ACNP curriculum

[tubbywumbkins]

I'm a recent applicant for acute care NP schools I found an online program, but I'm skeptical about its quality. I don't have ICU background but am interested in specialty work. So I want a place that will train me well. The school requires only 40hrs to graduate with 750 clinical hours. Unlike some schools this ACNP program doesn't have ED, oncology, cardiology specialty focus. Does this sound reasonable? 9 of those hours are research based classes (how necessary is that?). So I then thought about doing AGNP-primary care. I figured I could get a good adult specialty background. I know some ppl do AGNP then get a certification, but with the amount of money I plan on having in debt I'd rather do what I can now.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I'm surprised they considered an applicant without ICU experience as it was required for my school. I am in the second year of one of the best acute programs in the country and we have also had to do 3 credits of research. I didn't really relish the thought of it but having done it I see how very useful it is because now I feel like I can really look critically at the literature and make clinical decisions based on my understanding of how a certain study is conducted. We also do not specifically have a focus but if you gravitate towards one particular specialty in clinicals they will allow you to gear your experience towards it. It needs to be broad based to cover all the acute specialties and specialization comes after graduation. However, the one thing I would be sceptical about is an acute program that's online. Acute is the most intensive of all the NP tracks (apart from maybe neonatal) and I would want to have a school right behind me. Because my school is a bricks and mortar school my clinical placements are virtually guaranteed and the employment rate upon graduation is 100%. That's one thing I would consider before signing with an online program.

[tubbywumbkins]

Thank you for your comment. Although the program is online it is affiliated with a very large public university. I actually got my BSN from there (not online). Although I feel like I am a better student when i am in a physical classroom I am willing to take the challenge. The program requires you to come to campus for checkoffs as well ( I think maybe once or twice during the the course). Also, b/c of my full time job and expenses online was the best option. B/c your school has the "best acute care program in the country" perhaps it requires ICU experience to be more selective towards applicants. I say this b/c ACNPs can work in ED settings, but if you ask an ICU staff nurse to work in the ED many would cringe and not handle it although they too care for critical patients. I applied to more than one ACNP program that did not require ICU experience including University of VA. How many clinical hours and credits are required for you to graduate? I'm very curious since your program doesn't require students to specialize. Thanks!