Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Specialty Overview: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares students for a comprehensive nurse practitioner role that includes critical thinking and independent decision-making in clinical practice, leadership, education, policy and consultation.

An increasingly complex health care environment and a nationwide shortage of primary care providers mean that nurse practitioners – especially doctorate-prepared nurse practitioners – are in high demand. DNPs have an important role in patient and professional advocacy, and are vital for improving community health and patient outcomes.

The many DNP specialties empower nurses to help populations and solve problems they are passionate about. One of those specialties is the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose and manage all adults, from young adults to seniors. They focus on primary care, which emphasizes a patient's ongoing health needs and wellness, and in acute care, treating chronic conditions or injuries.

Below, our Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program Co-Coordinators Francine Intorre, DNP, RN, AGNP-BC, and Gail Bain-Markowski, DNP, ANP-C, ACNP, CCRN, provide an overview of the specialty and discuss a common misconception about AGNP nurse practitioners. 

AGNPs can treat patients from early adulthood to old age. AGNPs do not treat obstetrics and gynecology or pediatric patients.

AGNPs can work in primary care practices, specialty practices, clinics, telemedicine and long-term care facilities. AGNPs can also work in acute care settings such as hospitals and urgent care. In the AGNP program here at UB School of Nursing, half of the specialty courses cover primary care topics. The other half addresses acutely ill patients.

AGNPs are required to graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program. In order to practice as a nurse practitioner in New York State, they must be certified and registered as a nurse practitioner by the New York State Education Department. AGNPs must also maintain licensure as registered nurses.

Intorre works at a clinic that functions as an extension of primary care that provides care to patients with acute complaints and prevents hospitalizations.

Bain-Markowski works at a large hospital on the critical care cardiothoracic surgery team. She is assigned patients that are in the hospital awaiting cardiac surgery. Her role is to assess their risk factors for surgery through an array of pre-operative diagnostic test results. She also treats medical issues that may contribute to a higher risk of surgery. She educates the patient and families regarding surgery, post-operative recovery and any necessary medical and lifestyle changes.

Intorre’s clinic consists of nurse practitioners and physician assistants with no physician oversight.

Bain-Markowski has full practice authority in New York State and is accountable to the state board of nursing. In her role at the hospital, she is also required to uphold the organization’s standards and bylaws.

A common misconception is that AGNPs only work with elderly patients. Gerontology does not exclusively mean chronically sick elderly people in nursing homes. The aging population is growing in numbers and being able to care for people as they age is a specialty of its own. AGNPs treat patients from early adulthood to the elderly, and everyone in between.

Our Post-BS to DNP Program AGNP specialty develops advanced practice nurses who can deliver compassionate primary care to all adults, from young adults to seniors. At the conclusion of our program, students are eligible to take the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner board certification exam. Visit our Post-BS to DNP program page to learn more about our program.