Is it possible to own a med practice and still assist a surgeon in surgeries?

[CaraKline]

Hi all,

I am a first year nursing student at Miami University of Ohio. I am very interested in attending graduate school for a FNP as soon as I can after I graduate with my BSN degree. I would eventually like to earn my DNP degree. I am interested in the Family specialty, but I've also been reading up on FNPs who also are specialized in neurology/neurosurgery. I a, very interested in these specialties and I like that there are FNPs out there who have been able to do this. My question is would it be possible to eventually own or co-own a medical practice as a DNP and still be able to work alongside a Neurosurgeon (say once or twice a week) whether the patients are patients involved in my practice or not? Is this doable? I want to get into grad school as soon as I can after I graduate with my BSN. I've heard that graduate programs want at least a years experience in an ICU setting. I would like to know if the ICU setting is the only background that FNP programs will accept to be able to be entered into a program? Or is it acceptable to practice in the ER or OR setting too?

I feel with the Healthcare Reform Act impacting the future career of nursing in enabling more NPs to practice to the full extent of their licenses and expecting the NP role will increase for a more need of NPs, along with more states allowing NPs to own their own practices could be additional advantages in being able to successfully conquer the many goals I have for myself.

I know it seems with what I'm writing that I should just take pre-requisite courses and the MCAT to apply for med school, but I don't know if I want to take that route. My current GPA is a 3.33 and I know that is not good enough to get placed into a med school program. I would hate to put all the time and effort in preparing for med school and be declined an entry spot into a program. Also with the Healthcare Reform Act and the expected Physician decline in the upcoming years, I'm not sure a MD or DO is the right route to go. So with all that said, any thoughts or suggestions in regards to anything I've spoken of? Thanks!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

First off, I really hope that user name isn't your real name, as you should never use your real name online.

Most FNP programs want nursing experience, but they don't care if it is ICU, med-surg, clinic, etc.

FNPs are not qualified to perform surgeries. You should look up first assistant in the OR. It is a RN, who has a certificate and training hrs in the OR as a surgeon's right hand. You could have this without being an NP, but no one is going to let an NP work in an OR without one, as NP's education spends no time on OR

[CaraKline]

Thanks for your reply. My username is in fact not my real name, but I appreciate your concern in the matter. I was not aware of the first assistant OR certificate until very recently. I will look into this further.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to pre NP forum for more answers. Good luck.