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Masters Specialty Area
| FYI/Facts: Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Specialty | |
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The Adult Nurse Practitioner
Because they can serve so many important roles in a severely stressed health care system, there is a strong demand for adult nurse practitioners (ANPs).
ANPs are advanced practice nurses who diagnose and manage common primary care problems for adults.
They work in a variety of community-based practice settings, including community health clinics, health maintenance organizations, specialty clinics, correctional facilities, and private medical practices. Many ANPs specialize in an area of interest, such as HIV/AIDS, pulmonary care, or integrated and complementary health.
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| "I believe that my experiences in the ANP program gave me the skills and resources to apply my knowledge, and be a good clinician." Miranda Surjadi, RN, ANP, Associated Internal Medicine, a private practice in Oakland, California |
UCSF's adult nurse practitioner program is nationally recognized as the best program of its kind in America. It emphasizes comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessment, decision-making processes for acute and chronic health conditions, and health care maintenance, including health promotion and disease prevention.
Taught primarily by expert ANPs, the program trains graduates to: deliver, coordinate, and evaluate high quality care; advocate for vulnerable individuals and populations; and positively influence health care delivery systems.
Students complete a core program of coursework and clinical experience, which includes the following ANP-focused courses and residencies:
The flexible program allows students to tailor their course of study. Options include a generalist path, a sub-specialty (such as pulmonary care, nursing education, or health policy), or one of the following identified specialty areas.
To support working nurses and family life, classes meet on two days of each week for most of the program.
Currently, the ANP program does not accept Post-Masters applications.
Students who complete the ANP and affiliated ANP programs are eligible to sit for the American Nurse Credentialing Center's and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner's certification examinations upon graduation.
Students in this specialty may select an HIV/AIDS focus as part of their specialization in the Master of Science Program. More specific details on HIV/AIDS-related curriculum/coursework are available at the HIV/AIDS Minor/Focus page (see following link).
The UCSF International Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Clinical Training in Nursing is an important resource for this specialty. The Center is an inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary effort, commited to research, education, and care of persons with HIV.
Some students may qualify for a scholarship, review the following San Francisco Foundation HIV/AIDS Advanced Practice Nursing Scholarship application packet for more details.
Be sure to complete and return the application prior to the published deadline.
| "The exceptional learning environment provided at UCSF has proven to be inspiring,
and what I had once expected to be a career that ended at the bedside has now evolved into an opportunity to further develop myself professionally and academically." Jean Taylor-Woodbury, RN, MSN, ANP-C, City and County of San Francisco Dept. of Public Health, Clinical Faculty at UCSF |
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Suzan Stringari-Murray, RN, MS, ANP, is Director of the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program.
Ms. Stringari-Murray's special area of interest is primary care for HIV/AIDS infected adults. Nurse Practitioner Stringari-Murray has practiced and taught in this area since 1986. She maintains a clinical practice at the UCSF Positive Health Program providing care for HIV-infected adults in addition to her faculty role of teaching and program administration.
"The Adult NP role with an emphasis on primary care, disease prevention and health promotion is well suited to the care of medically complicated HIV-infected individuals and populations."
JoAnne Saxe, RN, MS, ANP, Nurse Practitioner and Associate Director of the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program maintains an active faculty practice at the Glide Health Clinic -- in addition to her academic activities of teaching and program administration.
At the Glide site, she mentors nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist students, as well as pre-licensure nursing students.
Additionally, Ms. Saxe regularly provides health assessment clinical instruction to post-baccalaureate nurses and advanced practice nursing students at the University of Hong Kong, Department of Nursing Studies.
"When I was a student in this program I was married and pregnant; and a working nurse. I valued having a faculty mentor who helped me to establish priorities and to meet my goal for becoming an ANP. I try to bring that same approach to the students I work with."
Catherine Kelber, RN, MS, ANP, Nurse Practitioner and clinical faculty for the ANP Program was instrumental in helping obtain a Training Grant that added a Complementary Healing Track to the ANP role.
Her special areas of interest include teaching NP students how to use "critical decision-making" skills, and to effectively assess and manage clients with back pain. She has a varied faculty practice, including offering Imagery and Healing Touch sessions for clients in the Palliative Care Services (Long Hospital, UCSF) and assessing medical stability for chronic mentally ill clients seeking group residential treatment. Ms. Kelber also has a private practice offering complementary care services for individual clients.
"As a true believer in self-care, I consciously pass on to my students the philosophy that one must truly take care of oneself first in order to function as an optimal 'nurse-healer'."
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Miranda Surjadi,
Class of 2000
"My nursing education started through the MEPN program; being integrated into the ANP program was another beginning, another phase. I remember, at first, being intimidated by the years of experience my nursing classmates had that I did not, and thinking, 'Can I really do this?'
"It has now been a little over 3 years since I have graduated from the ANP program and the answer is yes. I can do this--'this' being succeeding as a clinician in a busy internal medicine practice.
"I believe that my experiences in the ANP program gave me the skills and resources to apply my knowledge, and be a good clinician. I have learned that being a good clinician does not only mean taking good care of your patients, but it also means staying current and up-to-date with new research and information. The ANP program also instilled an appreciation of research in me and the importance of evidence-based health care in the provision of quality and cost-effective health care."
