ACNP and FNP

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I am starting a rn to bsn program with plans to be a nurse practitioner. I am curious if anyone knows what once can do if they are an acute care nurse practitioner and wants to switch to family/adult, or vica versa. I can't see myself wanting to commit to just one. So what does one have to do to switch if they so desire or do both?

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I imagine you could go back to school for a post-master's certificate as an ACNP(after say, you become a FNP) and then sit for the exam for the ACNP.

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from the ancc

Credential Awarded: ACNP-BC (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner—Board Certified)

Eligibility Criteria

All requirements must be completed prior to application for the examination.

ArrowRight.aspx Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country ArrowRight.aspx Hold a master's, post-master's, or doctorate from an acute care nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on the Collegiate of Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). A minimum of 500 faculty supervised clinical hours must be included in your acute care nurse practitioner program. The ACNP graduate program must include course work in:

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advanced health assessment

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advanced pharmacology

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advanced pathophysiology ArrowRight.aspx AND, content in

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health promotion and disease prevention, and

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differential diagnosis and disease management

So I am not sure if that is the case but if anyone knows for sure that would be good to know.

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You could become a PA - schooling is also 2 years, requires several years of direct hands on patient care experience (such as nursing) and prepares you to be a generalist so you can switch practice areas as much as you want! You also get electives so you "specialize" if you wanted by doing all your elective hours in one particular area.

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I think im still closer to having a bachelors in exercise science than nursing I have 142 credits. I just figured a nurse practitioner would be easier at this point. I am under the impression PA's can jump specialties around pretty easily. That is why I was wondering what a nurse pract would have to go through.

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I think im still closer to having a bachelors in exercise science than nursing I have 142 credits. I just figured a nurse practitioner would be easier at this point. I am under the impression PA's can jump specialties around pretty easily. That is why I was wondering what a nurse pract would have to go through.

It is usually a 1 year post-masters certificate to change specialties.

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Specializes in Family Practice; Emergency Medicine.
I think im still closer to having a bachelors in exercise science than nursing I have 142 credits. I just figured a nurse practitioner would be easier at this point. I am under the impression PA's can jump specialties around pretty easily. That is why I was wondering what a nurse pract would have to go through.

FNP is your best bet if you want to change around.....there is no need for example to switch from say family to cardiology to orthopedics...nor is there a requirement to recertify......it is the most versatile and a switch simply requires a group of providers willing to train you on the job so to speak in that area......I went from a couple years in family to emergency medicine for 3 and now in urgent care.....

ACNP will prepare you better for more acute (obviously) inpatient problems working in the ICU/ED ......

you could go the extra mile and take the additional courses needed to certify in both....but in most programs each specialty has the same core coursework (patho/pharm/physical diagnosis) it's the clinical lectures and rotations that differ......

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several schools have both in one program- I know that Vanderbilt does

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I think I would be more interested in the ER but I just graduated and am starting my first job in july. Just after the preceptorship I don't think I would want to work med surge for very long, it has it's moments. Some of the care seems more significant. Regular hours reasonably healthy patients and not being in a hospital would have its perks as well. It would be nice to work in a doctors office and do casual or part time acute care.

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So a FNP can work a floor but not say an ER? Main hospital chain doesnt allow NP in the ER anyway here.

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.
Main hospital chain doesnt allow NP in the ER anyway here.

Stick around...it's all 'bout to change! My advice, be ready when it does...

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

For the ER, you really need an ACNP and ACPNP IMHO. That is what I'm seeing in my neck of the woods anyway.

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