[rookie_rn]

hey there! rookie RN here.

i am a new graduate RN from another country. i recently migrated here to the USA and i will be starting my work next month.

i am also a new member of allnurses.com.

i am very much interested in taking up higher-level education but, sadly, i am confused and unfamiliar with all the post-graduate nursing courses available here in the US. most of these courses are non-existent in my country that is why i don't know anything about them.

for instance, what exactly is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)? do they have different roles/functions or do they basically perform the same things?

i have also been surfing the web for RN Training Programs. i actually found a lot.

but i do have to ask. what is the difference between a Critical Care Training Program and an Acute Care Training Program? i always thought Critical Care falls under or is a part of Acute Care. i guess i'm wrong.

i hope someone/anyone can shed light on my confusion.

thank you very much!

[sirI]

Originally Posted by rookie_rn

hey there! rookie RN here.

i am a new graduate RN from another country. i recently migrated here to the USA and i will be starting my work next month.

i am also a new member of allnurses.com.

i am very much interested in taking up higher-level education but, sadly, i am confused and unfamiliar with all the post-graduate nursing courses available here in the US. most of these courses are non-existent in my country that is why i don't know anything about them.

for instance, what exactly is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)? do they have different roles/functions or do they basically perform the same things?

i have also been surfing the web for RN Training Programs. i actually found a lot.

but i do have to ask. what is the difference between a Critical Care Training Program and an Acute Care Training Program? i always thought Critical Care falls under or is a part of Acute Care. i guess i'm wrong.

i hope someone/anyone can shed light on my confusion.

thank you very much!

Hello, rookie_rn and welcome to allnurses.com

Are you interested in becoming an advanced practice nurse? There are four areas: Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and Certified Nurse Midwife. One must have a Masters of Science in Nursing and graduate from a program for one of these specialties.

Click on this link for the differences/similarities between the NP and CNS:

Different Roles for CNS

There are specialty tracks within an NP or CNS program including, but not all inclusive, Acute Care, Geriatrics, OB-GYN, Pediatrics, Trauma, Family Practice. Many more. I think that's to what you refer.

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions. Enjoy the site here at allnurses.com.