AGPCNP track competencies

1. Scientific Foundation
   1. Critically analyzes data and evidence for improving advanced nursing practice.
   2. Integrates knowledge from the humanities and sciences within the context of nursing science.
   3. Translates research and other forms of knowledge to improve practice processes and outcomes.
   4. Develops new practice approaches based on the integration of research, theory, and practice knowledge.
2. Leadership
   1. Assumes complex and advanced leadership roles to initiate and guide change.
   2. Provides leadership to foster collaboration with multiple stakeholders (e.g., patients, community, integrated healthcare teams, and policy makers) to improve health care.
   3. Demonstrates leadership that uses critical and reflective thinking.
   4. Advocates for improved access, quality, and cost-effective health care.
   5. Advances practice through the development and implementation of innovations incorporating principles of change.
   6. Communicates practice knowledge effectively, both orally and in writing.
   7. Participates in professional organizations and activities that influence advanced practice nursing and/or health outcomes of a population focus.
3. Quality
   1. Uses best available evidence for continuous quality improvement of clinical practice.
   2. Evaluates the relationships among access, cost, quality, and safety and their influence on health care.
   3. Evaluates how organizational structure, care processes, financing, marketing, and policy decisions impact the quality of health care.
   4. Applies skills in peer review to promote a culture of excellence.
   5. Anticipates variations in practice and is proactive in implementing interventions to ensure quality.
4. Practice Inquiry
   1. Provides leadership in the translation of new knowledge into practice.
   2. Generates knowledge from clinical practice to improve practice and patient outcomes.
   3. Applies clinical investigative skills to improve health outcomes.
   4. Leads practice inquiry, individually or in partnership with others.
   5. Disseminates evidence from inquiry to diverse audiences using multiple modalities.
   6. Analyzes clinical guidelines for individualized application into practice.
5. Technology and Information Literacy
   1. Integrates appropriate technologies for knowledge management to improve health care.
   2. Translates technical and scientific health information appropriate for various users’ needs.
      1. Assesses the patient’s and caregiver’s educational needs to provide effective, personalized health care.
      2. Coaches the patient and caregiver for positive behavioral change.
   3. Demonstrates information literacy skills in complex decision-making.
   4. Contributes to the design of clinical information systems that promote safe, quality, and cost effective care.
   5. Uses technology systems that capture data on variables for the evaluation of nursing care.
6. Policy
   1. Demonstrates an understanding of the interdependence of policy and practice.
   2. Advocates for ethical policies that promote access, equity, quality, and cost.
   3. Analyzes ethical, legal, and social factors influencing policy development.
   4. Contributes in the development of health policy.
   5. Analyzes the implications of health policy across disciplines.
   6. Evaluates the impact of globalization on healthcare policy development.
   7. Advocates for policies for safe and healthy practice environments.
7. Health Delivery Systems
   1. Applies knowledge of organizational practices and complex systems to improve healthcare delivery.
   2. Effects healthcare change using broad-based skills including negotiating, consensus-building, and partnering.
   3. Minimizes risk to patients and providers at the individual and systems level.
   4. Facilitates the development of healthcare systems that address the needs of culturally diverse populations, providers, and other stakeholders.
   5. Evaluates the impact of healthcare delivery on patients, providers, other stakeholders, and the environment.
   6. Analyzes organizational structure, functions, and resources to improve the delivery of care.
   7. Collaborates in planning for transitions across the continuum of care.
8. Ethics
   1. Integrates ethical principles in decision-making.
   2. Evaluates the ethical consequences of decisions.
   3. Applies ethically sound solutions to complex issues related to individuals, populations, and systems of care.
9. Independent Practice
   1. Functions as a licensed independent practitioner.
   2. Demonstrates the highest level of accountability for professional practice.
   3. Practices independently managing previously diagnosed and undiagnosed patients.
      1. Provides the full spectrum of healthcare services to include health promotion, disease prevention, health protection, anticipatory guidance, counseling, disease management, palliative, and end-of-life care.
      2. Uses advanced health assessment skills to differentiate between normal, variations of normal, and abnormal findings.
      3. Employs screening and diagnostic strategies in the development of diagnoses.
      4. Prescribes medications within scope of practice.
      5. Manages the health/illness status of patients and families over time.
   4. Provides patient-centered care recognizing cultural diversity and the patient or designee as a full partner in decision-making.
      1. Works to establish a relationship with the patient characterized by mutual respect, empathy, and collaboration.
      2. Creates a climate of patient-centered care to include confidentiality, privacy, comfort, emotional support, mutual trust, and respect.
      3. Incorporates the patient’s cultural and spiritual preferences, values, and beliefs into health care.
      4. Preserves the patient’s control over decision-making by negotiating a mutually acceptable plan of care.
      5. Develops strategies to prevent one’s own personal biases from interfering with delivery of quality care.
      6. Addresses cultural, spiritual, and ethnic influences that potentially create conflict among individuals, families, staff, and caregivers.
   5. Educates professional and lay caregivers to provide culturally and spiritually sensitive, appropriate care.
   6. Collaborates with both professional and other caregivers to achieve optimal care outcomes.
   7. Coordinates transitional care services in and across care settings.
   8. Participates in the development, use, and evaluation of professional standards and evidence-based care.

