ACNP clinical question

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Hi all, I will start my ACNP program in August at St. Louis Univ. I'm really nervous, but a good nervous!!

My question is this (and I realize all programs will have slightly different rules), when you do your clinicals, do you find an ACNP who is practicing in that specialty (whichever the class/semester needs) or do you follow an intensivist/MD...

What if ACN Practitioners aren't very prevalent in my area (if I have to follow one of them)? Can anyone help out, I know there are various different types of clinicals in the various specialties for ACNP but I'm worried that I won't be able to find someone in each field if I'm limited to following an ACNP...

Also, what types of specialties will I follow, again I know, each program is different but a variety of info will help me...

Thanks for anyone who can help!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Programs may be different but there are a few common patterns:

  • Typically, clinicals don't start until the student has completed Advanced Patho and Advanced Pharm. Some programs include clinical rotation during the Advanced Health Assessment course, mine did.
  • Preceptor criteria varies depending on your program. Some only allow APN's to be preceptors and some allow MD's or PA's to be preceptors. Mine allows preceptors from all of the said disciplines but the practice must employ at least 1 APN even if that person is a CNS and not an NP.
  • Specialty rotation during ACNP clinicals are student-driven. Basically, you request the specialties you want and either the program director or the student arranges the clinical rotation with the chosen preceptor. Many programs require a semester of Internal Medicine or Hospitalist rotation. The other rotations are individualized based on the student's goals. A student may elect Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine/ICU, ER, Nephrology, etc based on the student's preference and the availability of specialty preceptors in the area. However, lectures or didactic sessions cover all medical specialties from all body systems. Take this advice: It's never too early to line up prospective preceptors!

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Thanks so much for the information! That is so much more than I already know. I want to bother my school but I don't start until August and I don't want to be a pain in the rear for every question I come up with. I know they will all be explained as I start. I don't actually know of any ACNP's at all. I just heard of the degree and in doing research, found that it's just what I'm looking for. Is there a list anywhere that lists ACNP by city/state etc...

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Thanks so much for the information! That is so much more than I already know. I want to bother my school but I don't start until August and I don't want to be a pain in the rear for every question I come up with. I know they will all be explained as I start. I don't actually know of any ACNP's at all. I just heard of the degree and in doing research, found that it's just what I'm looking for. Is there a list anywhere that lists ACNP by city/state etc...

Google yahoogroups ANPACC, many ACNP's participate in discussions there.

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Specializes in CTICU.

There is a site Daisy has posted previously called npfinder where you can look up NPs. My ACNP program lets you precept with either NPs or MDs, but not DOs (??). We choose a specialty focus, I chose cardiopulmonary. We do standard IM rotation, then can choose based on our specialty eg. cardiology, pulmonology, ICU etc.

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