A Curriculum Guide for Implementation of an Advanced Certificate in Gerontology: A Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate from the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Download: Curriculum Guide

This curriculum guide provides an overview of a Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Gerontology, a Post-Master’s program of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program, developed by the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and other partners. Interprofessional education and practice content was implemented in collaboration with New York University School of Medicine’s Primary Care Residency Program.

The Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Gerontology is most applicable for (1) adult nurse practitioners who need the gerontology content to meet eligibility requirements for the national Adult-Gerontology Primary Care certification exam; (2) nurse practitioners who want to further their ability to provide comprehensive interprofessional primary care to older adults with multiple chronic conditions; and (3) nurse practitioners who want to further their knowledge in gerontology.

The program provides nurse practitioners in primary care with the ability to (1) have advanced knowledge and skills in the management of complex, frail, community dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions, and (2) implement effective care for this growing population within a high functioning, interprofessional team that utilizes evidence-based practice to achieve quality outcomes. The curriculum incorporates Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPEP) online modules to provide clinicians with information about caring for older adults in interprofessional teams.

This program addresses a need for adult nurse practitioners prepared in care of adults prior to the adoption of The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification & Education (LACE) endorsed in 2008 by 48 nursing organizations including ANCC, AANP, American Nurses Association (ANA), National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA), National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), National League for Nursing (NLN), and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The program provides adult nurse practitioners (ANPs) with the gap gerontology didactic and clinical content necessary for gerontological nurse practitioner (GNP) certification, as well as to meet eligibility criteria for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner national certification exam. The program aligns competencies with the AACN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies published in 2011.