An Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who provides primary patient care to adolescents and older adults. This care includes physical and psychosocial assessment, clinical decision-making, health promotion, and disease prevention. AGPCNPs often help patients learn how to navigate the healthcare system.
The AGPCNP attends to a patient’s long-term healthcare needs by establishing a trusting relationship with patients. This trusting relationship grows through periodic examinations and consultation regarding their health concerns and questions. By contrast, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) attends to patients who are acutely ill or dealing with complex health issues.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners often deal with care issues related to an older patient’s physical and psychological aging process. These issues may include Alzheimer’s, dementia, kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, and palliative care guidance. The AGPCNP may also work with under-served communities.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners apply the latest Evidence-Based Practices to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes.
As a primary care provider, the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner performs the following activities:
- Assessing and diagnosing patient physical and psychosocial conditions,
- Ordering and analyzing results of laboratory and appropriate medical tests,
- Caring for minor infections and immunizations,
- Developing and monitoring a Plan of Care,
- Educating patients on the maintenance of current health conditions,
- Promoting healthy lifestyle choices and how to improve existing conditions,
- Prescribing and monitoring medication, and
- Referring patients to specialists when necessary.
These activities are subject to the scope of practice rules of the state where the AGPCNP is practicing.
Visit the Nurse Practitioner (NP) job description overview for more information about NP practice.
Practice Specialties
During a degree or post-graduate certificate program, an elective course of study enables the AGPCNP to focus on specialized practice areas. Students usually choose specializations that correspond to areas of experience gained during their prior nursing practice as a Registered Nurse (RN). Given the wide age span of patients, from adolescents to frail older adults, an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner may specialize in areas such as:
- Acute Care,
- Cardiology,
- Emergency Nursing,
- Environmental Health,
- HIV/AIDS,
- Occupational Health,
- Oncology, or
- Orthopedics.
Areas of specialization vary by school. Certification Boards and professional associations offer certifications that provide additional education in these and other areas of specialization.
Practice Settings
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner may work in a wide range of primary care practice settings, including:
- Hospitals,
- Community Health Centers and Clinics,
- Outpatient and Ambulatory Clinics,
- Specialty Practice Clinics,
- Private Medical Practices,
- Veteran’s Administration facilities,
- Home Care,
- Long-term Care Facilities – Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Facilities,
- Rehabilitation Centers – Acute and Chronic,
- Correctional Facilities, and
- Urgent or Immediate Care Departments.
The AGPCNP frequently practices as part of a team that includes Physicians, Social Workers, Registered Nurses, and other healthcare providers.
Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice refers to the degree to which Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner may practice independently of oversight by a Physician. Aspects of AGPCNP practice independence vary by state and include:
- Practice Autonomy,
- Prescriptive Authority,
- Physical Therapy Referral Authority,
- Death Certificate Signature Authority,
- Handicap Parking Permit Signature Authority, and
- Workers’ Compensation Claim Signature Authority.
The ability of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners to practice with little or no Physician involvement distinguishes the AGPCNP from the Physician Assistant (PA). The PA is restricted to practice under the direct supervision of a Physician.
Scope of Practice for the AGPCNP varies by state based on each state’s legislative and regulatory rules. Prescriptive Authority varies by state and is regulated closely in the case of controlled substances. Visit the Color Coded Map and Sortable List to view how the Scope of Practice varies by state. For more detailed information, visit the Board of Nursing for the state of interest. Individual employers may impose Scope of Practice rules more restrictive than the state permits.
The growing nationwide shortage of internal medicine and primary care physicians leads to an ever-increasing degree of independent Nurse Practitioner practice autonomy and authority.
Education
The ability to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner requires a graduate-level nursing education. There are several degrees or certificate types:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Science, Nursing Major (MS-NM), or Master of Nursing (MN) – The master’s degree has been the most commonly offered degree type and is the minimum degree required for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner education. These degree programs are offered widely by public and private schools. The master’s degree in nursing focuses on advanced nursing theory and care practice. Read more...
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – In addition to studying advanced nursing theory and care practice, the DNP emphasizes using research results to improve the NP‘s nursing practice. DNP programs also emphasize the application of Evidence-Based Practice to improve the quality of patient care. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties is committed to transitioning all entry-level NP programs to the DNP by 2025. Read more...
- Post-Master's or Post-Doctorate Certificates – Eligibility is limited to individuals with a graduate-level or doctoral-level nursing degree. For example, someone holding an MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) would be eligible to enroll in an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate program. Read more...
Prospective students should verify that the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program they are considering is accredited. Proper accreditation ensures that graduates are eligible to sit for the certification exams required before becoming licensed to practice.
