Nursing, Nursing Advanced Practice, Exam Prep
The Ins and Outs of Being an AGNP
Jan 25, 2019
(With excerpts from Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: Fast Facts and Practice Questions, Fourth Edition, by Maria T. Codina Leik MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, AGPCNP-BC)
Thinking about being an AGNP? Taking 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 Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner: What Does It Mean?
Often known by its acronym, AGNP, an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specializes in continuing and comprehensive healthcare for adults across the lifespan, from adolescence to adulthood and into advanced age. One must have completed an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner master’s or doctoral degree before becoming certified. AGNPs help patients maintain long-term health and wellness, placing a unique focus on preventative care. AGNPs can practice independently in some states and have prescribing privileges in all states, although the types of drugs nurse practitioners can prescribe outside a physician’s supervision varies by state. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners provides a useful summary of the scope of practice by state here.
What Does an AGNP Do?
AGNPs work exclusively with patients 12 years of age and older, focusing specifically on later-life medical issues. A typical day as a certified AGNP could see you diagnosing and treating illnesses, providing preventative care, conducting routine check-ups, doing health-risk assessments, giving immunizations, or providing personalized health counseling. The role of an AGNP also includes managing chronic illnesses. Those who work in acute care settings frequently collaborate with physicians and other providers to care for hospitalized patients, although some institutions require an acute care nurse practitioner certification for NPs working in that environment.
AGNPs work in a variety of facilities, such as long-term care facilities, hospices, hospitals, correctional institutes, urgent care clinics, and primary care practices.
How Do I Become an AGNP?
To become an AGNP, nurses must—at minimum—have a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) from an accredited AGNP program. However, many programs are transitioning to DNP programs (Doctor of Nursing Practice). In fact, according to the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty, all nurse practitioner degree programs will need to be doctoral degrees by 2025. To enroll in an AGNP program, you’ll need a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) first. You can also have a bachelor’s degree in another field, but the route to the final degree will be longer, as there will be many undergraduate nursing courses you’ll need to get through first. There are also RN to MSN and RN to DNP programs available if you are an RN without a bachelor’s degree.
AGNP certification can be obtained from either the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. An application fee is necessary, and you’ll have to pass an exam. But once you’ve done that, you’re officially able to market yourself as a certified Adult-Gero Primary Care Nurse Practitioner!
The United States has two credentials available for those interested in becoming an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner:
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the AGPCNP-BC board certification for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) offers A-GNP certification for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Once you’ve earned the AGNP credential (nice work!), you can apply through your state board of nursing for your NP license.
Are You Preparing for the Exam?
For more AGNP study options, choose from our book and digital products, featuring over 600 practice questions to help you make the grade!
Resources
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aanpcert.org/certs/agnp
What is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner?
https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what-is-an-adult-gerontology-np/
FNP vs. AGNP
https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/fnp-vs-agnp/
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGPCNP-BC) | ANCC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/adult-gerontology-primary-care-nurse-practitioner/
Leik, M. T. C. (2017). Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
NONPF. (2018, May). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree: Entry to Nurse Practitioner Practice by 2025 [Press Release]. Retrieved from https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/dnp/v3_05.2018_NONPF_DNP_Stateme.pdf
State Practice Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/legislation-regulation/state-legislation/state-practice-environment