Why Get an AG-ACNP Degree?

An Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) qualification allows nurse practitioners or NPs to focus on caring for adults in acute healthcare settings. With this degree, you can pick patient type, specializations, and even job location. Not only can you study from the comfort of your home by enrolling in AG-ACNP online programs, but you can also expect superb career opportunities, excellent pay, and greater responsibility. If you are an experienced NP wondering whether an AG-ACNP certification is a good choice, you are in the right spot. Today, we shall look at why getting this degree can be beneficial. Let's get started!

What Is an AG-ACNP?

Before we jump into a list of reasons why you should opt for an AG-ACNP certification, it is a good idea to see what an AG-ACNP is. An Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is a nurse that cares for older adults with critical ailments. They fill a major role in the healthcare sector, especially when there is a wide physician shortage.

Experienced AG-ACNPs are necessary as they will eventually be responsible for catering to elderly patients that emerge from the baby-boom generation. They are also expected to live longer, so the more nurses, the better.

What Does an AG-ACNP Do?

  • Prescribing/interpreting diagnostic tests
  • Analyzing a patient's health condition
  • Preparing treatment plans
  • Running life support systems
  • Ordering medication/medical devices
  • Placing intravenous lines
  • Providing wound and injury care
  • Performing medical procedures like intubation
  • Communicating with patients and their families
  • Acting as patient advocates
  • Catering to patient pain

Advantages of an AG-ACNP Degree

Now that you know who an AG-ACNP is, let us look at four main benefits of obtaining the qualification below:

Large Demand

Nearly 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old each day. It has been estimated that this trend will continue for the next 10 years. A rapidly aging population indicates a greater need for experienced and well-trained AG-ACNPs. The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) estimates that the demand for new NPs is going to rise by 52% over the next decade. If you obtain an MSN degree, you can increase your earning potential by opting for an AG-ACNP degree. The BLS May 2020 report states that NPs earn $111,680 on average yearly.

Vast Career Opportunities

Healthcare workers often do not have a choice of where and for who they wish to work. However, as an Acute Care NP, you can work in various fields and cater to an array of patients. You can easily pick a field where your skills and expertise will be most fruitful. Some examples include:

  • Progressive care units, medical-surgical units, telemetry, and other departments in a hospital
  • ER or emergency rooms
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Neurology, cardiology, oncology, infectious disease, and other specialty services
  • Urgent care
  • ICU or intensive care units
  • Teaching
  • Administrative roles
  • Research roles

Specializations

Nearly 1.06 billion patients visit nurse practitioners every year. With such a vast scope, it is no surprise that specialty doctors are also very popular and commonly sought after. An AG-ACNP can specialize in the following:

  • Emergency medicine
  • Cardiothoracic surgery
  • Palliative medicine
  • Pulmonary critical care
  • Hospitalist
  • Neurosurgery
  • Oncology
  • Trauma

An AG-ACNP degree is the perfect springboard to launch into a specialized nursing career and earn a whole lot more!

Role Versatility

Depending on the job location and regional demand, an AG-ACNP can face emergencies and high stress. They may have to provide immediate care for chronic conditions like heart failure, diabetes, or hypertension. However, not all days will be similar, especially if you work at a hospital with a full-fledged healthcare team. Other jobs you may find yourself participating in include:

  • Diagnosing/managing patients with acute, critical, or complex illnesses
  • Providing health promotion, education, and counseling
  • Performing physical examinations or screenings
  • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals
  • Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies
  • Prescribing medications
  • Prescribing advanced therapeutic intervention
  • Recording patient history
  • Performing therapeutic procedures

If you are sure you can handle an array of tasks and will not succumb to pressure, an AG-ACNP degree is surely for you. Make sure you are willing to put up with time constraints, communicate and work as part of a team. As you gain experience, you can even turn into a medical leader.

Endnote

Landing your dream career takes time, effort, dedication, and the right degree. It is also a good idea to add a national certification to your portfolio to show recruiters that you have the right skills and experience as an AG-ACNP. Slowly build your way up and gather connections, and you should be able to land a highly profitable and reputable position in the healthcare sector.




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