Overview
The Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialists (AGCNS) cares for patients from wellness through acute care, with a specific focus on complex and vulnerable adult and older adult populations. The AGCNS is best described as the “nurses’ nurse” as the CNS is a resource and consultant to nurses and health care professionals. The AGCNS is involved in all levels of the health care system, spanning from the acute care setting to the home. The AGCNS engages in numerous direct care and leadership roles in the health care system including organizing and managing large scale programs, incorporating evidence into practice, coaching and mentoring nurses and serving as a consultant to health care professionals, organizations, patients and families.
Clinical practice and residency sites include UCSF Medical Center and Clinics, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Medical Center as well as community hospitals and systems.
To learn more, watch a video that students in this specialty produced about what it means to be a clinical nurse specialist.
Certifications and Licenses
All completers of the Adult-Gerontology CNS track are eligible upon graduation and completion of 500 clinical hours for a Clinical Nurse Specialist certificate through the California State Board of Registered Nursing. Completers are also eligible upon graduation and completion of 500 clinical hours for national certification examination offered through American Nurse Credentialing Center as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist-Board Certified (AGCNS-BC) or through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation as an Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult-Gerontology (ACCNS-AG).
Learn more about ANCC certification, and AACN certification.
Curriculum
Current students can visit the Master of Science program's Collaborative Learning Environment site to access the curriculum (MyAccess credentials required).
For individuals applying for admission for fall 2024, the sample curriculum for the BSN Entry to DNP — Advanced Nursing Focus pathway can be viewed on our Curriculum webpage.
Practice Experience Requirement
Applicants to this specialty are required to have a minimum of two years of acute care experience. Review our Application Requirements webpage for a full list of admissions requirements.
Faculty
Astrid Block, MS, RN, CNS, associate professor - Specialty Coordinator
Elena Flowers, PhD, RN, associate professor
Heather Leutwyler, RN, PhD, NP, professor
SueAnn Mark, PhD, RN, AOCNS, assistant professor
Christine Miaskowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor
Michele Pelter, RN, PhD, associate professor
Contact Us
Specialty Coordinator: Astrid Block
[email protected]