Nurse practitioner in pain management?

Specialties NP

Published

Just thought I would ask here, through my journey into a new field of nursing, I have had primary focus in PACU and working for a pain service on the side. I've actually gotten quite used to working in the pain management areas and was wondering what my options are for this field in advance practice? I currently have my ADN and just over a year of experience, so have a ways before I get into the NP range. The closest I have found is CRNA school, which frankly is an aspect I don't specifically have an interest in. I noticed there's a pain management test on the AACN website, but I could get that cert without even going for my NP. Just thought I'd check and see what some options or avenues are available.

Specializes in Critical Care.

In my old hospital we had a CNS that worked as part of the pain management/palliative care team. I also have been looking at job postings for NPs since I graduate in August and I have seen several job listings looking for NPs for pain management clinics. Not sure exactly what that entails but I think that you would work under an anesthesiologist.

Would I shoot for an NP target as a FNP for such a role or more toward an ANP? CNS is interesting, but not exactly an area I am necessarily shooting for because NP seems to me the more focused on the medical process which could be more geared toward the long term pain management. Thanks for the input!

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