Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Track

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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 prepared to manage adult patients in acute, critical and specialty care units. UVA’s program emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice and skills needed to manage adult gerontology patients through all phases of their hospitalization and follow-up. AGCNS students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, strategies to communicate and collaborate with clinicians and health care team members, and the ability to manage and monitor clinical outcomes. The required 560 hours of preceptorship exceeds the recommendation of the National Association of CNS’s 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).