Scientific Foundations

1. Contributes to knowledge development and improved care of the adult–gerontology population.
2. Uses scientific knowledge and theoretical foundations to differentiate between normal and abnormal changes in physiological, psychological, and sociological development and aging.

Leadership

1. Describes the current and evolving adult–gerontology primary care NP role to other healthcare providers and the public.
2. Provides leadership to facilitate the complex coordination and planning required for the delivery of care to young adults (including late adolescents), adults, and older adults.
3. Demonstrates leadership in the practice and policy arenas to achieve optimal care outcomes and the adult–geronology population.

Quality

1. Promotes safety and risk reduction for the adult–gerontology population.
2. Evaluates the quality of care delivery models and their impact on adult population outcomes across the age and care continuum.
3. Demonstrates continuous quality improvement of one's own practice.

Technology & Information Literacy

1. Integrates appropriate technologies into healthcare delivery for adult–gerontology populations in remote and face-to-face encounters.
2. Uses devices and technology to improve outcomes for adult–gerontology patients, including the cognitively impaired, sensory impaired, and those with disabilities.
3. Uses appropriate electronic communication methods with healthcare professionals, patients, family members, and caregivers.
4. Applies ethical and legal standards regarding the use of technology in health care for the adult–gerontology population.
5. Analyzes the adequacy of data capture methods in clinical information systems to promote effective care for the adult–gerontology population.

Policy

1. Advocates for implementation of the full scop of the AGPCNP role.
2. Analyzes policy relative to optimal care outcomes for the adult–gerontology population.
3. Develops strategies to reduce the impact of ageism, racism/ethnocentrism and sexism on healthcare policies and systems.

Health Delivery System

1. Manages safe transitions across settings and levels of care.
2. Applies knowledge of regulatory processes and payer systems to the planning and delivery of healthcare services for adults across the age and level of care spectrums.
3. Facilitates the development of health promotion programs within a health system or community.

Ethics

1. Advocates for the patient's and family's rights regarding healthcare decision-making taking into account ethical and legal standards.

Independent Practice

1. Independently manages common complex, acute, and chronically ill patients across the spectrum of adolescence to the older adult, including the frail older adult.
2. Provides age-appropriate wellness promotion and disease prevention services weighing the costs, risks, and benefits to individuals.
3. Uses correct diagnostic evaluation and management billing codes for care of the adult and older adult populations across settings.
4. Assesses the individual's and family's ability to cope with and manage developmental (life stage) transitions.
5. Manages geriatric syndromes and changing conditions using evidence-based guidelines.
6. Manages common cognitive behavioral and mental health conditions in adolescents, adults, and older adults.
7. Provides interventions adapted to meet the complex needs of individuals and families considering cost benefit and patient preference.
8. Collaborates with the patient, family, and others to provide palliative and end-of-life care.
9. Develops a plan for long-term management of chronic healthcare problems with the individual, family, and healthcare team.
10. Collaborates, as appropriate, with others to diagnose and manage acute complications of chronic and/or multi-system health problems.
11. Evaluates individual's and/or caregiver's support systems.
12. Safely performs procedures common to adult and geriatric primary care clinical practice.
13. Provides education based on appropriate teaching–learning theory to individuals, families, caregivers, and groups regarding adolescent, adult, and gerontological issues.
14. Adapts teaching approaches based on learner's physiological and psychological changes, developmental stage, readiness to learn, literacy, the environment, and resources.
15. Educates individuals, families, caregivers, and groups regarding strategies to manage the interaction among normal development, aging, and mental and physical disorders.
16. Provides consultation to health professionals and others regarding care of adolscents, adults, and older adults.
17. Uses interventions to prevent or reduce risk factors for diverse and vulnerable adult populations, particularly adolescents and frail older adults.