A couple questions please!

[I_LOVE_TRAUMA, RN]

I am a trauma nurse in a large, very busy level one ER in Ohio. I have over 10 years experience with this. In the spring I am starting a ACNP program. This is highly encouraged in this state of the art teaching hospital and all of the trauma program (directors included) are really glad I am doing this. The school I am going through is affiliated with the hospital so that really helps. I will be expected to treat clinic patients and medical ER pts. as well as treat major traumas along with the MDs, and to round on all of the in-patient trauma patients. My question is- I was talking to some of my co-workers who are at other schools and they were talking about how they heard about other states getting ready to start a NP program geared solely towards trauma patients only-not medical ER patients. I have not seen anything anywhere about this, and am very curious. I would be extremely interested in something like this. The only thing that I have ever heard of as far as a degree related to trauma is a specialty CNS degree or a ACNP. How about you guys-is there something new and exciting out there for us trauma junkies?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think the big issue with these program is what certification exam do you take after the education? At the moment there is no ER or trauma cert for either NP or CNS.

I too am a trauma junkie! I did an adult health CNS which allows me to see pts over the age of 16. I am going back to school in August to pick up a peds CNS so that I will then be able to care for acute pts from birth to death.