illness on patients, family, and community, and prepare the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the diagnosis and management of chronic, exacerbated, acute, and life-threatening health problems. This course includes a required 1-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: ANP-652.
Course Description
This course serves as the final synthesis of evidenced-based theory and research related to care of complex, acute, and critically ill adult-gerontological and frail elderly patients with comorbidities. Students continue to build on prior knowledge and synthesize data from a variety of health resources related to the care of the acutely ill patient. Utilizing a systems framework, students further develop appropriate clinical judgment and decision-making skills regarding appropriate recommendations and treatments related to alterations in different systems as they develop an evidence-based plan of care for adult-gerontological patients. Practicum experiences emphasize the physiological and psychosocial impact of acute and critical illness on patients, family, and community, and prepare the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the diagnosis and management of chronic, exacerbated, acute, and life-threatening health problems. This course includes a required 1-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: ANP-652.
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* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.