Advice from acute/critical care NP's

[CAPRN77]

Well I'm not exactly looking for advice as much as looking to hear about your job. I am still up in the air as far as whether I'd like to become a CRNA or critical care NP. I have looked into both professions quite extensively as well as the training involved. I have also shadowed a CRNA at my hospital. I know that CRNA salary is generally higher than that of an NP but I would really hate for salary to be the deciding factor in which profession I choose since money doesn't mean squat if your miserable at work. What I'm looking for is any acute/critical care NP's who are willing to share info about your job such as what responsibilities you have, what hours you work, where you work, what you would change if you could, and if your willing to share info about pay. Maybe hearing from some more people who do the job for a living will help me out in making my decision. I am also putting a similar posting in the CRNA area. Thank you.

[mvanz9999, RN]

I don't see why an ACNP COULDN'T legally do IM as long as there are no peds. In fact, there is no legal reason why an ACNP couldn't.

Whether an actual job would present itself, I don't know....

[core0]

I don't see why an ACNP COULDN'T legally do IM as long as there are no peds. In fact, there is no legal reason why an ACNP couldn't.

Whether an actual job would present itself, I don't know....

Depends on your state. Most states scope of practice require the NP to have training in the specific area of nursing practice as NPs. From my understanding of ACNP training, ACNPs are trained in acute care, not primary care. So legally if you were doing primary care you would be outside your scope of practice. It would depend on your certification and state.

David Carpenter, PA-C

[DaisyRN, ACNP]

depends on your state. most states scope of practice require the np to have training in the specific area of nursing practice as nps. from my understanding of acnp training, acnps are trained in acute care, not primary care. so legally if you were doing primary care you would be outside your scope of practice. it would depend on your certification and state.

david carpenter, pa-c

hey david,

just fyi: acnps are trained in im... in fact, its a required clinical rotation for us. but you're right... it has to be no peds/pregnancy. but no, we cannot do general primary care, i.e. family practice. from things i have read and people i have talked to (reputable, that is :)), the acnp is the medical equivalency of adult internal medicine. granted, i know we are not going to know everything an im physician does, but if you had to equate acnp to something in medicine, it'd be im.