Limitations on NP practice

Specialties NP

Published

So, if you have an ACNP, you're limited to seeing adults in an acute care setting, right? Is that just for billing purposes, or is that alltogether? For example, if you were an ACNP, but wanted to volunteer at a free clinic, could you see children (or adults since that could possibly be defined as a Pimary Care setting)?

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Wow there - I was asking for information on this subject only and actually no one has been able to even say whether this is true or some rumor. So...I know that we have no other true information to provide.

If you truly know (and can cite the source please), then we can talk in more detail.

Wow there - I was asking for information on this subject only and actually no one has been able to even say whether this is true or some rumor. So...I know that we have no other true information to provide.

If you truly know (and can cite the source please), then we can talk in more detail.

Here is the competency from NONPF

http://www.nonpf.org/ACNPcompsfinal20041.pdf

Here is the appropriate part:

"While most ACNPs practice in acute care and hospital based settings including sub-acute care, emergency care, and intensive care settings, the continuum of acute care services spans the geographic settings of home, ambulatory care, urgent care, and rehabilitative care."

Realistically it wuold depend on the situation, the state, and the setting. If you are in Texas for example probably not. In Tennesee for expample you probably could see patients an outpatient setting. You should also look at the BON standards. If they are compact members then you should have training in that setting and population. Most BONs would say that an ACNP probably should not see pediatrics since that is not included in their training (their seems to be more differentiation on the adult peds axis than the setting). Finally from the NONPF also:

"Some educational programs may prepare acute care nurse practitioners to provide services to a specific patient population (e.g., adult, child) and additional, age-specific competencies may be necessary. The competencies in this document apply to all acute care nurse practitioners."

Using Texas as an example:

http://www.bne.state.tx.us/practice/apn-scopeofpractice.html

The second example specifically deals with pediatric practice or changing practice across the age group. You have to find out what your state would allow. The main overlap between FNP and ACNP seems to be urgent care and long term care.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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