Adult Geriatrics Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Regulatory and compensatory mechanisms as they relate to commonly occurring diseases across the lifespan are explored.

This course is intended for the nurse practitioner. Incorporates integration of advanced health assessment principles and skills for comprehensive examination of clients that leads to differential diagnosis. Focus will be on common deviations from normal. Populations across the lifespan will be included.

Knowledge and application of advanced pharmacotherapeutic principles related to the health needs of clients. Focus will be on pharmacotherapeutic modalities utilized by advanced practice nurses while considering legal, ethical and economic factors.

Focuses on adult and gerontological concepts for the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) role in providing safe, quality care to diverse populations. Emphasis will be placed on the role and scope of practice of the AGACNP in caring for acutely ill adults, often with complex chronic medical conditions, across the adult-geriatric continuum. Whether you enjoy research and teaching or hospital management and collaboration, there is a place for each one of us at the rounding table.

This course focuses on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs frequently used in caring for acutely and critically ill adult/geriatric patient populations.  The mechanisms of action, desired effects, possible adverse effects, and safe dosages of multiple drug classes, including antidysrhythmics, analgesics, sedatives, and paralytics, as well as blood products are evaluated.  Safe prescription and administration practices are emphasized along with professional collaboration across care disciplines.

This course focuses on the utilization of diagnostic reasoning to formulate actual and differential diagnoses, through the integration, translation, and application of established and evolving scientific knowledge from diverse sources such as the basis for diagnostic reasoning. Knowledge of appropriate diagnostic and screening tests and imaging, acute care medical devices/interventions, and life-support systems including intubation, placing intravenous lines, and wound/injury care are emphasized.

This course is designed to introduce theoretical and evidence‐based content for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adult and geriatric patients with acute and chronic health problems.  Emphasis is placed on the pathogenesis, presenting signs and symptoms, history and exam findings, differential diagnoses, diagnostic testing, and treatment plan formulation for adult patients presenting with emergent, urgent, or acute‐on‐chronic illnesses. Treatment plans will encompass health promotion and disease prevention.

Advanced clinical management of patients and populations with complex health care needs is addressed. Evidence-based inter-professional practice in rural and underserved areas is emphasized. Includes advanced practice practicum (125 hours).

Evaluation of outcomes, impact and sustainability plan for the DNP Scholarly Project is addressed. Synthesis of previous coursework, including strengths-based leadership plan and inter-professional management of populations with complex health needs will be incorporated.  Includes immersion in an advanced clinical practice role (125 hours).