PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

The College of Nursing is the birthplace of the Nurse Practitioner, advanced practice role. In 1965, Dr. Loretta Ford, faculty of the College of Nursing and Dr. Henry Silver, a faculty member from the School of Medicine envisioned that nurses could be educated to perform well child physical exams, and to diagnose and manage common acute and episodic health problems in children. The subsequent research revealed that the new role for nursing was well accepted by patients, their families, as well as our physician colleagues. Subsequent research over the last three decades has validated the public’s acceptance of this advance practice role, as well as quality and cost effective outcomes.

This specialty is designed to meet the educational and clinical competency requirements for professional certification by either American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Nationally, certified GNPs are placed on the Advanced Practice Registry in the state of Colorado.

Nurse practitioner students are prepared to provide safe, competent, and satisfying care to their patients within the specialty.  Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are prepared to formulate clinical, administrative or policy decisions to promote health with clients experiencing wellness, acute or chronic illness, and to develop, manage and evaluate the care within communities and health care systems.  Geriatric nurse practitioners care for the elderly.  This specialty is designed to meet the educational and clinical competency requirements for professional certification by either American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).  Nationally, certified GNPs are placed on the Advanced Practice Registry in the state of Colorado.

Nurse practitioners are one of several advanced practice roles in nursing. Entry into practice as a primary care nurse practitioner demands educational preparation at a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing. Our program consists of both didactic and clinical courses that meet or exceed the requirements of national accrediting agencies for nursing education, and national certifying agencies for primary health care nurse practitioners. 

Our curricular framework prepares graduates to practice theory-guided, evidenced-based, and reflective primary health care. Ongoing, continuous, self directed and life-long learning is expected.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who are educationally prepared to provide comprehensive primary care services (health promotion, disease prevention, management of acute, episodic health problems, or the diagnosis, management, restorative and rehabilitative care for numerous chronic illnesses) to individuals, families and communities across and throughout the life span. “Services include, but are not limited to ordering, conducting, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, and the prescription of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies. Teaching and counseling individuals, families and groups are a major part of the nurse practitioner role” (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP, 2002).

Geriatric Nurse Practitioners’ scope of practice includes caring for older adult patients.

Nurse practitioners provide care in a variety of settings including, inpatient, acute care hospital settings, ambulatory or outpatient clinics, community agencies (e.g., school-based clinics, college health and public health settings), assisted living, short-term rehabilitation facilities, long term residential and hospice care settings.  Nurse practitioners may practice autonomously as defined by the statutory and regulatory laws governing professional nursing practice in each state. They may also practice in collaboration with physicians and other health professionals.

The nurse practitioner serves as a direct provider of primary health care services, a member of an interdisciplinary health care team, a teacher/educator, care coordinator/care manager, consultant, patient and family advocate, and researcher.

The nurse practitioner is responsible and directly accountable for their decisions and actions. Our practice is guided by the Code of Ethics for Nurses (American Nurses Association, 2001). 

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Faculty
Faculty are one of the cornerstones of any program. They provide direction for the curriculum, incorporate their research endeavors into their teaching, provide guidance to learners, serve as mentors and create innovative learning opportunities. We are fortunate at the University of Colorado Denver, College of Nursing to have many faculty involved with our program. We have a cadre of extremely well qualified faculty and associates who teach, conduct research, and serve as preceptors and mentors for our students. Our faculty are located in Colorado, across the United States and in several European countries. Our faculty are extremely committed to the discipline of nurse practitioners and serve on many national and international boards and are leaders in several professional organizations.  Please take a look at the experts in nurse practitioners that are part of our Master’s Program.  

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FAQs
How long will it take to complete the FNP, ANP, or GNP Nurse Practitioner program? The NP programs are 43-52 semester hours. This includes the 12 (14 for FNP)credits of clinical. Most students successfully complete the program in 2 to 3 years by taking 6 to 9 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 3 to 6 credits in the summer. The program must be completed in 5 years.

Do the NP programs have a clinical requirement? Yes. The ANP and GNP programs requires 12 credits of clinical which equals 540 contact hours and the FNP requires 14 credits of clinical which equals 630 contact hours. Clinicals are usually completed in 2 and 3 credit blocks.

Are the NP programs offered completely on-line or in-class?  Over two thirds of the didactic courses are offered in both an online and in class format which alternate semester to semester. Your academic advisor will work with you to develop a program plan to meet your individual needs and learning preferences. Nurse Practitioner students can utilize face-to-face interactions and limit travel time by attending classes in an intensive format involving 3-4 days (between semesters) on campus, with online follow-up during the semester. Online supervision may be available for students completing clinical requirements located out of the Denver-metro area.

Will I be required to come to Colorado? Yes. Clinical placements are in Colorado and require an active Colorado Registered Nurses license. Additionally, although we have many distance learning options some courses must be completed on-campus.

Will this program prepare me to sit for the ANCC certification as an ANP, FNP or GNP Nurse Practitioner?  Yes, our courses provide you with the knowledge and skills to take the ANCC certification examif you so choose.

Can I take a course before I apply? Yes, you may take up to 12 semester credits as a non-degree student prior to being accepted to the program. You must meet all prerequisite requirements of the course. Non-degree students register on a space available basis during open enrollment just prior to the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled as non-degree seeking are not eligible for financial aid. Please see the Office of Professional Development for more information.

Are there other options for persons who do not have a BS in Nursing or BSN? Yes there are options, for those who are RNs with a BS/BA degree in another field or significant coursework completed toward a bachelor’s degree. You can find out more about the RN to Masters Program by going to the College of Nursing RN to Master of Science link.

Are there any expectations outside of the classroom?
Yes, the nurse practitioner program is accredited by NLN and CCNE. Following completion of the program, graduates may take certification either ANCC (American Nurse Credentialing Center- www.nursingworld.org/ancc) or AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners - www.AANP.org) examinations in their specialty.

The program is rigorous, challenging, and very rewarding. During the clinical courses, it is strongly recommended that students do not work or work as little as possible. Students will also have the opportunity to have a clinical placement in rural Colorado during the last semesters of their program if they choose.

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) has published core competencies in each specialty for students to achieve. Students may need to increase their clinical credits if they do not achieve theses competencies within the required clinical credits. These competencies can be assessed at www.nonpf.org.

All students are required to have a Colorado RN license, current immunizations, and basic life support.

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