acute care nurse practitioners?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 19, 2013

There are a few long-time posters here who are ACNP's - myself, ghillbert (another guide), and a few more who come in and out sporadically. You may not see us as regularly as others and in the real world, there are less ACNP's than there are FNP's. You will get responses if you post a specific question in the thread.

1HOT911DR · Nov 19, 2013

I am a current ACNP student due to graduate in April 2015. Any help networking would be wonderful to make and have. Advice and wisdom is a great opportunity. What is the best way to get in touch with fellow ACNP mentors?

Sara

allnurses Guide · Nov 19, 2013

Join your state NP organization!! I am involved with PCNP in Pennsylvania and the local education dinner events are a great networking opportunity. Facebook also has organization pages.

HikingEDRN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2013

I am in an ACNP program, due to graduate in 2015. I started this summer so I'm still in core classes. I'll start specialty clinicals next fall with health assessment in the summer (can't wait!) :)

allnurses Guide · Nov 21, 2013

State NP organization is a fantastic way to network!

Lauren Bear · Dec 27, 2013

hey @juan de la cruz, @ghillbert, and any other ACNPs out there! I'd love to hear more about what you do, as I am also considering a career as an ACNP. I'm waiting to hear back from a BSN program right now, so I still have time ahead of me, but I'm exploring my long term options. Tell me about your work week and the environments you are a part of. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 3, 2014

hey @juan de la cruz, @ghillbert, and any other ACNPs out there! I'd love to hear more about what you do, as I am also considering a career as an ACNP. I'm waiting to hear back from a BSN program right now, so I still have time ahead of me, but I'm exploring my long term options. Tell me about your work week and the environments you are a part of. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Do a search as I've answered this question quite a bit in the past.

allnurses Guide · Jan 12, 2014

I work with a cardiothoracic surgery team in inpatient heart transplant/mechanical support program. I am mainly based on the stepdown floor taking care of patients once they are transferred up from the ICU after their heart/lung transplant or VAD implant. The fellows cover our patients in the CTICU and we all round both on the floor and in the ICU daily. We then come up with our plans for the day, I see patients and write notes, order tests, update the surgeons on issues that need addressing, admit patients being readmitted from home, etc.

I see patients on my floor, in our attached inpatient rehab unit after discharge, and in the ER when they are readmitted. I do not have to see people in clinic. We have the same patients for the course of their transplant or VAD support so we get very familiar with them and their issues, which is the good and the bad feature (!).

I think I have a lot of autonomy despite working inpatient - although I see a lot of our fellows and attending MDs, I always am able to come up with my plan and MOST of the time they're fine with it. It is nice to have the backup though as a relatively new (1 year+ out) ACNP.

I do feel my ACNP training, clinical rotations and education more than adequately prepared me for beginning practice - a lot of which had to do with my excellent mentors and preceptors. There is still a large learning curve on the job, esp the first job - mostly because you don't know enough to trust your judgement and instincts at first!

ACNPs are in huge demand where I work. I am constantly being asked by docs I work with if I know any more ACNPs who want to work in xxx specialty. Most of our ICUs are now staffed with ACNPs overnight with a rotating Intensivist as backup. It's a great role and you can work in any location with acutely ill patients. I have no interest in pediatrics so it was perfect for me.

Good luck!

pedroparramo · Feb 24, 2014

I've been working as an ACNP for the past 2 years in CA. Went via a direct entry program that allowed me to take 2 years off after my RN licensure to work before starting the masters portion. My advice to anyone considering this line of work is to get your RN and work for at least 4-5 years, preferably in ICU/PACU or ED. Then, if you're looking for more consider ACNP (although if won't be called that for much longer) or PA.