Interested in becoming Intensivist APN

[lcgivz12]

Hello,

I am starting FNP program and need to start setting in place my clinical rotation sites for next year. I have 10 years of nursing experience. About 5 years ago, I spent a year in an ICU and was very good at it, but I am obviously pretty rusty on ICU skills (vent settings, drips, etc.). I always wanted to be an intensivist nurse practitioner but don't know if this is an area I should currently pursue given that it has been so long since I have done critical care. More recently, I have done sedation and PACU nursing. Should I endeavor to go into an area less critical, or is this something that will come back to me and should be okay once I have done a few clinical rotations? I found The ICU Book to be my closest ally when I worked in ICU and was able to anticipate what physicians would order in pretty much any scenario.

Thanks!

Claire

[guest769224]

I think most places require their APRN's to have the ACNP, and some/most won't hire FNP's into ICU. Something to be aware of.

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

Hello,

I am starting FNP program... I always wanted to be an intensivist nurse practitioner...

This just doesn't make much sense to me, I suppose. FNPs are not trained to be in the ICU (or inpatient at all for that matter), and it is considered outside of their scope of practice (whether any NP personally feels it is or not). If you always wanted to be an intensivist NP, why wouldn't you have chosen ACNP - especially considering that many state boards of nursing, and health care systems, are beginning to require this?

Also, you spent 1 year in ICU as an RN? I'm sure you know as well as anyone that is not nearly long enough to have a good grasp on critical care concepts in any regard.

You're in the FNP track, you should be rotating through primary/family care. The legal climate of NPs is changing such that, at some point within the next decade I think, FNPs will be restricted completely to outpatient care, and ACNPs to inpatient care in many states. If you want to be in ICU, get the ACNP.

[Fatguyinalittlecoat]

Like what was mentioned by those above, FNP students will rotate mainly through family and primary care practices. In the FNP program I am currently in, you must have a minimum amount of clinical hours in the primary care setting and that pretty much excludes any meaningful training in an acute/inpatient setting.