About the DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Program
Our DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP-AGPCNP Track) program instills a foundation of knowledge that will prepare you to work in a variety of diverse settings that align with your career interests. You will find employment opportunities across the health care spectrum. Due to the wide range of patients and the diverse array of duties that are entrusted to an AGPCNP, these settings may range from primary care, national health agencies, to home care delivered at the door step of the patient to addressing the rural health needs locally and beyond; you decide the career path that you want to follow, we’ll provide you with experiences and education to accelerate your journey.
Certification and Licensure
Students are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Examination from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) upon successful completion of this nurse practitioner program.
PBA has determined that the curriculum of this program is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Florida.
If you have a question about out-of-state licensure, please contact our eLearning office at (561) 803-2652 or by email at onlinehelp@pba.edu.
What Can I Do with this Degree?
A Christian Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) focuses on providing primary care to adults and older adults while integrating Christian faith into their practice. This role combines advanced clinical skills with a compassionate, faith-driven approach to address the unique health needs of aging populations.
- Provide Comprehensive Primary Care: Diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions common in adults and seniors, such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and dementia. Prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests, and develop treatment plans tailored to individual needs.
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Incorporate Faith-Based Care: Integrate Christian values into patient care by offering spiritual support, such as prayer or biblical encouragement, when appropriate and requested. Emphasize holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, particularly for end-of-life or chronic illness scenarios.
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Work in Christian Healthcare Settings: Practice in faith-based hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities (e.g., Christian retirement communities, Catholic health systems) that align with your values and prioritize whole-person care for adults and seniors.
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Serve in Church or Community Outreach: Collaborate with churches to provide health screenings, chronic disease management, or wellness education for adult and geriatric congregants. Lead programs addressing aging-related concerns like mobility, mental health, or caregiving support.
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Missionary or Global Health Work: Use AGPCNP skills in medical missions through Christian organizations (e.g., Samaritan’s Purse, Medical Missions Outreach) to deliver primary care to adults and seniors in underserved areas, combining medical expertise with faith-based service.
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Establish a Faith-Based Practice: Open a private practice focused on adult and geriatric care. Offer primary care services with a spiritual focus, such as counseling on health decisions aligned with biblical principles or supporting families through aging challenges.
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Support End-of-Life Care: Provide palliative or hospice care with a Christian perspective, addressing physical symptoms and spiritual needs for patients and families facing terminal illnesses. Offer guidance on ethical decisions like advance directives rooted in faith.
- Educate and Advocate: Teach churches or community groups about healthy aging, caregiver support, or mental health in seniors from a Christian perspective. Advocate for improved access to geriatric care in faith communities, reducing stigma around aging-related issues.
Career Considerations
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Demand and Salary: AGPCNPs are in high demand due to an aging population, with a projected 38% job growth for nurse practitioners by 2032 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Salaries typically range from $95,000-$130,000 annually, though mission-driven or faith-based roles may prioritize service over higher pay.
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Certifications and Licensure: Obtain AGPCNP certification (e.g., through AANP or ANCC) and maintain state licensure. Additional training in Christian counseling, bioethics, or palliative care can enhance faith-based practice.
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Ethical Navigation: Balance faith integration with professional standards, respecting diverse patient beliefs and complying with legal and medical regulations, especially in sensitive areas like end-of-life care.
Unique Opportunities
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Develop faith-based caregiver support programs for families of seniors in churches.
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Provide primary care to older adults in Christian communities, especially in rural or underserved areas.
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Collaborate with Christian counselors or chaplains to address mental health and spiritual needs in aging populations.
Our DNP-AGPCNP Track Offers:
- Christ-first focus
- Professional Transition Mentorship Program
- Faculty remain in engaged in clinical practice as well as leadership involvement at the local, state and national levels
- Students can sit for their national certification exam BEFORE graduation
Program Details
PBA is known throughout the region for the quality of nursing graduates we produce each year. This is a result of our proven curriculum and exceptional instructors who serve as student mentors and bring decades of real-world experience. Other distinctives include:
- Christ-Centered Experience—concepts of faith and biblical principles are at the center of everything nursing students experience.
- Holistic Approach—we strongly believe, and teach our students, that true healthcare involves sociocultural understanding and spiritual encouragement in addition to the physical.
- Advanced Labs and Technology—you will benefit from training with the most advanced nursing lab technologies and patient simulation resources, preparing you to step in and succeed on day one.
- Personalized Learning—you will be guided by expert faculty who bring years of nursing experience at places such as Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida; Good Samaritan Medical Center; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Learn more about your classes and requirements in the course catalog.
- NursingCAS application at http://nursingcas.org/ (NursingCAS is the Centralized Application Service for students applying to nursing programs)
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
- Applicants for Post-Master’s DNP track must have Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited university and nationally accredited nursing program
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State Graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s BSN or MSN tracks are eligible for seamless progression to the DNP program. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for details.
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, minimum nursing courses 3.0 GPA
- No GRE required; however, applicants who score less than 3.0 (cumulative and nursing) on a 4.0 scale must provide acceptable GRE scores of 50th percentile on both verbal and quantitative sections and 4.0 on the analytical writing section
- Minimum of one year’s work experience as an RN or current employment as an RN.
- Required documents below may be submitted through NursingCAS* at nursingcas.org.
- Official Transcripts from all schools attended
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s academic ability and leadership potential, including one from a current supervisor
- GRE scores if applicable
- Current and active Florida license OR a valid RN license from another state and proof of application to Florida Board of Nursing
- Personal statement supporting future goals, faith, and interest in obtaining a practice doctorate (no more than 500 words)
- Personal interview with the School of Nursing Graduate Admissions Committee
- After interview and upon acceptance, applicants must:
- Submit Admissions Deposit of $400 (non-refundable; will be applied to tuition upon enrollment
- Provide Documentation to the School of Nursing:
- Background Check with Fingerprints
- Drug Screen
- Proof of Immunization/Titers
- PPD or other TB Test
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CPR Certification from the American Heart Association
- Florida RN License
- Proof of Health Insurance
For a complete program description and policies, click here.
Students are eligible to sit for the ANCC and/or AANP AGPCNP National Certification Examination upon completion of the NP program.
The School of Nursing has a vast range of opportunities for both our students and our graduates. From student clubs and organizations to externships and internships, you can get involved!
Launching Brighter Futures
Graduates of the program are ready for licensure as nurses with careers in bedside nursing, leadership and community nursing. Many program alumni also pursue a graduate degree. PBA nursing graduates consistently achieve a 94 percent pass rate on the national licensure exam, and are employed by respected healthcare organizations around the country, some of which include:
- Canasi Medical Institute
- Cleveland Clinic
- Community Health Clinic of West Palm Beach
- Emory Healthcare of Atlanta
- Florida Cancer Specialists
- Florida Department of Health
- Jupiter Medical Group
- Marcus Neuroscience Institute
- Palm Beach Cardiology
- Mary’s Medical Center
- Team Health
PBA awards over three million dollars in scholarships every year. Learn more about financial aid.
Explore PBA
From the intrigue of the Intercoastal Waterway to the inspiration of the stunning DeSantis Chapel, to the opportunities in bustling downtown West Palm Beach, to the comfort of a cozy residence hall, you’ll feel at home here. Come experience the vibrant, supportive, inspiring campus of PBA for yourself.
