Nurse practitioners are often the first line of defense when dealing with health care concerns. Working one on one with patients, they can build rapport with individuals and collaborate on proactive care strategies, developing realistic goals and encouraging patients to achieve them. By identifying the root causes of issues, nurse practitioners can prioritize approaches that promote positive health and wellness habits, allowing facilities to deliver effective long-term and value-based patient care.
With higher education that informs them on the needs of adults of various ages, adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AGNPs or AGPCNPs) can improve the lives of patients throughout all the stages of their lives. Through the completion of an advanced degree, such as an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), nurses are able to gain the in-depth knowledge and skills required to take on a leadership role in patient care.
An AGPCNP’s Role in Primary Care
The role of the AGPCNP in primary care is to focus on patients and their changing health care concerns — specializing in adult care, from young adults to senior citizens. AGPCNPs cover a wide variety of different procedures and illnesses and must adapt their care choices based on the age of their patient. Some of the core duties of AGPCNPs are:
- Performing examinations
- Obtaining medical histories
- Ordering, analyzing, and interpreting tests
- Diagnosing illnesses
- Prescribing medications (in full authority states)
- Developing and administering appropriate treatment strategies
In some cases, nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat chronic acute conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, or respiratory illnesses. They then develop care plans tailored to each individual. As practitioners who are able to provide long-term care to their patients, AGPCNPs can discuss and collaborate with their patients, promoting primary preventive care, health and wellness strategies, and attainable goals for their patients that can help minimize the effects of chronic disease.
AGPCNP Salary and Job Outlook
AGPCNPs dedicate many years to becoming experts in their field and occupy an important role in health care organizations. Due to certain factors, such as an aging U.S. population, overall employment for nurse practitioners is projected to grow by 52% from 2020 to 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is significantly higher than the projected average for all occupations.
Depending on the level of education, certification, years of experience, and job location, the salaries of AGPCNPs can vary. Before additional factors, such as bonuses and pay increases, the median annual adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner salary was around $90,100 as of July 2021, according to PayScale. As nurse practitioners gain experience and pursue further their education, their salaries and job autonomy will likely increase to positively reflect their efforts.
AGPCNP Work Environment
As nurse practitioners who specialize in the care of adult patients throughout their lives, AGPCNPs often work in various care facilities. Depending on the type of facility, they may have different responsibilities and schedules. Depending on their state’s scope of practice regulations, some may work nonstandard hours, such as in facilities that provide emergency care, whereas others may have more traditional schedules associated with nonemergency long-term care. Some of these environments are:
- Hospital-based clinics. AGPCNPs can work in long-term or specialized care areas of a hospital as well as in emergency units.
- Private practices. In some states, AGPCNPs can run their own private practice or work in collaboration with other medical professionals in private practice.
- Long-term care facilities. In specialized facilities and those dedicated to the senior population, AGPCNPs can provide long-term care to patients.
In many states, nurse practitioners with a DNP are allowed full practice authority, with the right to prescribe medication to their patients. Among other advantages and responsibilities given to DNPs, those who practice in full authority states are permitted to run a private practice. This allows them to control their hours and work environment, and direct the standards and policies surrounding care. It can also improve their ability to build relationships with patients and oversee their long-term care.
Pursue an Important Role in Patient Care
AGPCNPs play an essential role in the lives of their patients every day, focusing on value-based care that can improve the quality of life and outcomes of their patients. Using tools learned through specialization, nurse practitioners can recognize the signs and symptoms of illness in their adult patients and streamline the care delivery process, providing individuals with the proactive strategies they need.
For nurse practitioners interested in focusing on the health and wellness of adult patients, becoming an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner can be a key step professional goals. With fully online coursework that can be completed in as few as 40 months, Regis College’s online BSN to DNP program with an AGPCNP specialization was designed to prepare its graduates for a fulfilling career in gerontology. An experienced faculty dedicated to helping you succeed runs the online program from Regis College, that offered the first DNP program in the Boston area. Discover how you could improve the lives of patients with an advanced degree in nursing practice today.
Recommended Readings
Family Nurse Practitioner Salary, Role, and Scope of Practice
How Holistic Care Is Used in Nursing
What Is Patient-Centered Care? A Key Component for Advanced Nursing Care
Sources:
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, State Practice Environment
Cleveland Clinic, Value-Based Care
Houston Chronicle, “What Is Proactive Nursing?”
National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Nursing Shortage”
PayScale, Average Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Salary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners