Adult Gerontology – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

The online MSN is a virtual extension of our highly regarded on-campus program, one of the largest nurse practitioner programs in Massachusetts. The Regis School of Nursing was the first in New England to be designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nursing.

At Regis, we work directly with active nursing professionals. That means we have an insider’s perspective on the leadership qualities the field demands, and we design our courses to build those skills. Our MSN AGPCNP* specialty is designed to help you promote lasting change in the nursing field by providing adults and senior citizens the care and knowledge they need to lead healthy lifestyles.

At Regis, we aim to break down barriers that can keep health care professionals from reaching their full potential in advanced nursing practice. With the same educational standards and curriculum as our highly regarded on-campus program, our online MSN has the added benefit of flexibility. For busy students and health care professionals, we know that counts for a lot.

As part of our inclusive approach to nursing education, we also offer three entry points to our MSN AGPCNP program, allowing us to meet learners where they are in their academic journey:

• Associate Degree in Nursing to MSN
• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s to MSN
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing to MSN

When you hear the words “geriatric” or “gerontology”, you may assume that AGPCNPs only work with elderly patients, but they are in fact able to serve a wide range of patient populations – from adolescents to senior citizens, only excluding infants and children. Each of these patients requires individual, specialized care to keep them well and to ensure that they are making healthy lifestyle choices. With an adult gerontology – primary care NP degree, you can help a large patient population receive the specialized health services they need. Your responsibilities may include:

• Diagnosing and treating illness
• Counseling patients on maintaining a healthy lifestyle
• Coordinating care provided by specialty health care providers
• Providing preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, and immunization and screening tests
• Prescribing, ordering, and interpreting diagnostic tests
• Collaborating with other health care providers
• Advocating for underserved individuals and groups

While adult gerontology is a focused area of advanced nursing practice, there are opportunities to specialize even further with additional education and training. Some areas of specialization for AGPCNPs include:

• HIV/AIDS
• Pulmonary care
• Cardiovascular
• Occupational
• Environmental health
• Integrated complementary health care

Like all nurse practitioners, AGPCNPs are in high demand due to changes in health care law, a growing and aging population, and higher standards in primary care. Adult gerontology – primary care nurse practitioners are especially needed due to their specialized skill set. This means AGPCNPs have many opportunities to apply their skills in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Community clinics
• Private medical practices
• Home care agencies
• Physicians’ offices
• Specialty clinics
• Veterans hospitals
• Assisted living facilities
• Rehabilitation centers
• Hospice/palliative care centers

Due to their versatility and the high demand for their services, adult gerontology – primary care nurse practitioners can earn competitive salaries.

According to the latest data from Payscale, the median annual salary for adult gerontology nurse practitioners was approximately $96,200.

Further specialization can affect an AGPCNP’s salary. Some specialties and their median salaries are:

• Diagnosis and treatment planning: $102,000
• Internal medicine: $95,000
• Elder care: $90,000

The job outlook for adult gerontology – primary care nurse practitioners is strong, reflecting projected employment growth for all nurse practitioners. The versatile nature of the care that NPs deliver to patients across medical settings means that, in a rapidly changing health care landscape, AGPCNPs can support quality patient care where and when it’s needed.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse practitioners is expected to grow 46% between 2021 and 2031, adding nearly 113,000 new jobs. Growing demand for health care services from the nation’s aging population is expected to drive much of this demand.

This projected growth is far greater than that of most other professions, making an MSN with an AGPCNP specialization an educational pursuit with real-world opportunities, bolstered by the fact that only 8.9% of all nurse practitioners specialize in adult gerontology – primary care, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Gerontology is the study of the aging processes and persons transitioning to later life stages. This field is not to be confused with that of geriatrics, which is the study of health and disease in elderly people. Adult gerontology – primary care nurse practitioners (AGPCNPs or otherwise known as AGNPs) provide primary care to adults, including geriatric patients, and help them manage or overcome various conditions and illnesses.

In addition to the treatment of chronic illnesses, AGPCNPs are often well experienced in polypharmacy management, palliative care, and the provision of services that involve end-of-life considerations. With a primary care focus on patient wellness and promoting healthy choices, AGPCNPs may also manage transitions between care settings and often provide caregiver education and evaluation. Many AGPCNPs work in long-term care settings and clinics throughout the community or may have their own private practice.

• The top practice settings for AGPCNPs are hospital outpatient clinics, hospital inpatient units and private group practices.
• The top diagnoses that AGPCNPs treat are anxiety, abdominal pain and hypertension.
• The top clinical focus areas for AGPCNPs are primary care, geriatrics and oncology/hematology.

*AANP

Ready for Your Next Step?

Our curriculum provides a foundational understanding of nursing practice as well as specialization in adult gerontology – primary care, preparing students to enter the field in any of multiple capacities.

Coursework includes:

• Thirteen courses in the core MSN curriculum, including:
  • Health Assessment
  • Concepts and Challenges in Professional Practice
  • Concepts in Nurse Leadership
  • Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
• Five courses specific to the AGPCNP track, including:
  • Political, Financial, and Social Issues in Gerontology
  • Clinical Concentration courses and seminars

With robust student support, no GRE requirements, and a flexible learning environment with multiple points of entry, our online Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program can help set you on the path to a rewarding career in an in-demand field.

You can begin your application process today. To get started you will need to submit the following:

• Application form
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Proof of active unencumbered RN license
• Current resume
• Statement of purpose
• Two letters of recommendation