AGACNP Scope of Practice
AGACNP’s work in acute care settings in hospital units or service lines with direct care of acutely ill individuals, as a key member of a healthcare team. The job responsibilities of an AGACNP are varied and may include:
- Assessing a patient’s immediate health situation.
- Developing diagnoses
- Ordering and reading diagnostic tests.
- Developing appropriate plans of treatment based on best practices, guidelines, research, and cultural sensitivity.
- Managing patients' pain, prescribing medications, or recommending medical devices.
- Communicating with and advocating for patients and their families.
AGACNP Salaries
According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earned a median pay of $129,480 in 2023 in a field projected to grow 40% from 2023 to 2033.
In the realm of acute care nursing, salaries are often higher, and national market needs are significant.
Importantly, acute care advanced practice roles provide nurses with an opportunity to make significant contributions to the welfare of patients requiring immediate life-saving care.
UConn AGACNP Credential Options
The Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Master's Degree
The University of Connecticut’s 45-credit Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) master’s program is taught by UConn School of Nursing faculty who are dedicated to your future in advanced practice. All acute care courses are taught by experienced acute care practitioners actively working in the field.
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) graduates are prepared as advance practice nurses to assess, diagnose, monitor, treat, and coordinate the care of acutely and critically ill individuals from adolescence through advanced age.
Uconn’s AGACNP program courses are delivered in a fully online, asynchronous format. Asynchronous means that students do not have to attend a lecture at a particular day and time. Content and assignments do have schedules time frames and deadlines. Material is presented in a manner that allows the student to complete the course content and coursework on their schedule (keeping within set due dates). Students come to campus during the second and third spring of the program (second spring only for post-graduate certificate students) for a four full day in-person intensive session. The intensive sessions will focus on intense, hands on acute care curriculum that involves developing a deep understanding of human anatomy and hands on critical care skills.
During the entire program, students work closely with their acute care faculty advisor to ensure a smooth transition through the program.
The Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse BS-DNP Degree
The University of Connecticut’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNP) is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses for the highest level of clinical practice. Graduates will earn an MS and DNP throughout their time in the program. Taught by UConn School of Nursing faculty, professors are dedicated to your future in advanced practice roles. All acute care courses are taught by experienced acute care faculty practitioners.
Graduates of the AGACNP BS-DNP program are equipped to assess, diagnose, monitor, treat, and coordinate the care of acutely and critically ill individuals from adolescence through advanced age. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership.
UConn’s AGACNP BS-DNP program courses are delivered in a fully online, asynchronous format. This means that students do not have to attend lectures on a specific day and time. Content and assignments have scheduled time frames and deadlines, but the material is presented in a manner that allows students to complete the coursework on their own schedule (within set due dates).
An important component of the program’s curriculum includes two multi-day in-person intensive sessions. These intensive sessions focus on hands-on acute care curriculum and simulations, including developing a deep understanding of human anatomy and critical care skills within a controlled environment.
Throughout the program, students work closely with their acute care faculty advisor to ensure success throughout the program. Plans of study are designed on an individual basis with the student and track director.
The Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Post-Graduate Certificate
The AGCNP post-graduate certificate program is designed for students holding a master’s or doctoral degree who wish to pursue certification as an acute care nurse practitioner. Plans of study are designed on an individual basis with the student and track director.
For applicants who are already board-certified nurse practitioners, the program typically consists of two semesters (2 acute care specific didactic courses and 2 acute care specific clinical courses) along with a minimum 500 clinical hours.
Coursework follows the same online, asynchronous format as the master's program. Depending on the applicant's previous certification, the student will attend either one or two in-person, on-campus four-day intensive sessions. The intensive sessions will focus on hands-on acute care skills and understanding of human anatomy as it relates to the acutely ill.
For applicants who are not board-certified nurse practitioners, the plan of study varies based on the degree/certification upon entry.
Please reach out to Dr. Bott at kristin.bott@uconn.edu to discuss any of our AGACNP credential options.