Use the Nurse Practitioner Search Tool to identify programs for this and other degree combinations from our survey of more than 710 schools.
Accelerated Degree Programs
Accelerated Degree Programs generally cost less and can be completed more quickly than enrolling in consecutive BSN and MSN or doctoral programs. Use the Accelerated Degree Program Search Tool to identify programs for this and other degree combinations from our survey of more than 710 schools.
Certificate Programs
Most schools that offer an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner master’s or doctoral degree also offer an AGPCNP post-graduate or post-doctoral Certificate Program. These programs are open to individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree in another nursing specialty who wish to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. These certificate programs should not be confused with certification offered by Certification Boards or Professional Associations.
Dual Programs
Some schools offer Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner study in Dual Degree and Dual Practice Programs. These programs save the student time and expense by eliminating duplicate coursework.
Dual Degree Programs
Dual Degree Programs award two degrees in separate but related areas of study. Students enrich their nursing education with study in another academic department. Some programs award an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner degree with an additional non-nursing degree, such as:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP, paired with a:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Nursing Leadership.
Other Dual Degree Programs award a degree in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty and an additional non-nursing degree in another academic department, such as:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP, paired with a:
- Master of Arts in Bioethics (MAB),
- Master of Arts in Religion (MAR),
- Master of Arts Divinity (MDiv), or
- Master of Public Health (MPH).
Graduates from these Dual Degree Programs are eligible to sit for the appropriate national certification exams and become licensed as required.
Use this Dual Degree Program Search Tool to identify programs for this and other degree combinations from our survey of more than 710 schools.
Dual Practice Programs
Some schools offer Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner study in a Dual Practice Program. These programs award a single degree that combines the AGPCNP with an additional clinical practice role. Education in Dual Practice roles enables graduates to work in an expanded range of practice settings and patient populations. This versatility provides the graduate with more career flexibility and growth opportunities.
AGPCNP Dual Practice Programs may offer these additional practice roles:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP, paired with a:
Graduates from these Dual Practice Programs are eligible to sit both sets of national certification exams and become licensed in both practice roles.
Use this Dual Practice Program Search Tool to identify programs for these and other practice combinations from our survey of more than 710 schools.
Tandem Degree Programs
Tandem Degree Programs award two degrees in the course of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner study. These programs save the student time and expense by eliminating duplicate coursework. Some schools offer AGPCNP Tandem Degree combinations, such as:
- Bachelor of Science, Nursing Major (BS-N), followed by a:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by a:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), followed by a:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), followed by a:
Graduates from these Tandem Degree Programs are eligible to sit for the appropriate national certification exams and become licensed as required.
Use this Tandem Degree Program Search Tool to identify programs for this and other degree combinations from our survey of more than 710 schools.
Top 10 Degree and Certificate Offerings
This table displays a count of the Top 10 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner degrees and certificates offered by more than 710 graduate nursing programs. This count includes degrees awarded singly, as the higher degree in a Tandem Degree Program, or as part of Dual Practice and Dual Degree Program offerings.
Certification
Graduates with an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner degree or post-graduate certificate program are eligible to sit for national certification exams:
One of these certifications, A-GNP or AGPCNP-BC, is a prerequisite for obtaining a state license to practice as an AGPCNP. These exams differ in several factors: the number of credentials issued, exam pass rates, costs, and third-party professional organization support. Contact the issuing organizations directly for more information.
Many AGPCNPs obtain certifications in additional areas of practice specialization. Review this site’s survey of more than 300 nursing and related healthcare certifications.
License to Practice
The Board of Nursing for each state issues licenses to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner within their state. The AGPCNP scope of practice, including Practice Autonomy and Prescriptive Authority, varies by state.
States participating in the APRN Compact and Nurse Licensure Compact have multistate APRN and RN license agreements. These Compacts ease the transfer of AGPCNP licenses and the ability to practice among participating states. Participation in these Compacts varies by state. Check with your state’s Board of Nursing for more detailed information.
Professional Associations
The primary professional association for Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners is the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) . Another national association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) , provides representation and resources for all Nurse Practitioners.
Other associations of potential interest to an AGACNP, focus in areas of clinical specialization such as critical care, oncology, or nephrology, to name a few. Additional associations at the state and local levels enable members to organize with their neighboring peers to address more localized issues. These associations may be chapters of national or international associations or organized independently.
This site includes an extensive, collated survey of more than 1,800 international, national, regional, state, and local nursing and related healthcare professional associations. These associations provide professional development resources and representation in numerous nursing and affiliated healthcare specialties.