Bedside Nurse, APN Preferred!

JDCitizen · Jul 21, 2008

Funny, just after I read a thread here predicting that one day NP's will have to be going back to the bedside because of the surplus of them, I went over to browse new job openings at some of the hospitals around here. A major hospital in Nashville is advertising for neuro ICU nurses and specifies they would rather have APN's.
As far as I know this means Advanced Practice Nurse.
Nurse Practitioner.
For a bedside position.
Is this a new trend? Or, am I imagining things? Maybe I don't understand.

Very interesting..... I would like to hear more....

I have been told of NPs giving up their advanced certification and going back under their RN license....

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 21, 2008

Actually, it sounds like to me the facility wants an advanced practice nurse (APN) such as NP or CNS.

I would think the job description would be created for an APN and only an APN would be able to fit that role.

That's much like it is now. Some APNs choose to work in a hospital, not in clinics and/or be practicing independently. They work in the ED, ICU, CCU, Neruo ICU, NICU, etc. And, the role is such that only an APN with prescription privileges and ability to provide advanced practice healthcare could do.

core0 · Jul 21, 2008

Actually, it sounds like to me the facility wants an advanced practice nurse (APN) such as NP or CNS.
I would think the job description would be created for an APN and only an APN would be able to fit that role.
That's much like it is now. Some APNs choose to work in a hospital, not in clinics and/or be practicing independently. They work in the ED, ICU, CCU, Neruo ICU, NICU, etc. And, the role is such that only an APN with prescription privileges and ability to provide advanced practice healthcare could do.

It may be that the local program is cranking out so many MEPN NPs that the hospitals can use them for bedside nursing. If this is the ad that I heard about they are using ACNPs in the RN role (with RN pay). There is some precepting from the ACNPs in the ICU so there is the carrot that they may be able to move into an ACNP role. Apparently the legal environment is such that in TN there is no increased liability for having an APN work at the bedside. Its pretty much a supply and demand issue.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Jo Dirt · Jul 21, 2008

This is how that part of the ad reads:

Licensure: Current Tennessee RN, APN, or APN-Pres license or Compact State License required.

jlcole45 · Jul 22, 2008

What was the pay scale?

JDCitizen · Jul 22, 2008

Funny, just after I read a thread here predicting that one day NP's will have to be going back to the bedside because of the surplus of them, I went over to browse new job openings at some of the hospitals around here. A major hospital in Nashville is advertising for neuro ICU nurses and specifies they would rather have APN's.
As far as I know this means Advanced Practice Nurse.
Nurse Practitioner.
For a bedside position.
Is this a new trend? Or, am I imagining things? Maybe I don't understand.

Curious though I really don't see how it would work.. APRNs at the beside (doing what)? You get a team of doctors on a case in the hospital and things go wild... Legal issues??? An advertisement ploy? I really would like to hear more....

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jul 22, 2008

well, im probably going to get smacked around for this...

but i went to graduate school because i wanted a different role than that... u know? out of the bedside.

i think that nurses who are NOT apn trained can have the critical thinking skills to learn that position... just saying.

JDCitizen · Jul 22, 2008

well, im probably going to get smacked around for this...
but i went to graduate school because i wanted a different role than that... u know? out of the bedside.

I'll get in line to be smacked with you... I don't know how nurses are treated elsewhere but here in middle Georgia it is pretty rotten...

i think that nurses who are NOT apn trained can have the critical thinking skills to learn that position... just saying.

I just see a conflict of interest.. Doctor at home... APRN makes emergency diagnostic decision... What would would the doctor do or administration do much less a 12 member jury...

Can of worm opening time...

What is the possibility that MSN will supersede BSN since DNP will be the terminal degree level???

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jul 23, 2008

I'll get in line to be smacked with you... I don't know how nurses are treated elsewhere but here in middle Georgia it is pretty rotten...
I just see a conflict of interest.. Doctor at home... APRN makes emergency diagnostic decision... What would would the doctor do or administration do much less a 12 member jury...
Can of worm opening time...
What is the possibility that MSN will supersede BSN since DNP will be the terminal degree level???

its possible, but its still a ways away. i think that would be AFTER the DNP would be put into place for NP's and advanced practice.

HECK... we need to get BSN to be the entry level first... before we make the MSN the entry level!, and we haven't even gotten that yet.

(and yes, i was an AD nurse first).

but if our profession wants to be taken seriously... like medicine, denistry, etc... there needs to be a huge movement to increase the requirements.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jul 23, 2008

This is how that part of the ad reads:
Licensure: Current Tennessee RN, APN, or APN-Pres license or Compact State License required.

I personally think it's an inappropriate ploy to hire APN's in nursing positions that do not require APN-level of education and certification. However, it led me to think and ask the question that there may be a possibility that these hospitals are thinking of hiring CNL's and are lumping this group with the whole APN umbrella. CNL's are master's prepared nurses but are not APN's. Just maybe...

globalRN · Jul 23, 2008

well, there is a shortage of NPs in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

There are positions that have zero if any applicants.

The salary is comparable if not higher than what NPs are paid in the USA

and we have a much better benefits package. I believe that our pay is better here in my neck of the woods. Not to mention that we don't have

to fight with insurance companies over coverage.

hospital positions are available but as NPs not as nps doing rn work.

come up north.