This course includes the application of pathologic disease mechanisms and advanced pharmacotherapy to refine and integrate techniques of history taking, physical examination, and diagnostics. Development of differential diagnoses that are prioritized based on clinical assessment, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning to narrow down the appropriate final diagnosis for adult and gerontology populations.

The purpose of this course is to explore high quality healthcare of geriatric patients which requires special knowledge and skills including identifying the normal and abnormal changes of the aging body with an overview of psychological, sociological, and physiological processes related to aging with particular attention to environmental, circumstantial, and behavioral concerns including cognition, perception of health, performance status, falls, malnutrition, pharmacotherapy, substance abuse, elder neglect and abuse, and end of life issues. Indications for collaboration and communication with the interprofessional team is emphasized as well as exploring community resources and care of the informal caregiver.

This is the first course of three, and the purpose of this course is to prepare AGACNP students to assess, diagnose, and coordinate healthcare needs of adults and older adults to include health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management. Emphasis is on synthesizing theoretical, scientific, and evidence-based practice knowledge to manage selected common health problems in adult-gerontology patients in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Indications for collaboration, consultation, and referral with the interprofessional team using patient-centered, evidence-based, high-quality, cost-effective care in a culturally diverse system are essential functions of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner’s role. The accompanying practicum provides students with an opportunity to utilize theoretical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills in the management of care of adult and geriatric patients experiencing common health problems.

The AACN Synergy Model is used as a framework for AGACNP practice focusing on patient-centered physical, social, psychological, and spiritual care across the health-vulnerability continuum. The AGACNP is responsible for knowing and understanding patient characteristics shared by nurses, patients, and systems to include resiliency, vulnerability, stability, complexity, resource availability, participation in care, participation in decision-making, and predictability to restore a patient to an optimum level of wellness as defined by the patient which includes end-of life care (AACN, 2015a). The AGACNP must have knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experience to meet the needs of patients and families and include competencies of concern for patients, nurses, and systems such as clinical judgement, advocacy and moral agency, caring practices, collaboration, systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry, innovator/evaluator, and facilitation of learning (AACN, 2015a).

This is the second course of three, and the purpose of this course is to explore evidence-based practice models for the management of selected chronic health problems and acute exacerbations of those complex, chronic health problems. Students will focus on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adult-gerontology patients synthesizing theoretical, scientific, and evidence-based practice knowledge to manage selected chronic health problems in adult-gerontology patients in the acute care setting and/or specialty clinic. Indications for collaboration, consultation, and referral with the interprofessional team using patient-centered, evidence-based practice, high-quality, cost-effective care in a culturally diverse system are essential functions of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner’s role to improve health outcomes. The accompanying practicum provides students with an opportunity to utilize theoretical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills in the management of care of adult-gerontology patients experiencing chronic health problems.

The AACN Synergy Model is used as a framework for AGACNP practice focusing on patient-centered physical, social, psychological, and spiritual care across the health-vulnerability continuum. The AGACNP is responsible for knowing and understanding patient characteristics shared by nurses, patients, and systems to include resiliency, vulnerability, stability, complexity, resource availability, participation in care, participation in decision-making, and predictability to restore a patient to an optimum level of wellness as defined by the patient which includes end-of life care (AACN, 2015a). The AGACNP must have knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experience to meet the needs of patients and families and include competencies of concern for patients, nurses, and systems such as clinical judgement, advocacy and moral agency, caring practices, collaboration, systems thinking, response to diversity, clinical inquiry, innovator/evaluator, and facilitation of learning (AACN, 2015a).