This area of study prepares an advanced practice nurse in primary care of the elderly. The gerontological nurse practitioner's practice is assumed to be accessible, accountable, comprehensive, collaborative and coordinated first contact care as well as longitudinal management. Opportunity is provided to study the theoretical foundation of nursing practice with the development of practice models of gerontological primary care.
Nursing practice is approached from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning are taught as the basis of nursing management. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical judgment in health promotion as well as in the nursing management of acute and chronic health problems in the elderly. Clinical practicum is implemented in autonomous primary care nursing services with opportunities for collaboration with health professionals and emphasis on the role of the gerontological nurse practitioner. Graduates are eligible to take the ANCC certification examination for the Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. To develop these skills, the student completes courses in inferential statistics and research methods in nursing before conducting a study which includes the scientific analysis of data.