What Is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)?
Nursing, as a medical occupation, is all about helping people in need! In general, nurses are responsible for taking care of patients of all backgrounds and ages; however, if you are passionate about working with adults, becoming an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) would be the right fit for you!
According to the U.S Population Reference Bureau, the number of older adults in the United States of America is expected to grow by 69% between 2020 and 2060, from 56.0 million to 94.7 million. Despite the fact that the total population is much smaller, the number of people aged 85 or older is expected to almost triple from 6.7 million in 2020 to 19.0 million by 2060.
With such a great exponential rate of the old population, the need for healthcare professionals that will take care of the older age groups is skyrocketing. Today more than ever, the healthcare system is in need of adult-gerontology nurse practitioners; therefore, becoming one would help the system and would guarantee you a stable and well-paying occupation.
Stay with us if you want the answer to the question ''What is a gerontological nurse practitioner?'', to learn how you can become an AGNP, and find out the meaning of AGNP-C.
What Is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)?
Before elaborating on what adult-gerontology nurse practitioners do and where they work, it is important to answer the question ‘’What is an AGNP?’’ An adult-gerontology nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in treating patients varying in age from adolescent years to late adulthood, as well as old age and geriatrics.
The adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, a position that requires an advanced degree and training, works with a wide variety of patients in a range of locations and settings and has more autonomy as a practitioner than a typical registered nurse. Unlike many registered nurses, adult-gerontology nurse practitioners have the right to administer medications, order and assess diagnostic tests, and design and implement comprehensive treatment plans for their patients.
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What Does an AGNP Do?
Nurse practitioners who specialize in gerontology help prevent and treat illness as well as the social, psychological, and cultural characteristics of aging. Gerontological nurses can provide a treatment plan that the patient understands and that members of the family or caregivers can support using this holistic approach to health.
The responsibilities of an AGNP may change based on the patient's needs. Adult-gerontological nurse practitioners specialize in the care of older people, focusing on patients with critical illnesses and chronic conditions.
Some other day-to-day responsibilities of an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner include
Helping patients with daily tasks like eating, bathing, dressing, and walking
Administering medications
Monitoring vital signs
Cooperating with physicians, other advanced nurse practitioners, and registered nurses.
Where Does an AGNP Work?
Adult-gerontological nurses work in a variety of settings and locations in the medical field, from acute care settings like hospitals to long-term care settings like hospices and nursing homes.
In acute care settings in hospitals, adult-gerontology nurse practitioners treat old-age individuals who need immediate or intensive care, such as those who have had a serious fall or have contracted pneumonia. On the other hand, in long-term care facilities, AGNPs help seniors recover from various injuries or illnesses, or provide assistance with daily activities like bathing, walking, and dressing. Assisted living facilities, also known as independent living facilities, are another alternative for senior care.
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners can work in these facilities as supervisors, assisting with regular patient checkups and delivering medications as permitted by state law. Finally, AGNPs can serve as primary healthcare professionals for patients in nursing homes, coordinating treatment plans with family members or caregivers, prescribing and administering medications, and assessing continuing conditions.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care vs. Primary Care
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners are advanced nurse practitioners that specialize in primary or acute care. These two types of nurse practitioners have similar scopes of practice; however, the main differences are in the patient populations for which they provide care.
Acute care nurse practitioners are trained, licensed, and certified to take care of patients with critical or chronic illnesses, as well as those who are technologically dependent or physiologically unstable. To improve patient outcomes, an acute care nurse practitioner collaborates with registered nurses, physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, speech therapists, physical therapists, social workers, occupational therapists, nutritionists, and chaplains. The acute care nurse practitioner can lead professional teams, assess and make a diagnosis of medical and nursing conditions, and track and evaluate patient outcomes.
The primary care nurse practitioner, on the other hand, is a medical professional with the proper education and certification to provide detailed, constant, and long-term care to patients. Nurse practitioners who specialize in primary care are able to screen, detect and treat a variety of acute as well as chronic illnesses. Primary care nurse practitioners are more important for healthcare promotion, vetting, and education about prevention and treatment than acute care nurse practitioners. Each primary care nurse practitioner is seen as a specialist in their field, and they work together with the rest of the medical staff to provide evidence-based and quality care to patients.
How to Become an AGNP
To practice the role of an AGNP, there is a certain level of education and certification that you should have. In addition, an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner should possess a certain set of skills in order to provide adequate care to each patient.
Education and certification
The first educational requirement to become an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner is earning an undergraduate degree in nursing so you can become a registered nurse (RN). However, since an AGNP is an advanced medical position, eventually, you will need to obtain a master's degree. Therefore, you should be a bachelor's graduate registered nurse before you can be a gerontological nurse practitioner. After earning a bachelor's degree in nursing, you have to earn your RN License. Following graduation, you will take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses, to become an RN. You need to pass this test as well as any other state requirements for licensure.
As mentioned previously, because the position of an AGNP is advanced, in order to practice this medical role, you must first enroll in an accredited gerontology nurse practitioner program, which is usually a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. The program will take one to three years depending on whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Obtaining certification is the final step toward becoming an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner. Following master's graduation, you may be eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center's certification examination. For the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner certification (AGNP-C), you will need at least 500 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Skills
Gerontological nurses must have other skills in addition to patience and compassion in order to be effective caregivers. It takes years to create the necessary analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills to become an AGNP. Advanced education from engaged and experienced faculty members, on the other hand, can assist aspiring gerontological nurses in preparing for successful careers.
Obtaining an advanced medical degree, such as an MSN with an AGNP specialization, could provide RNs with the necessary education and training to advance in their careers.
Advanced education helps nurses acquire skills necessary to evaluate the health needs of older patients in a clinical setting using evidence-based standards and guidelines for constructing different hypotheses and diagnoses. Along with the medical skills that every professional must have, AGNPs should have an analytical mindset, critical thinking, effective communication, and strong leadership skills.
Job Outlook and Salary
Adult gerontological nurse practitioners are expected to grow 12% between 2018 and 2028, creating 371,500 employment opportunities across the United States.
Gerontological nurse practitioners in the United States earn an annual salary of $82,491 or $40 per hour. The top 10% earns more than $123,000 annually, while the bottom 10% earn less than $54,000.
Conclusion
Ultimately, contributing in the medical field, especially in the older age section, is a fulfilling experience. Adult gerontological nurse practitioners are high in demand due to the aging population; therefore, becoming one could be very beneficial for you. Now that we have explained what an AGNP is, their role in the healthcare system, their duties, job outlook and salary, you can analyze and decide for yourself whether this occupation is the right one for you!