While there are some similarities between the two main types of adult gerontology nurse practitioners, these are the biggest differences between primary care NPs and acute care NPs:

• Their job roles and responsibilities
• Where they work
• Skills and personality traits
• Specialization
• Certification

Primary care AGNPs are responsible for providing continuous, comprehensive medical care for patients across the adult lifespan (13 and older). AGNPs work primarily in outpatient care settings helping patients develop their personal healthcare assessments and manage long-term chronic illnesses.

AGNPs work under the supervision of a physician, with varying degrees of autonomy. They do not “specialize” in a traditional sense, acting as big picture managers of a patients’ healthcare plan and facilitating connections to specialized care as necessary. However, nurses can begin their NP career in primary care and branch into a specialty of their choosing later, such as acute care or mental health.

Practicing as an AGNP requires close collaboration with a team of healthcare staff dedicated to the long-term health needs of their patients.

There are two types of general NPs: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners (AGPCNPs) and Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP). Both NPs provide ongoing health counseling, prevention and management for their patients.

The primary difference is the patient population they care for: FNPs practice across the lifespan in family practice, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric care. AGNPs work only with adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.

If you are open to working with children you may choose the FNP path, while those who prefer to work with adults only may choose the AGNP path.

Yes.

In the past, there were separate designations for Adult Nurse Practitioners (ANP) and Geriatric Nurse Practitioners (GNP). Now the two roles have been combined into Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). The knowledge and skills developed in an MSN or DNP-AGNP program will best prepare you to work with geriatric/elderly patients.

Graduating with an MSN or DNP degree and becoming board certified as a primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP-BC) will qualify you to practice as an NP and pursue a geriatric specialty.

Nurse practitioners have an expanded scope of practice compared to registered nurses. In addition to RN duties, nurse practitioners may also write prescriptions, order lab tests, diagnose illnesses, and more (although specifics vary by state). NPs have greater autonomy in delivering patient care, and for that reason, the education requirement is higher. 

Learn more about how to go from RN to nurse practitioner.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $128,490 per year ($61.78 per hour).*

NPs specializing in adult gerontology in primary care may increase their earning potential by becoming board certified, gaining valuable experience and continuing their education.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), core competencies for Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners include:

• Contributes to improved knowledge and care of the adult gerontology population
• Uses scientific knowledge and theoretical foundations to detect psychological, physiological, and sociological development and aging
• Be a leader facilitating the coordination and planning to deliver care to the adult gerontology population
• Promotes safety and risk reduction
• Continually evaluates the quality of care delivery models
• Integrates appropriate technologies into deliver healthcare in remote, face-to-face encounters
• Aids in the development of health promotion programs within a health community or system
• Provides wellness promotion and disease prevention services balancing the costs, risks and benefits to individuals

That’s just a sample! As an AGNP you will carry many different responsibilities as a crucial member of a healthcare team.

While both jobs involve outpatient primary care under the “general NP” umbrella, the biggest difference between AGNP and FNP is the patient population. FNPs are trained for family practice across the lifespan, including children, while AGNPs are trained only for the adult lifespan (adolescent through end of life).

We offer multiple options for current nurses of all types, including pathways for ASN/ADN, BSN, and MSN degree holders.

View our available online Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner programs.

Here’s a selection of the most common types of nurse practitioners:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Each specialty has its own unique requirements in terms of job experience and certification.