ACNP without research, theory, etc

Trauma Columnist · Aug 2, 2012

I never liked research or stats and truly (like you) never thought they added much to my practice. However, my practice has a resarch dept and I'm involved as a clinical researcher so I will say that the knowledge I got from these classes did eventually mean something....however, it took a few years - lol.

zenman · Aug 2, 2012

All professions are theory-driven. Have you read much research that didn't focus on the patient care side?

allnurses Guide · Aug 2, 2012

Another thing to consider-you're getting a degree, not just a certification. You need to do all the theory and background stuff to fulfill the requirements. I'm still not convinced the nursing theory class added to my practice, but the research class has.

LynnLRN · Aug 2, 2012

I think research is very important. It helps you to provide the best evidence based practice. I think a lot of this stuff actually helps in your day to day without you realizing it.

Tragically Hip · Aug 2, 2012

How important is nursing theory to the average practicing nurse (including those in research)? Clearly it's important for those getting into academics, since they may have to teach nursing theory, but how about for everyone else?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Aug 2, 2012

Vanderbilt's program has a total of 9 credits of non-clinical courses (N399A, N395, N399B)

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | Master of Science in Nursing | Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

UPenn's program has 4 credits of research and a 1-credit elective

Penn Nursing Science

UPenn's program seems to have the least amount of non-clinical courses and does not have a theory course (which is surprising), but I'm afraid you will not find any NP program that does not have courses in research and health care economics.

zenman · Aug 3, 2012

I'll say it again, "Know what you are called when you never study theory or research?"

Trade school graduate

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Aug 3, 2012

I'll say it again, "Know what you are called when you never study theory or research?"
Trade school graduate

So true (and I AM a trade school graduate among other things)

Being well rounded is never a bad thing. What if you have an amazing epiphany while practicing as a NP and want to be able to research it?

8mpg · Aug 3, 2012

Thanks everyone for your replies. While I can understand that some of you believe these courses will help, I just don't feel it. I do not plan on doing any type of research and it is not in my future. I believe true research should be done by research professionals who specialize in research, not random people. The same would be though of almost any profession. We specialize in a niche where we would like to be.

Juan... Thanks for the suggestions. I have been following many of your posts about ACNP and I truly appreciate all the insight and great information you have posted over the last couple years about it.

Zenman... while I can respect your opinion, I do not think that being a "professional" has anything to do with the quality of education or quality of care a person can give. I dont need my CPA to have studied research, I need him to be proficient at taxes. I may be in the minority of people that believe it is much more important to focus on what we need to do our job proficiently. There are countries out there that go from high school straight to a profession. Take Mexico for example. Their students can graduate high school at 16 and go straight into medical school. These medical schools are 6 rigorous years medical training and they become a professional. Many medical schools in Mexico are equivalent to US medical schools and they are allowed to take the USMLE's to become a practicing physician there. Id truly rather have 4-6 years of medical study than 1 years of research and theory 3 of medical study when it comes to a practicing physician for my family.

Unfortunately for me, I may need to go back to take some chemistry classes and go to PA school. Though we are in nursing, I believe that midlevel practice would be better off following a medical model where you study more of what you need in practice, not theory and research.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Aug 3, 2012

There are countries out there that go from high school straight to a profession. Take Mexico for example. Their students can graduate high school at 16 and go straight into medical school. These medical schools are 6 rigorous years medical training and they become a professional. Many medical schools in Mexico are equivalent to US medical schools and they are allowed to take the USMLE's to become a practicing physician there. Id truly rather have 4-6 years of medical study than 1 years of research and theory 3 of medical study when it comes to a practicing physician for my family.

Let me be frank. I come from one of those countries that allow you to enter medical school straight from high school (New Zealand) and in fact I myself went into law school as a 17yo (though I was poorly suited for it.) You couldn't do that here. Overall American high schools are just not good enough not even close. The university entrance classes you have to take in your final 3 years of high school (high school is 5 years not 4) are specific to your intended major. For med school you have to take Math with Calculus, Math with Statistics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology all full year courses. The last 1-2 years of high school are optional you can leave at 16 so the last year at the very least is dedicated to university bound students. So far in the undergraduate courses I've taken here in the US very few including nursing school have been that intense.

So your sitting at home thinking wow 6 years all in that sounds great. What you don't realize is its essentially paid up front knowledge wise. There are no general education courses back home because its assumed if you have achieved university entrance that you have already been "generally educated."

Annaiya, NP · Aug 3, 2012

While I can understand that some of you believe these courses will help, I just don't feel it. I do not plan on doing any type of research and it is not in my future. I believe true research should be done by research professionals who specialize in research, not random people.

I think you're missing the point of the research classes. A masters degree does not qualify you to be able to do research, you need a PhD for that. However, the focus is on learning enough about research, so that you can read and critique research so that you can use it in your practice. Especially as an ACNP, being able to stay up to date on current research is important, and being able to know when a study is inherently flawed is essential.

Incidentally, one of the reasons I didn't go to UTA is I didn't like their curricula either. Just look around and find a program that looks good to you. But all of them will have a research class.