Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

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This track prepares nurses for advanced practice in the care of young adults, adults, older adults and frail older adult patients across the continuum of illness to wellness.  The AGCNS is an advanced practice nurse fully prepared to manage the care of adult patients in a variety of clinical settings. UVA’s program emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice and skills needed to manage adult gerontology patients through all phases of care from preventative to hospitalization and follow-up. AGCNS students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, building expert knowledge and integrative evidence-based practice strategies, with the ability to transform systems to enhance and systematically monitor clinical outcomes in a collaborative interprofessional environment. The required 560 hours of clinical practicum exceeds the recommendation of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists for 500 hours. At the completion of this track, students are qualified to sit for the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) certification examination for the  Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS certification.

Required Courses

20 credits, 560 clinical hours

GNUR 6121 - Diagnostics and Therapeutics Seminar Credits: 3
GNUR 6310 - AG-AC Seminar I Credits: 4
GNUR 6315 - Adult Geriatric Acute Care Seminar II Credits: 3
GNUR 7311 - AG ACCNS Practicum I Credits: 5
GNUR 7313 - AG ACCNS Practicum II Credits: 5

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).

Upon completion of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate at the UVA School of Nursing, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).