It stands for Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. A healthcare professional who uses this title is a nurse who has graduated from a program that has prepared them to act as a primary care provider. They serve patients who are aged 18 through adulthood to old age.  

An FNP is a Family Nurse Practitioner, and an AGPCNP is an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Both can be used to describe a nurse who has graduated from a rigorous graduate-level program like Keuka College’s. The difference between them is in the populations they treat. An FNP can treat patients from birth through adulthood. An AGPCNP provides care for those aged 18 and up. 

The short answer is - LOTS! An Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) works as a primary care provider for patients ages 18 to old age. They may work in a clinic with a physician, have a private practice of their own. They can also work in a variety of settings such as hospices, long-term care facilities, correctional institutes, and urgent care clinics. As a primary care provider, they are the first line of defense in helping the patient maintain their health. A typical day might see you diagnosing and treating illnesses, doing wellness visits, doing health assessments, giving immunizations, and providing health counseling. Nurse practitioners can also order diagnostic testing and prescribe medications.

According to the New York State Department of Labor, nurse practitioners in New York have an annual median income of $115,000. Experienced nurse practitioners earn around $122,000. 

Neither a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician’s Assistant is higher than the other. Both professionals have worked hard to deepen their knowledge and increase their area of expertise in order to be able to serve patients in a more comprehensive way. Depending on state regulations governing their practice, an NP or a PA may work with a physician or be on their own. The main difference between them is in the way they approach patient care. A nurse practitioner uses the nursing model of care, and the PA uses the medical model. The nursing model takes a holistic approach to care, concentrating on the patient’s mental, emotional, and spiritual needs, as well as their physical needs. NPs focus on health promotion. The medical model focuses on disease pathology and curing the problem. The PA examines patient’s anatomy and physiological systems in the diseased state versus a state of health. 

Yes! In fact, this is most often where you find an AGPCNP. Depending on their area of expertise, an NP may work in an urgent care clinic or with a physician, or even have a practice of their own. They diagnose patients, help manage chronic illness, prescribe medicine, and order diagnostic tests. 

There are a variety of types of nurse practitioners, and their specialties and acronyms describe the kind of work they do and sometimes the setting in which they work. Both Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners have graduated from a program in which they have deepened the scope of their medical knowledge. Consequently, they are equipped to care for patients from adolescents to the very old. However, an acute care nurse practitioner often works in a hospital or clinic where they are able to treat people who are experiencing some sort of health crises. Perhaps they have broken a leg or are suffering from a gunshot wound. A primary care nurse practitioner treats patients in a clinic or practice and helps patients live healthy lives. They might see a patient for an annual physical, or help an elderly patient manage a condition such as osteoporosis.