Acute Care NP programs

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 17, 2011

Not an accurate list but here's a link from the AANP website that allows you to search NP programs by specialty, just choose Acute Care in the specialty tab: http://66.219.50.180/AANPPublicPages/npprogramlistingcrit.asp

dp1200 · Feb 17, 2011

As a tangential question, does anyone have any input on how the curriculum differs from FNP vs. Acute Care NP? I can't get a good feel for this just from reading the course catalog for the program I am considering. I would assume ACNP would be somewhat more clinically focused on pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, etc. No?

jedi88 · Feb 17, 2011

Thanks!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 18, 2011

As a tangential question, does anyone have any input on how the curriculum differs from FNP vs. Acute Care NP? I can't get a good feel for this just from reading the course catalog for the program I am considering. I would assume ACNP would be somewhat more clinically focused on pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, etc. No?

All NP tracks require courses in pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. The content of such courses may vary to suit the population target for the specific NP track. The didactic portion of assessment, diagnosis, and management in ACNP programs are typically presented in a body system-specific progression and we only cover adults and up. That means you will have lectures on acute and critical care of neurological through musculoskeletal problems in the entire program. Clinicals can be tailored to your goals as a student so you can focus on a specific specialty of interest for your clinicals. However, the certification exam tests your knowledge on all body systems so that is why the lectures cover a broad range of system-specific problems.