Jean Taylor-Woodbury,
Class of 1998
"Working the past decade with the Department of Public Health for the City and County of San Francisco has fostered a great interest in the health care of the patients served by this agency.
"Moving forward into advanced practice nursing enabled me to provide a broader scope of care to a wonderful and dynamic patient population with limited options for, and access to, health care. I currently utilize the skills and knowledge obtained from the UCSF ANP program by working as an Adult Nurse Practitioner for the City and County of San Francisco, largely in the jail system.
"I also teach as a clinical faculty member for UCSF School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems.
"The ANP program provided a strong theoretical base for providing care to patients and communities of patients. Coupling evidence-based practice with excellent clinical opportunities created a great opportunity for learning to provide care in many areas in addition to those in which I hold a personal and professional interest.
"Additionally, the mentorship and commitment of the faculty, staff and preceptors at UCSF stimulated an already held interest in teaching. The faculty members at UCSF are interested, engaging teachers and mentors with current clinical practices, many of these practices focused on the underserved populations in the community. This unique set of qualities enabled the optimal development of my clinical skills and a knowledge base, which allows me to provide quality care to my patients.
"The exceptional learning environment provided at UCSF has proven to be inspiring, and what I had once expected to be a career that ended at the bedside has now evolved into an opportunity to further develop myself professionally and academically."
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ANP Curriculum information (including ANP-ICH) is available from the following web page.
Q: What can I do to make my application "glowing"?
A: Each applicant is reviewed as a whole. Goal statement, letters of reference, extracurricular activities, language skills, activities on-the-job, research activities, work experience, professional organization activities, and GPA are ALL considered when the application is reviewed. List all of these aspects. Be sure to ask colleagues to review your goal statement. Include examples of on-the job activities. Describe any volunteer and professional activities. Make sure to ask your colleagues for "excellent" references and have them give specific reasons why they believe in your success.
Q: What does my GPA need to be for admission into the program?
A: A GPA of 3.0 is expected for admission into the School of Nursing although special circumstances can be discussed.
Q: What should I write in my goal statement?
A: You should be very clear about why you want to study in the Adult Nurse Practitioner program and related specialties, if applicable. Your statement should reflect how you have made this decision and your future goals.
Q: What if I have a clinical interest that is consistent with Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) role, but is not specifically addressed in one of the identified specialty areas? (Identified specialty areas are Generalist ANP, ANP with a focus in Complementary Healing or HIV/AIDS, Occupational Health-ANP, or Psychiatric/Mental Health -ANP.)
A: Some of the students have had specialty interest areas such as pulmonary diseases, health policy, or nursing education. Faculty can discuss these interest areas that could complement the current courses and clinical residencies. The faculty may be able to customize the curriculum to meet your special goals.
Q: How much can I work during the program?
A: Students can work, but full-time work is not possible. Students find the most flexibility and best learning opportunities when they have per diem positions.
Q: Why would I choose the Adult NP (ANP) program instead of the Acute Care NP program or the Family NP program?
A: The focus of the ANP program is to learn skills in assisting adult clients in maintaining and promoting their health, and in managing signs and symptoms of acute and chronic illnesses. The ANP works in community-based health care settings wherein principles of primary health care are emphasized.
Q: Am I responsible for finding my own preceptors?
A: The faculty are responsible for finding preceptors who are best suited for you. Students, however, often provide input in selecting and planning their clinical experiences and participate in this process of selecting preceptors.
Q: What if I want to study part-time?
A: All of the ANP related programs maybe completed in 2 years (full-time) or 3 years (part-time).
Q: How do I find housing in the area? Is it expensive?
A: Many of our students find that sharing housing is a good approach to solving both the availability and cost issues. Housing in the Bay Area may be expensive, but help can be found with the Student Affairs Office and previous graduates can often give advice.
Q: What are the career opportunities for ANP program graduates?
A: Our ANP graduates work in community health clinics, health maintenance organizations, student health services, specialty clinics, private medical practices, correctional facilities, emergency rooms, and other exciting community-based practice settings.
Q: How does an ANP differ from a PA (physician's assistant)?
A: To the consumer an ANP role often appears to be similar to the PA role. However, the education and training are different. A Nurse Practitioner from UCSF receives a Master's Degree. The NP student is trained in evaluating research with an eye toward application to clinical practice. Graduate work helps the NP student to build upon his/her nursing roots to emphasize health maintenance and promotion, managing signs and symptoms of illness, and client education and advocacy. Most PA programs are not at the Masters' Degree level. The PA often has a background and experience in a field other than nursing and, as such, does not build on a nursing foundation. The NP is recognized in the State of California as a licensed NP. The NP does not practice under the license of a physician the way a PA does.
Q: What will help me prepare for school?
A: Rest and relaxation before school starts is helpful! Additionally, proficiency with word processing and familiarity with accessing the internet and world wide web is very essential.
| Quick-Links: Adult NP Specialty | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | |
Program | |
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Graduates | |
Courses | |
Questions | |
Applying |
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