Scott Weyland, DNP, ACNP (left), assistant professor, guides four UCSF AG ACNP students through a procedure during an advance critical care skills workshop in the Kanbar Center for Simulation and Clinical Skills, Parnassus Heights campus.
On May 15, 2026, sixteen students from the UCSF School of Nursing Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP) specialty participated in an advanced invasive skills workshop designed to strengthen procedural competency and clinical decision-making in high-acuity patient care settings.
The immersive simulation experience provided hands-on training in several advanced procedures commonly performed in acute and critical care environments, including airway management and endotracheal intubation, ultrasound-guided central venous catheter placement, lumbar puncture, arterial line insertion, and point-of-care ultrasound applications. Students practiced these procedures in a supervised simulation environment that emphasized patient safety, technical proficiency, teamwork, and clinical judgment.
The workshop was planned and led by Alonya Elgrably, DNP, MSN, ACNP-BC, associate professor, whose vision and leadership brought together a multidisciplinary team of educators and clinicians. Three AG ACNP faculty members and four guest faculty experts joined the event, providing individualized instruction, real-time feedback, and clinical mentorship throughout the day.
AG ACNPs are advanced practice providers who diagnose, treat, and manage complex, unstable, acutely ill adults, and older adults. AG ACNPs provide life-saving interventions and care for acute episodic illnesses and acute exacerbations of chronic diseases, primarily in hospital-based settings. Many graduates practice in intensive care units, trauma centers, emergency departments, and other acute care environments where expertise in advanced procedural skills is essential.
“This workshop provides students with a unique opportunity to develop confidence and competence in procedures they will encounter as acute care nurse practitioners,” said Elgrably. “Through deliberate practice and expert feedback, students gain valuable experience that bridges classroom learning and clinical practice.”
The advanced invasive skills workshop is one of several innovative educational experiences that distinguish the UCSF AG ACNP specialty program and support the development of future leaders in acute care nursing.
