The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Post-Graduate Certificate Program (PGCP) prepares graduate nurses holding a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing to assess and manage the full continuum of care services for the acutely and critically ill. The core knowledge provided in the specialty coursework is based on the full spectrum of high acuity patient care needs. NPs returning for a PGCP in an NP population-focused area in which they are not currently practicing or certified may be granted academic credit for prior didactic and clinical experiences based on a gap analysis of an applicant’s academic/practice portfolio.

Two certification options exist for graduates of this program:

• Students completing the PGCP in AGAC meet the academic eligibility requirements to take the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements established by the ANCC and successfully pass the ANCC examination are awarded the credential: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (AGACNP-BC).
• Students completing the PGCP in AGAC also meet the academic eligibility requirements to take the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements established by the AACN and successfully pass the examination are awarded the credential: Adult -Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Credential (ACNPC-AG).

• Integrate relevant knowledge, principles and theories from nursing and related sciences into the advanced nursing care of individuals, families and populations. (Essential I)
• Demonstrate acumen in organizational leadership through effective collaboration, consultation, and decision-making. (Essential II)
• Integrate research translation and evidence appraisal  into advanced nursing practice to initiate change and improve quality outcomes.(Essential IV)
• Evaluate information science approaches and patient-centric technologies to improve health outcomes and enhance quality of care. (Essentials III, V)
• Analyze the impact policies, economic factors, and ethical and socio-cultural dimensions have on advanced nursing practice and health care outcomes. (Essential VI)
• Integrate the concepts of interprofessional communication, collaboration and consultation to effectively manage and coordinate care across systems.  (Essential VII)
• Incorporate culturally-appropriate concepts in the planning and delivery of evidence-based preventive and  clinical care to communities, and populations. (Essential VIII)
• Demonstrate expertise in a defined area of advanced practice nursing  that influences health care outcomes for individuals, populations and systems. (Essential IX)