Acute Care NP without ICU experience?

[MasterNursinator]

I am in an acute care NP program (pediatric) and I have never worked in an ICU. I applied in the past but timing didn't work out and I stayed on my med-surg unit. Now I am busy with school and about to start clinical. My job has moved me to PT days which is what I need right now to get through school. I am worried I will not be able to find employment as an acute care NP without having ICU experience. If I moved to an ICU now I would be FT nights and unable to manage classes and clinical. I know some are able but I have a lot of other things on my plate as well and I know I won't be able to do it. Is this going to hold me back?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

On 10/16/2022 at 5:12 PM, Numenor said:

I answered this…

75-80% of the work needs to be inpatient, otherwise why do acute care…

This is not correct. 

Acute care can take care of acutely ill or complex chronically ill patients, regardless of the setting. See: Consensus Model. 

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

On 10/8/2022 at 11:00 AM, struggleforfuture said:

Ya, because I want have critical experiences but not all my life stay in ICU, that is why I am confused and look PA program. I want to change after I get older (maybe 10 years later) physically hard to work on my feet. Now I want critical experience. I saw cardiac electrophysiology and don't know this one is FNP or acute, those really confused me LOL. 

This is not confusing. Acute care NPs work with acutely ill patients. Family NPs work in primary care. If you want to do a critical care NP fellowship, yes you need acute care NP Program of course. You don't need to stay in ICU all your life as an acute care NP, but you are limited to acute care.

[Guest1144461]

1 hour ago, ghillbert said:

This is not correct. 

Acute care can take care of acutely ill or complex chronically ill patients, regardless of the setting. See: Consensus Model. 

What are you talking about, I am an ACNP and have never met an ACNP who works primarily in the outpatient setting. That is why it is called ACUTE care. Complex chronically ill patients can be acutely ill, you realize that right?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

10 hours ago, Numenor said:

What are you talking about, I am an ACNP and have never met an ACNP who works primarily in the outpatient setting. That is why it is called ACUTE care. Complex chronically ill patients can be acutely ill, you realize that right?

I am talking about the definition of Acute Care NP, as per the Consensus Model, as I stated. I know many ACNPs who work outpatient specialty clinics. 

[Guest1144461]

10 hours ago, ghillbert said:

I am talking about the definition of Acute Care NP, as per the Consensus Model, as I stated. I know many ACNPs who work outpatient specialty clinics. 

I never said they don't, but if an acute care NP can work 100% in an OP clinic the consensus model is useless. A joke like all other aspects of NP education/certification.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

On 10/25/2022 at 9:27 PM, Numenor said:

I never said they don't, but if an acute care NP can work 100% in an OP clinic the consensus model is useless. A joke like all other aspects of NP education/certification.

Why? You make no sense. You can have acutely or complex chronically ill patients at specialty outpatient clinics just as much as inpatient. Decompensated heart failure with concomitant poorly controlled diabetes, cardiorenal syndrome etc. 

[Guest1144461]

3 hours ago, ghillbert said:

Why? You make no sense. You can have acutely or complex chronically ill patients at specialty outpatient clinics just as much as inpatient. Decompensated heart failure with concomitant poorly controlled diabetes, cardiorenal syndrome etc. 

I feel like you are really stretching this, what is the point of the consensus model then? Why not just have Complex NP?

[Trauma ICU Guy, MSN, APRN, NP]

struggleforfuture said:

Thank you, you are right. I am applied but ICU don't want people have no experience. I got only offers in telemetry so far. 

There's nothing wrong with starting in Telemetry. You are able to gain great skills in telemetry, understanding the basics of drips, and depending on the hospital system, will be able to hang heparin drips, as well as some nitro drips as well. You will become expert in EKGs, respond to codes, and basic interpretation of rhythm strips. From this you can further train in a Cardiac Stepdown, Neuro Stepdown, or straight into the CICU /MICU, NeuroICU, STICU. 

I loved my experience working in the Med Surg Floors prior to the ICU setting. In the Med Surg/ Tele floors, you learn how to manage your time real quick , which becomes and essential skill working as an Intensivist Nurse. 

 

Best of luck, and remember -- in Nursing, we are vast, there are many niches, and none is lower than the other. I hope you flourish in whatever unit you decide to for!