Specialty Highlights
Complete in 4 Full-time Semesters
A part-time plan is also available. Full-time Vanderbilt MN Prespecialty students complete the program in 3 semesters.
Online/Hybrid Learning Format
Online classes with several in-person sessions over the course of the program
Robust Clinical Experience
Over 500 hours of directly supervised clinical practice
VUSN prepared me to excel in every aspect of practice. The professors taught me how to blend compassion and evidence-based practice as a clinician in the modern health care community.
Prestigious Program with Exceptional Outcomes
- Graduates are able to work in a variety of practice settings and serve diverse patient populations with holistic, evidence-based care. They apply their skills and knowledge in a wide range of health care environments.
- Classes range in size from large core content courses taken by many different specialty students to smaller, specialized classes with low student-to-faculty ratios. These smaller classes focus specifically on content aligned with the scope of practice of AGPCNPs.
- AGPCNP faculty maintain clinical practices allowing them to bring real-world experiences and up-to-date knowledge into the classroom. This ensures the curriculum is directly applicable to students’ future practice.
- 100% – Average first-time pass rate on the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board A-GNP exam.
Curriculum & Objectives
Our rigorous and robust curriculum is structured to ensure students develop deep primary care knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. Students learn to provide comprehensive, person-centered care, including health promotion, disease prevention, and the diagnosis and treatment of common acute and chronic illnesses. The combination of traditional classroom settings, simulated experiences and clinical training allows students to develop into evidence-based providers with a holistic approach to care.
The AGPCNP curriculum incorporates the 2021 AACN Essentials, assuring students receive a comprehensive and up-to-date education that meets the highest standards in nursing education and assures they are well-prepared for practice.
Explore the MSN full-time, MSN part-time, MN Prespecialty and sample Post-Master's Certificate curriculums.
Clinical Experience
The School of Nursing’s full-time clinical placement team partners with students and faculty to create enriching clinical practicums, ensuring each student receives robust training in their specialty. Where possible, clinical placements are made in the student’s preferred geographic area. Clinical rotations may be completed in primary care/internal medicine practices, family practices, community health centers, assisted living/long-term care facilities and some subspecialty areas.
Time Commitment
This intensive specialty is best suited for motivated, self-directed learners who can master large amounts of complex material in a short time. Balancing full-time work with the program’s rigorous, full-time, accelerated curriculum is not recommended, although the specialty can be completed on a part-time basis. Many full-time students continue to work in either part-time, weekend or PRN positions.
Outcomes
AGPCNPs are well-prepared to provide primary care to patients age 13 and up. They practice in internal medicine offices, ambulatory care centers, community clinics, specialty clinics, university student health centers, rehabilitation centers, assisted living/long-term care facilities and prisons and jails.
Graduates are prepared to take the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
Our AGPCNP program is led by experienced advanced practice nursing educators. This program equips you to transform the lives of adolescents and adults of all ages through holistic, evidence-based care.
Take the Next Step
The AGPCNP specialty is available as part of the Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Nursing Prespecialty, Post-Master's Certificate and BSN to DNP programs. Contact Admissions Counselor Lauren Watt with questions. For more information from the specialty director, view this short video.