The Master of Nursing Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) degree program at Boise State University received extended accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in August. The Boise State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science programs are also accredited by ACEN.
An AGNP is an advanced practice nurse who specializes in the care and treatment of individuals from adolescence to death, excluding the care of pregnant women. Boise State’s AGNP program requires 50 credits and 700 supervised clinical hours for graduation and can be completed anywhere from three to seven years. Once licensed, an AGNP can, among other things, perform comprehensive and focused physical examinations, diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries, and manage chronic health problems.
ACEN accredits all types of nursing education programs in a variety of postsecondary and higher education settings. ACEN Accreditation “provides recognition that a nursing education program has been evaluated by a qualified, independent group of respected and competent peers who have found it to be meeting appropriate postsecondary and higher educational purposes in a satisfactory manner.” It also “assures professional development opportunity and validation for faculty and is a gateway to licensure, certification, and eligibility for entitlement programs.”
Boise State’s AGNP program has been accredited because it reflects ACEN’s core values: learning, community, responsibility, integrity, value, quality, and continuous improvement through reflection and analysis. With this accreditation, the AGNP program aids in student recruitment and retention, assists employers seeking graduates who are competent nurses, and promotes professional and educational mobility of program graduates.