Being both an NP & Chiropractor

[kansasdc]

I am looking for advice on those of you who are licensed chiropractors and continued on to obtain a nursing license. I am looking to become an NP in the future and want to hear your stories and experiences. I want to see more cases and have a strong interest in surgery and acute care. I want a broader scope. I love musculoskeletal but find my self wanting more. I do a lot of PT and rehab now with extremities and thinking of becoming a NP. Has anyone been able to integrate the fields and have the best of both worlds? What kind of nurse are you? How was school in regards to clinicals? And before you ask or comment...no I'm not anti medical or medicine, I don't cute cancer diabetes or attempt to. There is a place for both and I want be in both worlds. If there's a musculoskeletal issue I feel right at home treating it but I want stronger diagnostic skills outside of this. If anyone has advice on this please share your experience and advice with me. Thanks!

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Kansaskid - Have you done a search on this board? I think there are several threads about folks who have combined the two. Mostly about the schooling aspects, but some also about the combining of practices. I know of two who seem to have combined the practices successfully, by that I mean they are in practice in both, and both seem happy about it. I do not know any details of how they handle the practice (billing, mix of patients, etc.).

[kansasdc]

Yes, I have looked at other threads. They seem to be dated back to 08 and I would assume a lot has changed in both industries since so I looking for current experiences to date. I believe as far as billing goes I can't wear two hats at once and bill codes under both scopes but I could be wrong. I am really looking to work in surgical/medical setting part time and practice part time. Not sure how that would balance and the logistics of it all. Thank you for response. Are you a NP?

[newFNP2015]

It is my understanding that you cannot have an active RN or APN license while also maintaining your DC license. This is hearsay from chiros that I have met and have talked about wanting to become NPs. The general thought from them is that they would go inactive as DCs and practice as NPs. Their desire was that they could still entertain the ideas of physical medicine/manipulation since it is in their personal scope of practice, but also have the prescriptive authority from working as an NP. I am not sure if this is accurate or if it varies by state, but that was their understanding at the time (~6mo ago).

If you find the answer, reply with what you find because it might be nice for future posters in a similar situation. Good luck!

[kansasdc]

I have checked with the state boards I am allowed to have a dual license however there are technicalities with billing and prescribing. I need to get this info in writing before I start the process. Thanks for the post.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

No, I'm not an NP yet, I'm still on that never ending road to become one..... Here in NM there is no issue with practicing under both licenses, as I said I know of two who are practicing as both DC and FNPs. I also know of one DC clinic, I think it has three DCs right now that has expanded and hired FNPs as well, so that they can provide full primary care services to their patients.

I don't work at any of these clinics, just happened to run into one of the DC/FNP and struck up a conversation with him once, talked alot about potentially doing some clinical hours with him to see how his practice was different than that of other FNPs. We never talked about the billing, insurance, or other business matters side of the practice.