What Is an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Certification?

Gerontology is a study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive and biological aspects of aging. The term gerontology is slightly different than geriatrics where the former term focuses on the process of aging whereas geriatrics deals with the care of aging people. With the significant percentage of our current population who are baby boomers, inching towards the old age demands our societies need for more practitioners and clinicians specializing in care of individuals who are in various stages of aging. Adult gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNP) are at the forefront of this battle with the health promotion and disease prevention in these individuals. These professionals help aging population to have a better quality-of-life towards the latter half of their lifespan.

Adult gerontology nurse practitioners, previously known as adult nurse practitioners specifically address the population beyond adolescent age group. Unlike family nurse practitioners, these providers only focuses on adult and old age population. These clinicians are experts in management of disease processes and health promotion in the specific age group. Many of these clinicians end up in specializing specific areas like cardiology, diabetes, palliative care and so forth. With the increasing demand for primary care providers to improve accessibility and quality of healthcare, adult gerontology nurse practitioners have excellent opportunities for influencing population health in the near future.

After completing the specific academic program, adult gerontology nurse practitioners should obtain AGNP board certification to substantiate their credibility as a clinician who holds the essentials for competent patient care. AGNP certification review is essential for these individuals to successfully complete certification process.

There are many AGNP certification review courses available however, the best AGNP certification review should conceptualize the core elements of exam plans put forth by the certification bodies like American nurses credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of nurse practitioners (AANP). Even though these two credentialing agencies provide similar certification, ANCC awards adult gerontology nurse practitioner-board-certified (AGNP-BC) and AANP issues adult gerontology nurse practitioner-certified (AGNP-C) credentials.

AGNP certification review course offered by APRN WORLD®  is prepared by excellent academicians and clinicians who are subject matter experts. The exams are developed based on the current practice guidelines from regulatory authorities and certification exam strategy put forth by the credentialing agencies.

APRN WORLD®  deploys the resources on online platform that helps extreme levels of customization and highly individualized feedback for individual candidates. The review addresses not only the content preparedness, but also the individual candidate’s exam taking skills in terms of time management and other attributes. The courses are available on a subscription basis that helps individual candidates to customize the duration of the training based on individual needs.

Nurse Practitioner Education: Becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse

If you're looking into a nursing occupation, you already know that you want to care for people, but how do you decide if nurse practitioner education is right for you? The first thing to do is look at all the possibilities for training, economics, and occupational outlook.

Becoming a nurse practitioner is a step up in education and responsibility from an LPN or an RN. While the wide variety of occupational areas is still there, you are now boosting your profession to the level of the diagnostician. These professionals work in hospitals, health clinics, and doctor's offices, but diagnose their own patients, write prescriptions, and order patient care.
Depending on whether you are in a hospital, clinic, or specialty area of medical practice, as a nurse practitioner you might be called upon to regularly perform many of the following duties:
• Ordering routine tests and taking case history information for diagnosis
• Performing routine incisions and sutures, drainage and wound care, and tissue biopsies
• Executing nasal intubations into the stomach, and gastric analysis
• Testing for insulin and glucose tolerance
• Ordering lab studies and prescribing routine medications
There is a rigorous standard for training to accompany this higher level of responsibility, but if caring for people is your gift, it's worth it to get the extra one- or two-year master's degree training required to be able to serve your chosen community more comprehensively.

So, what's involved in nurse practitioner education that differs from LPN or RN training? Most programs require prospective students to have registered nurse licensure and to have practiced as an RN for about two years.

Master's level programs add several hours of advanced pharmacology to the RN base of knowledge, along with intensive practice each semester in different areas. There is a practicum in paediatric care, adult care, child health, and care of at-risk populations. All courses are progressively more complex than those offered in registered nurse training.

Some good news for prospective students is that some or all a master nurse practitioner education may be attained online while continuing to work as an RN. There is abundance of approved quality online MSN programs, which can be worked at part time or full time.

Upon completion of the master's degree in nursing, national certification by exam is required. There are several national nursing organizations approved to certify nurse practitioners. Two such organizations are the American Nurses' Association and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Some associations are specialty certifying organizations for family nurse practitioner certification exam, AGNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP certification Review (online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs). Certification exams are administered throughout the country and cost around $24.99 per Month to $300/ 3 year.

According to the Department of Labour, the median hourly wage of an RN is about $31, and when you become a nurse practitioner it can jump to $45. Of course, the bump up to master's level in any profession offers a higher earning potential.

One of the most compelling things about pursuing nurse practitioner education, aside from the value of working with patients directly, is the economic advantage it offers. By acquiring advanced education, registered nurses can re-invent themselves and open new and exciting pathways.