Nursing, Nursing Advanced Practice, Exam Prep
The Ins and Outs of Being an AG-ACNP
Feb 21, 2019
Thinking about the next step in your career? The nursing profession is a robust field, with certifications running the gamut of clinical, managerial, and educational specialties. But which is the best choice for you? Here, we’ll take a deep dive into what it means to be an AG-ACNP (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner).
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: What Does It Mean?
Commonly known by the acronym AG-ACNP, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner has earned at least a graduate degree and provides advanced nursing care to independently meet the needs of adult and geriatric patients. This includes older teens, adults, older adults, and frail elders. What differentiates an AG-ACNP from an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP is the focus on caring for patients who are acutely or critically ill, psychologically unstable, technologically dependent, highly vulnerable to complications, and/or have chronic or terminal illnesses. Increasingly, hospitals are requiring their nurse practitioners with other certifications to become certified as an AG-ACNP.
What Does an AG-ACNP Do?
The AG-ACNP’s scope of practice is based on the acuity and needs of a patient rather than on the location of the patient who is being treated. Thus, an AG-ACNP can work in many different places, such as hospitals, urgent care clinics, and private practices. AG-ACNPs are qualified to provide advanced nursing care for their patients. Some of these include:
What Type of Person Is an AG-ACNP?
As with all advanced practice providers, you need to be compassionate, detail-oriented, and a strong communicator and be able to think critically and respond decisively. A successful AG-ACNP should be level-headed, resilient, organized, and able to multitask. AG-ACNPs must embrace lifelong learning and collaboration, as they work alongside many other medical professionals to provide care to patients in the setting of ever-evolving evidence.
How Do I Become Certified as an AG-ACNP?
To become certified as an AG-ACNP, you must possess a current, valid U.S.-based RN or APRN license and have completed an AG-ACNP program granting a graduate-level degree from an accredited school. The certification can be obtained by testing through the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) (ACNPC-AG®). Once you’ve passed the examination, you’re officially able to market yourself as a certified Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Are You Preparing for the Exam?
For more study options, check out our AG-ACNP book, featuring over 630 practice questions to help you ace the exam!
Resources
AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® Exam Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/acnpcagexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (2017). AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/standards/aacn-scope-and-standards-for-acute-care-nurse-practitioner-practice
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® (Adult-Gero). Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/acnpc-ag
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/adult-gerontology-acute-care-nurse-practitioner/
Carpenter, D. (2018). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
Nurse Practitioner Schools. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP vs Primary Care NP. Retrieved from https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/ag-acnp-vs-ag-pcnp/
Nursing License Map. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP). Retrieved from https://nursinglicensemap.com/advanced-practice-nursing/nurse-practitioner/acute-care-nurse-practitioner-acnp/
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Scope of Practice. Retrieved from https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/agacnp/agacnp_scope.php
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: What Does It Mean?
Commonly known by the acronym AG-ACNP, the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner has earned at least a graduate degree and provides advanced nursing care to independently meet the needs of adult and geriatric patients. This includes older teens, adults, older adults, and frail elders. What differentiates an AG-ACNP from an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP is the focus on caring for patients who are acutely or critically ill, psychologically unstable, technologically dependent, highly vulnerable to complications, and/or have chronic or terminal illnesses. Increasingly, hospitals are requiring their nurse practitioners with other certifications to become certified as an AG-ACNP.
What Does an AG-ACNP Do?
The AG-ACNP’s scope of practice is based on the acuity and needs of a patient rather than on the location of the patient who is being treated. Thus, an AG-ACNP can work in many different places, such as hospitals, urgent care clinics, and private practices. AG-ACNPs are qualified to provide advanced nursing care for their patients. Some of these include:
- Performing history and physical examinations
- Interpreting diagnostic testing, including but not limited to laboratory results, radiology, and ECGs
- Making diagnoses
- Prescribing therapeutic interventions, including medications
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to create holistic plans of care
- Assessing and monitoring patient responses to treatments
- Facilitating transitions of care within and outside the hospital
What Type of Person Is an AG-ACNP?
As with all advanced practice providers, you need to be compassionate, detail-oriented, and a strong communicator and be able to think critically and respond decisively. A successful AG-ACNP should be level-headed, resilient, organized, and able to multitask. AG-ACNPs must embrace lifelong learning and collaboration, as they work alongside many other medical professionals to provide care to patients in the setting of ever-evolving evidence.
How Do I Become Certified as an AG-ACNP?
To become certified as an AG-ACNP, you must possess a current, valid U.S.-based RN or APRN license and have completed an AG-ACNP program granting a graduate-level degree from an accredited school. The certification can be obtained by testing through the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) (ACNPC-AG®). Once you’ve passed the examination, you’re officially able to market yourself as a certified Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
Are You Preparing for the Exam?
For more study options, check out our AG-ACNP book, featuring over 630 practice questions to help you ace the exam!
Resources
AACN Certification Corporation. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® Exam Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/get-certified/handbooks/acnpcagexamhandbook.pdf
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (2017). AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice. Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/standards/aacn-scope-and-standards-for-acute-care-nurse-practitioner-practice
American Association of Critical Care Nurses. (n.d.). ACNPC-AG® (Adult-Gero). Retrieved from https://www.aacn.org/certification/get-certified/acnpc-ag
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/adult-gerontology-acute-care-nurse-practitioner/
Carpenter, D. (2018). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Q&A Review (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
Nurse Practitioner Schools. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP vs Primary Care NP. Retrieved from https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/ag-acnp-vs-ag-pcnp/
Nursing License Map. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP). Retrieved from https://nursinglicensemap.com/advanced-practice-nursing/nurse-practitioner/acute-care-nurse-practitioner-acnp/
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. (n.d.). Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner: Scope of Practice. Retrieved from https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/agacnp/agacnp_scope.php