Acute Care CNS: Any of you out there?

I don't have my Acute CNS but have my CNS. I have a classmate with the same degree but works in acute care (ER) and she loves it. I am assuming Acute CNS is like an NP who works primarily in acute care?

I have MSN from a CNS program that was Acute Care. I have always worked in ICU setting, so worked as Critical care CNS when I graduated, even though with the state of TX and a CNS in Acute care because that is what the program track followed. The major was in Acute care nursing and so I had to apply for acute care CNS status as my APN status with the state.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

Another thing to consider Joe is the state practice act and certifying tests. Is there an test for acute care CNS? I didn't think so...let me go look:

Here is what I found and there is no listing for acute care CNS:

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/TestReferences.aspx#

Choose Your Specialty

Nurse Practitioners

Acute Care NP
Adult NP
Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health NP
Diabetes Management - Advanced
Family NP
Family Psych & Mental Health NP
Gerontological NP
Pediatric NP
School NP

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Adult Health CNS
Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health CNS
Child\Adolescent Psych & Mental Health CNS
CNS Core Exam
Diabetes Management - Advanced
Gerontological CNS
Home Health CNS
Pediatric CNS
Public/Community Health CNS

Other Advanced-Level

Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse - Advanced
Diabetes Management - Advanced
Forensic Nurse - Advanced Practice
Nurse Executive - Advanced
Public Health Nursing - Advanced


So what test would you take? In IL, the CNS is an APN role. I work in a practice with several mid-levels including a PA, 3 FNPs and me; an adult health CNS. I do consults and care of ICU pts with nephrology issues as well as seeing chronic hemodialysis patients in the outpt setting.

Joe (and others):

At my university, we program is officially called "Acute and Specialty Care CNS", and students develop a specialty focus (trauma, renal, neuro, burn/wound, infection control, cardiac surgery, digestive health, diabetes, etc,.) After completion of our MSN they are eligible to sit for CNS cerfitication in either Adult Health or Critical Care. At present, there is no certification examination for Acute Care CNS.

We used to have distinct programs for Adult Health and Critical Care, but collapsed these two programs into one in 2001 called "Acute and Specialty Care" since there was much overlap in the Adult Health & Critical Care curricula.

Very interesting UVA. thanks for the info.

I did an adult health CNS and finished in May 2006. We had an acute track, chronic track and geriatric track that we all did. I work in both acute care and chronic care.

AACN offers the CCNS exam. It is for Acute and critical care CNS role.

What is important is to look at what your state board of nursing accepts as valid examinations of your CNS role/ability, licensure.

Texas recognizes the CCNS exam as acceptable for proof of CNS, and thus the Advanced Practice tile of CNS. This is the exam I took to get my CNS status in the state of Texas.

Thanks for the info.

I have an option to do Acute Care CNS. I wonder what is the list of specialties that Acute Care CNS can specialize at the end of the program. Any input?

Thanks in advance!

Dear Joe NightingMale,
this may be unnerving (or, the wrong place to write you a message, I apologize to everyone) but I am one of the myriad pre-nursing students lurking on this board soaking up the info and I had noticed some of your posts before because you seemed to have similar interests and reasons for going into nursing as mine (the philosophical or sociological side, questions about meaning/responsibility in health and illness). I am dismayed to hear that you didn't get into UIC because that's where I want to go! For the GEP program. I was just wondering...do you have a sense of why you didn't get in? What route did you end up taking to become a nurse? And do you feel like your intellectual interests in health care are being satisfied by working as a nurse? Also, more practically, I am confused by your saying you might pursue the Acute Care CNS after your Master's...are you enrolled in a Master's for something else now? I thought the Acute Care CNS was at the Master's level.