Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (AGACNPs) provide care for adult and geriatric patients experiencing acute, critical or complex chronic health conditions in diverse healthcare settings. The post-BSN DNP AGACNP concentration at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing prepares students for dynamic and evolving advanced practice nursing roles through rich, immersive experiences in a diverse, world-class environment. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top hospitals and #1 in St. Louis and Missouri. It is also among an elite group of hospitals in the U.S. that have maintained American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition® status since the program launched in 2003.

The AGACNP concentration offers 2 tracks for post-BSN registered nurses interested in advancing their nursing careers to become doctorally prepared nurse practitioners and builds on the success of the MSN AGACNP program:

The intensivist track focuses on preparing students for intensivist roles in critical care. In collaboration with experienced advanced practice providers (APPs) and Washington University Physicians, students are immersed in the multi-disciplinary critical care environments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Clinical sites and preceptors are pre-arranged and include the surgical/burn/trauma, neuro, cardiothoracic, and medical intensive care units (ICUs). Additional clinical time is gained in telemedicine and in the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, the emergency department, and the diabetes center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Elective hours are also included to allow students the ability to tailor the program to their identified needs and interests.

The hospitalist track focuses on preparing students for nurse practitioner roles with hospitalist and specialty services. Like the intensivist track, students will be immersed within multidisciplinary teams and environments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and affiliate community hospitals. In collaboration with the Washington University Division of Hospital Medicine, students will collaborate with experienced APPs and Washington University School of Medicine physicians in a variety of pre-arranged clinical sites including hospitalist services, telemedicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, emergency medicine, diabetes, and other specialty services. The Division of Hospital Medicine is growing and gaining a national reputation as one of the premier programs. Led by a Past-President of the Society of Hospital Medicine and Founding Editor of the Journal of Hospital Medicine, members of the Division are actively engaged in education, research, and quality improvement projects.

Graduates of the BSN-DNP AGACNP concentration will:

• Obtain health histories and perform physical exams;
• Order and interpret laboratory and imaging studies;
• Diagnose and design plans of care;
• Integrate invasive and noninvasive technologies, interventions, and procedures into plans of care, including the performance of invasive procedures;
• Collaborate and communicate with patients, families, and other members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams;
• Lead innovative strategies that promote safe, cost-effective, equitable, patient-centered care; and
• Participate in quality improvement projects with opportunities to disseminate work through regional and national meetings, and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

This is a hybrid program, a blend of in-person and online learning. Students are required to travel to campus 1-2 times per term for advanced health assessment and the ACNP specialty courses. Students will obtain a minimum of 750 hours of direct patient contact.

Nurses who complete the program will be prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) certification exams to become certified in the field.

Our Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration has many benefits for students. Here are just a few:

Pre-Arranged Clinical Sites & Preceptors

For students residing in or near the St. Louis area, we save you the time and difficulty of searching for clinical sites and preceptors by pre-arranging them for you. We work closely with Barnes-Jewish Hospital to provide clinical sites, giving students like you the opportunity to work at a top-ranked hospital in the country. Preceptors are experienced ACNPs, other advanced practice providers, and Washington University School of Medicine physicians.

Experienced Faculty

From the classroom to clinical settings, our highly skilled clinical faculty bring their real-world experience to bear throughout the full learning process and maintain active clinical practice. Our students also benefit from expert guest faculty from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, which complement the program’s didactic and lab components. 

Small Class Sizes and Individual Support

Our small class sizes allow for personalized attention as each student progresses through the program and our curriculum.

Convenience

The AGACNP concentration is delivered on line. However, students will be expected to visit campus 1-2 times per course for the following courses: Advanced Health Assessment, Invasive Procedures and Skills for the Acute Care NP, Acute Care I Clinical, Acute Care II Clinical, Acute Care III Clinical, and Practice & System Final Clinical.

Goldfarb School of Nursing is conveniently located on the Washington University Medical Center campus along with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where most of our clinical experiences take place.

State-of-the-Art Clinical Simulations

We offer high-fidelity patient simulations through our world-class Clinical Simulation Institute. These active learning experiences provide students with additional exposure to problems that are frequently encountered in acute and critical care settings or those that may result in significant morbidity and mortality.

Dedicated Invasive Procedures & Skills Course

Gain additional support and experience through a dedicated course where you’ll perform invasive procedures such as central line insertion, arterial line insertion, endotracheal intubation, and lumbar puncture in a simulated environment. Students are also introduced to critical care ultrasound, ECG and radiology interpretation, and mechanical ventilation management.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the accredited Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration will be prepared to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) certification exams to become certified in the field. Our students secure jobs in a variety of settings and can typically be found practicing in critical care environments, emergency departments, hospitalists, and specialty services.