Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Scope of Practice
Overview
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is a Registered Nurse (RN) prepared at the master’s degree level as a nurse practitioner whose focus is the care of adult patients with acute, chronic and critical conditions. The AGACNP is educated to provide comprehensive care in a variety of settings – including clinics, physicians’ offices and hospitals. The term "acute” is an umbrella term meant to differentiate the role from primary care practitioners.
Credentials and Certification
Graduation from the Vanderbilt MSN program prepares you for licensure and “approval to practice” as a Registered Nurse (RN) in every state. You also will be eligible to sit for examination for the applicable certification, and eligible for prescriptive authority consistent with state law. Visit Credentialing and Certification for specific information.
Functions Performed by the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
In addition to general functions performed by the Advanced Practice Nurse, the AGACNP may provide these specific functions:
- Assist with obtaining operative/procedures consents
- Write pre-admission orders
- Order and monitor patient’s responses to cardiac, vasoactive and anticoagulant drugs and other drugs
that are specialty specific - Interpret dysrhythmias based on continuous ECG monitoring/12-Lead ECG
- Participate in discharge planning, including writing prescriptions
- Monitor patient's hemodynamic status and order
appropriate therapy - In collaboration with the physician, provide initial evaluation/diagnosis of patients with acute and chronic health care problems
- Provide long-term evaluation/management of patients
with acute and chronic health care problems both in the hospital as well as outside the hospital setting
