calling all experts

[Espresso girl!]

I'm still confused. Is a CRNA a specialty designation under the large umbrella of Nurse practitioner? Or, is it a class all by itself? After reading numerous posts about such, I could never come to a definite conclusion! For example, if I were to become a CRNA, could I also decide at some point that I wanted to practice as an NP and so do? Or, would I be required to go back to school and get another graduate degree with an NP specialization?

Question two, is: if the above is affirmative, is this a state-by-state law or is it across the board?

Thanks to all who may acknowledge this!

Espresso Girl

[smiling_ru]

Licensure varies by state, but regardless of how you are licensed you would not be CERTIFIED as a nurse practioner. So if you wanted to work as a nurse practioner you would have to go back for another degree, so that you could sit for their certification exam. Just as they would have to go back to school to sit for the CRNA certification.

[BRobison]

let's see if this helps.

Since CRNAs are in some if not all states, also considered ARNPs, maybe we can clear the confusion with the following:

All CRNAs are ARNPs.

Not all ARNPs are CRNAs.

(ie there are psych NPs, FNPs, pediatric NPs, etc, etc, etc) None of them practice anesthesia, and CRNAs don't practice those other fields w/o further, different certification.

Hope this helps!

[loisane]

bmr,

I will just post to clarify my point. Then I promise to shut up and let some other opinions be voiced. (I figure you might have read enough of mine already, esspresso girl )

I understand that some states issue a license to CRNAs as an "advanced registerd nurse practitioner".

But in the eyes of nursing (as I understand it) CRNAs are NOT nurse practitioners.

This is according to my MSN program at a very respected university along with many textbooks and journal articles I had to read.

loisane crna

[globalRN]

agree with above posters.

All are considered advanced practice nurses but each: CRNA, NP, CNM, CNS is not interchangeable and each area has their criteriae for certification to practice.

I believe that:

CRNAs do not have prescriptive authority outside of their anesthesia drugs within their work setting. Anyone?

[kmchugh]

In Kansas, we don't have prescriptive authority. But then, I wouldn't want it. PIA.

Kevin McHugh