Originally Posted by core0
In theory. However, who would an endocrinologist hire. Presumably an ANP since this is an outgrowth of internal medicine. However, the ACNP claims this as their domain also. Also what about EM. Urgent care is part of FP or EM but EM claims the emergency room (as does the ACNP). And of course the age old problem of what to do about medical specialties that cross age groups (EM again among others). The EM group that I moonlight with won't hire NPs for exactly this reason. Until it actually gets put into practice (and in all probability litigated) nobody knows.
David Carpenter, PA-C
As long as there's a "fast track" ER, then the FNP's can do it. I noticed there is now a ACNP/FNP and a EM/FNP program at Vanderbilt. There was a EM/FNP program at UT-Houston, but they were thinking about shutting it down. The reason being, some of their graduates couldn't get licensed in other states. Believe it or not, there are states that are even more strict about educational preparation than others! I've heard that some states won't even recognize online programs, so people have to be very careful about attending these online programs and "super specialized" program.
Until there becomes a "generalized" NP program, there will continue to be stratification among NP's.
Presently in Texas, we're fighting for 100% independence. There's a good chance this will happen in rural areas. If so, I'm going to open my own clinic. If it weren't for that, I would have gone the PA route - I was accepted into OU's program, but ended up moving to TX so I did the Vanderbilt program.