Acute Dialysis RN interested to become a Nephrology NP

babyNP., APRN · May 21, 2020

Too many factors, to be honest. It depends on which state(s) you wish to practice and whether you'll be seeing in-patient or out-patient or both. Some states let you do everything on FNP others make you do ACNP in order to do in-patient. Google "consensus model" with your state. We do have a NP here who works with nephrology patients, hopefully she can chime in.

kyledaniel, BSN, RN · May 21, 2020

Thank you for the response babyNP. Personally I really dont see myself dealing and providing care with pediatrics that's why I chose the acute care adult NP path. I am currently practicing as an RN in NY and I can see myself practicing as an NP in nephrology in this state. I really love nephrology especially the acute and chronic dialysis portion of it. In the hospital that I am currently working for, most NPs I see that work in the nephrology department have FNP degrees but I am not sure if they manage acute inpatient renal patients.

aok7, NP · Jun 5, 2020

If you want to work in a hospital you should go the acute care route. Beyond getting hired, you need to get credentialed, which can take 3-4 months+. I have seen a former RN who was hired after graduating from FNP school as a hospitalist start training while waiting to be credentialed. She did not pass credentialing because the larger system implemented the consensus model guidelines. Devastating. She moved on and found a job in a clinic.

I am a nephrology nurse practitioner and I work in a CKD clinic 50% of the time and dialysis the other half. I am adult primary care and was careful to have a nephrology clinical my final NP semester, basic steady work history and references, a year of internal medicine as a NP, as well personal experience and interest were the main factors that I was told I hired. You know nephrology is like a subculture little family, so your background and interest is so valuable.