Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Is anyone in an acute care nurse practitioner program? I have mentioned on another thread that I am in a family nurse practitioner program now, but would ultimately like to work in critical care. I have worked ICU since 1991 and have had CCRN since 1993. I choose the FNP program because there are no ACNP programs close to home.

Does anyone know if there are any ACNP programs that can be done online, while doing clinicals in your home area?

I'm really against taking any online program. I like to take it in a school setting. You get to ask teachers questions and plus you get to meet your classmates.

But thats just me.

Jasgop

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For anyone reading this and seeking an online ACNP, Allnursingschools.com is worthless. An exhaustive search revealed six such programs, most with small to moderate campus visit requirements. Clinicals are arranged in the student's own community. They are (in order of US News ratings as I remember them)

UAB (favors Alabama candidates)

SLU (has the most effectively "online" program, and a pig lab for line insertion and intubation training)

Vanderbilt (most expensive and a 25% attrition rate!!!)

I would say 25% attrition is the norm- that is very typical for undergrad as well. Each state's Board of Nursing will have this info. Critical care is a steep learning curve for RNs and direct entry (non RNs). :twocents:

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Specializes in ER, PACU.
drexel university is online and clinicals are in your area or at the sites they can provide for you.

This is not true. The program is online, but the clinicals must be done in NJ, Delaware or PA. I live in NY, I looked into the program but when I saw that I said forget it.

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Hi NYCRN..are there any ACNP programs in nyc? I am moving there soon and am interested in the degree. I am about to do research and check it out myself but just wondering if you could give me a starting point. Thanks!

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Specializes in ER, PACU.
Hi NYCRN..are there any ACNP programs in nyc? I am moving there soon and am interested in the degree. I am about to do research and check it out myself but just wondering if you could give me a starting point. Thanks!

I know NYU and Columbia have them. SUNY Stonybrook has an online program that is adult health NP with a CNS componant for primary, acute and critical care. I wanted to do acute care NP, but I am now enrolled in a adult health NP program. Keep in mind that in different areas of the country, the job opportunities differ and the positions they hire certain NP's in differ as well.

My reasons for not doing Acute care vs. Adult health (not meant to offend anyone, just my personal reasons)

1)Acute care is a pretty limited degree. You cannot see patients under 18 years old, and in many cases cannot work in primary care. Adult health NP's are able to see patients 13 and older. If you decided you wanted to do a postmasters in family, its much easier to do that with an adult health degree than an acute care one.

2) There are not a lot of jobs for acute care NP's in ICUs due to the large number of hospitals with residencies. Out of state there are a lot more private hospitals without residents, so they utilize ACNP's there more than here.

3) While browsing job postings over the past year or so (even though I am nowhere near graduation), I found that most jobs, including in hospital jobs, do not specify that you need ACNP. They are open to acute care, adult health or family. For some reason, its more acceptable for an adult health NP to work in both outpatient/inhospital, but the acute care NP's are limited to in hospital practices most of the time.

Another thing is, these hospitals care more about the RN experience you had before you got your NP. If you are an ACNP with no ICU or ER experience, you are not going to be considered over an adult health NP who has years of ICU in his/her background.

Of course none of this is set in stone, but this is what I have been seeing over the past few years or so. It seems to me that most marketable degree is the FNP.

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.
I know NYU and Columbia have them. SUNY Stonybrook has an online program that is adult health NP with a CNS componant for primary, acute and critical care. I wanted to do acute care NP, but I am now enrolled in a adult health NP program. Keep in mind that in different areas of the country, the job opportunities differ and the positions they hire certain NP's in differ as well.

My reasons for not doing Acute care vs. Adult health (not meant to offend anyone, just my personal reasons)

1)Acute care is a pretty limited degree. You cannot see patients under 18 years old, and in many cases cannot work in primary care. Adult health NP's are able to see patients 13 and older. If you decided you wanted to do a postmasters in family, its much easier to do that with an adult health degree than an acute care one.

2) There are not a lot of jobs for acute care NP's in ICUs due to the large number of hospitals with residencies. Out of state there are a lot more private hospitals without residents, so they utilize ACNP's there more than here.

3) While browsing job postings over the past year or so (even though I am nowhere near graduation), I found that most jobs, including in hospital jobs, do not specify that you need ACNP. They are open to acute care, adult health or family. For some reason, its more acceptable for an adult health NP to work in both outpatient/inhospital, but the acute care NP's are limited to in hospital practices most of the time.

Another thing is, these hospitals care more about the RN experience you had before you got your NP. If you are an ACNP with no ICU or ER experience, you are not going to be considered over an adult health NP who has years of ICU in his/her background.

Of course none of this is set in stone, but this is what I have been seeing over the past few years or so. It seems to me that most marketable degree is the FNP.

Thanks NYCRN16! You provided so much helpful info. I just attended Orientation for SUNY StonyBrook's On-Line Adult Health and asked about the possibility of having my fourth and final NP Clinical (in 2013!) in a Critical Care setting to give me a CC edge to my ANP degree....Now, NY State does certify NP's in Acute Care, but would they permit that for me if my Master's was specifically Adult? How would one get a Post-Master's Certif. in Acute Care--is it just a matter of different clinicals??--in fact, is the only difference between NP Master's the type of CLINICALS, while the classwork (or "on line" work) is all identical? Also, if NYState BONursing accepts the new CCRN NP certification, perhaps I will be able to take the exam with my Adult Masters and gain certification in NYState as an ACUTE NP...so many questions.....Thanks again for your help--I also will PM you :) And you're absolutely right re: the importance of one's pre-Master's work as a CCRN to provide one an advantage in getting a Critical Care NP job.

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Specializes in ED, psych, burn ICU, hospice.

I am an ACNP student at the University of South Alabama. Except for a week right before clinicals start, the program is entirely online. I read in a previous post that Vanderbilt's program is online. Unless there has been a recent change, some of it is online, but I believe you still have to go to campus at least a weekend a month...

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

Thank you NYCRN16! All the best with your graduate studies and career!

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I am starting to research NP schools in PA and I would like to obtain entry in fall 2011. I have 7 years of CICU experience as an RN and need 5 more courses to complete my BSN. I am surprised by the amount of programs tailored for non-RN's. I'd love to do an acute care program but I'm having trouble finding one near me. Would it be better to do an adult NP program and rely on my RN experience to obtain a position as a cardiac NP?

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Specializes in ED, psych, burn ICU, hospice.

KateMO7, keep doing your research, until you think you've done it all. I researced for two years. I am currently enrolled in an ACNP program that is basically 100% online...might be something for you to consider. BUT, even if the program(s) looks good, look closer. Call the college of nursing, and see how their phone etiquette is... E-mail some of the faculty and see how it takes them to respond, OR IF they will respond. There are a ton of things to consider! Look at the web sites, call people on campus/in the college of nursing, heck, even call the bookstore and see how willing they are to answer questions!

Grad school is not easy. It is not fun. Set a time limit for researching schools. At the end of the deadline, see what you have. If it feels right, do it, go to school...if it feels "off," then don't do it, don't go to school.

Good luck in your search!

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Specializes in ER, SANE.

Rolo, I am looking at the University of South Alabama online. Can you pm me about your classes?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Hi Rolo, I am in that program as well, since August,and have to say it is so much harder than what I expected. I am working FT and it is almost impossible to get a good grade in the classes. I am having a hard time and think about withdrawing. The pathophys class I had to withdraw already. How are you doing it?

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