Advanced practice nurses in trauma?

[manda691]

Hey everyone,

I am a student who will be graduating with my BSN in June and I have an interest in trauma. I plan on going to get a master's or doctorate at somepoint after having gained experience. I have looked into a few programs that offer specialties in critical and trauma nursing, either as a nurse practitioner or a CNS. I know that the university trying to sell you on their degree isnt going to be quite so truthful but I wondered if trauma centers and ERs are actually hiring either CNS's or NP's. My understanding is most of the time there is a physician present in an ER or trauma center so its a possibilty the degree exists but no need exists I suppose. Just wondering if anyone has actually seen these degrees put to use.

[noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP]

I work at a level 1 trauma center. There are multiple trauma docs and one trauma nurse practitioner. She rounds on the inpatients for the docs during the day and works mostly 8 am to 4 pm. She is available by phone, during the day, to answer questions nurses might have on the trauma patients.

[elkpark]

I used to work in a big academic medical center in which the trauma team had several trauma NPs. We (I was on the psych C&L service) worked closely with them, and I was v. impressed with the NPs.

[ajb50402]

The hospitals we have have ER Nurse Practitioners and they pull shifts on the trauma team. Make sure to go the family practitioner route with a further specialization in acute care if you want ot be an NP; definitely makes you mroe marketable. There is also a masters program through the university of london that is part time online. It is a master of science in trauma and is the only one offered in the world. This would help too.

[Bec7074]

I worked in a Level 1 trauma center and we have all NPs at night and one attending in house. The NPs who work with the trauma service are all ACNPs (acute-care nurse practitioners). There are 4 of them at night and more during the day, so yes their degrees are put to use. If you're interested in trauma, go for your ACNP.

On the downside, most ACNP programs won't let you in until you've had at least 2 years of ER or ICU experience. Work on that for now

[sbaldy]

If you are interested in trauma, check out University of Maryland, they have a critical care, ER and trauma nurse practitioner program. When I was researching programs, I had considered applying but decided on Penn State Acute Care program instead. Good luck!!

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

Are they relegated to nights?

[LadyLamp]

A note about University of Maryland, however: The nursing school has transitioned to the DNP format. No more master's degrees for NPs.