The focus of UConn’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) online program is on the delivery of primary care to the individual within the context of the family and community including health promotion, disease prevention, and disease management activities to support healthy lives. The core competencies emphasize teaching/coaching, consultation, and evidence-based practice. AGPCNPs typically work in clinics and other outpatient settings where they provide comprehensive, chronic, and continuous evaluation and treatment of patients with a wide variety of common minor acute and chronic conditions, but not for those patients with unstable or critical conditions.

The purpose of the AGPCNP program offered by the School of Nursing is to prepare advanced practice nurses with specialized knowledge, skills, and values. Graduates assume leadership roles in health care systems in advance practice and the discipline of nursing by applying existing nursing knowledge and using a spirit of inquiry to examine and test nursing knowledge.

The clinical setting presents unique challenges and responsibilities for advanced practice nursing students caring for patients in a variety of health care environments. In addition to academic qualifications, UConn advanced practice nursing students must possess the ability to consistently demonstrate a proficiency in five core areas for nursing students, specifically motor, sensory, communication, behavior, and critical thinking skills. These areas reflect the reasonable expectations of a nursing student performing the common functions of a registered nurse and/or an advanced practice nurse. In adopting these standards, we are mindful of the patient's right to safe and quality health care.

The ability to consistently demonstrate these personal and professional competencies are essential from admittance to graduation. Students must be capable of performing the skills of an advanced practice nursing student.