Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner*
Education
If you have a desire to function independently and provide interprofessional leadership in caring for adults with complex health problems, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) concentration offers a flexible and rewarding career path for you. As a student in the ACNP concentration, you will develop the advanced knowledge and skills needed to manage acutely ill patients through all phases of their hospitalization and post-hospitalization follow-up. Students learn to manage patients through comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments, use of decision-making/diagnostic reasoning processes, performance of advanced practice skills and procedures, and implementation of evidence-based treatment strategies. Graduates of the VCU School of Nursing ACNP concentration are prepared to diagnose and manage complex health problems of adults across the life span, including acute/critical illness and injuries, as well as exacerbations of chronic conditions.
- Post-Baccalaureate Plan of Study
Full- and part-time students begin in the fall. Full-time students can complete the plan of study in five academic semesters. Foundational courses during the first year of enrollment provide advanced knowledge and skills in health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, health promotion, and evidence-based practice. The ACNP specialty courses address the independent health care management of adolescents (age 13 and above), adults and geriatrics, focusing particularly on providing continuity of care across settings in the management of complex acute, critical, and chronic health conditions. Students are prepared to assume an expanded scope of practice that includes direct provision of care ranging from disease prevention to acute and critical care management of adults across the life span as well as leadership to improve the delivery of healthcare services and patient outcomes.
Students in the ACNP concentration complete clinical rotations in which they are directly supervised by qualified healthcare providers who have expertise in the acute care management of adult-gerontology patients and are committed to student education. Clinical sites include, for example, emergency departments, intensive or sub-acute care units, specialty clinics, and ambulatory or urgent care clinics. School of Nursing faculty strive to provide opportunities for students to work with diverse patient populations.
- Post-Master’s Certificate Plan of Study
The post-master’s certificate in the ACNP concentration is designed for nurses who have already earned a master’s degree in nursing and wish to become an ACNP. The post-master’s certificate plan of study is tailored to meet the individual needs of students who plan to apply for certification as an ACNP and offers flexibility for those who may be working full time.
Certification
Students who complete the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program are eligible to apply for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Nurses Association. Students who wish to be eligible to apply for certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses complete one additional course on critical care management of adult-gerontology patients.
Clinical Practice
Restorative care is the focus of the ACNP. Short-term goals include patient stabilization, minimization of complication, and promotion of physical and psychological well being. The long-term goal is to restore maximal health potential while evaluating and addressing risk factors, as well as preventing or minimizing complications. ACNPs complete health histories and conduct physical examinations, diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems, interpret results from laboratory and diagnostic tests, and prescribe and manage medications and other therapies. ACNPs are prepared to deliver safe, high quality and evidence-based care focused on maximizing patient outcomes over the trajectory of illness and/or injury. In addition to managing patient care, the ACNP utilizes invasive interventions and procedures to promote physiological stability. ACNPs perform a wide variety of skills and procedures depending on the specific patient population and specialty-based area of practice. They provide health teaching and coaching with an emphasis on building a relationship with the patient, family and caregivers, which leads to improved health outcomes. Additionally, ACNPs provide leadership in areas of quality improvement while providing culturally sensitive care.
Demand for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
ACNPs are in high demand due to the increased acuity of hospitalized patients, higher intensity of care, and shortened length of hospitalization among acutely ill patients. As the role of ACNPs has evolved, the number of practice settings for ACNPs continue to expand. While many ACNPs practice in a hospital-based setting, including emergency departments, intensive/sub-acute care units, and specialty clinics, the continuum of acute care services spans ambulatory and urgent care clinics, rehabilitative care settings, long-term care facilities, and home health care in both urban and rural locations. As a life-long learner in a rewarding and challenging field, ANCP graduates embark on a professional career that offers flexibility in practice settings and multiple career opportunities. As an ACNP, you will make a meaningful difference in the lives of your patients, their families and your community.
Adult-Gerontology PCNP Concentration Coordinator
Lana Sargent, MSN, RN, FNP-C, GNP-BC
More information
For additional information about the Adult-Gerontology PCNP concentration and questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Enrollment and Student Services (OESS) at VCU_Nurse@vcu.edu. or call 804-828-5171.
We look forward to working with you as you consider the educational opportunities at VCU School of Nursing.
