Anyone have NPs in their ICU?

allnurses Guide · Sep 18, 2011

The degree is a masters degree in nursing. The certification is ACNP. Where you can work depends on what training and clinicals you do. Basically with ACNP you can work anywhere that there are "acutely ill" patients, mostly in hospital or clinics. Many places do permit FNPs or ANPs to work in the hospital, but I think they are moving more towards ACNP for that. My ACNP program has certain tracks like critical care, cardiopulmonary, trauma etc.

StayLost, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2011

Some of our doctors have ACNP's that round on our patients. They are seasoned ICU nurses with many years of bedside experience. And as the previous poster said, they also have prior experience working as an NP in a Clinic setting before rounding on ICU patients.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Sep 23, 2011

I've worked as an ICU NP since 2004. I'm trained and certified as an ACNP in an MSN program and also have CCRN-CSC certification. We work with our intensivists in managing patients in the ICU and are credentialed by the hospital to insert central venous catheters of all types and arterial lines, intubate, and provide conscious sedation. In my previous job working in a CTSICU, we also were credentialed to insert thoracostomy tubes and pigtail catheters.

TraumaRN1983 · Oct 2, 2011

I work in an SICU. For our cardiothoracic patients there are 3 acute care NP's who round with the CT surgeons in the morning, answer questions regarding floor patients and ICU patients. 2 of the NP's just work nights and there are often the first ones we turn to when our CT patients aren't doing well. They were both ICU nurses for many years before becoming NP's and they are usually very good. Some of the other surgery services including our Trauma service also uses acute care NP's to hel round on patients, write notes, go to traumas down in the ED, help discharge patients, help with clinic appointments.

CCRNDiva, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

Our trauma service just hired an ACNP. She rounds on the trauma patients, writes orders, progress notes and I believe she has also placed chest tubes. Our trauma medical director is quite supportive of her role and pushed for the hospital to hire an ACNP (administration had been quite resistant to NPs having a role in the hospital, they don't use CRNAs either). She works M-F day shift so I don't get to interact with her since I work nights but I have heard great things about her from nursing staff and trauma docs (they love her).

wannabecnl · Oct 13, 2011

The ICU at a local hospital is managed by an acute care NP. She coordinates care, works with docs, serves as a resource for nurses, and does bedside procedures (wound vacs, etc.). I'm sure they also use intensivists, and the patients have their own docs, too, but she's overseeing most of the day-to-day action on the unit. And she's awesome!!

Jaredf · Dec 13, 2011

I've herd with an ACNP you either work with peds or adults, I am not sure of this. I am interested in becoming a NP someday, and would like to work in an ER or ICU. Was wondering if I should do the FNP route and be able to work with peds and adults, increasing my job oportunities (in MN the ED's say as a qualification as FNP), however I herd you do not have extensive training in critical care/emergency. Where as the ACNP trains you on the acutely ill patients?

allnurses Guide · Dec 14, 2011

ACNP is adult acute care. The exact lower age depends on your state. Pennsylvania is >16yo. If you want to do pediatric acute care, there's an AC-PNP program.