Can ANP work in ICU

[meghanq21]

Can anyone tell me if ANPs can work in the ICU and what the likelihood of finding such a position is. I'm currently looking into a program for a masters in nurse practitioning for students with bachelors degrees in a non-nursing field. The program only offers ANP, FNP and psych though. I wanted to be able to work in the ICU or another critical care setting in case I someday decide to go back for nurse anesthesia. Would it be possible to obtain an ICU position as an ANP because the program does not offer ACNP?

[meghanq21]

I realize I will need to work for a few years as an ANP in the ER or somewhere before I could even consider going to the ICU. I'm just trying to determine if being an ANP is going to rule out critical care in the future because why else would the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs exist?

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

BTW the positions for such nurses exist, provided they have true ICU experience....

We have four AP in our units--but like I said, minimal 5 years ICU--Open Heart, Transplant experiences....it's a very, very difficult position...for the very, very sickest of the sick.

Very few can fill it.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I realize I will need to work for a few years as an ANP in the ER or somewhere before I could even consider going to the ICU. I'm just trying to determine if being an ANP is going to rule out critical care in the future because why else would the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs exist?

They exist for EXPERIENCED RNs....

An ANP has to have the background of the ICU, period.

There's no skipping steps here...

[meandragonbrett]

How do you know that you want to be involved in critical care?

You need to spend some time working in an ICU as a RN...not as a Nurse Practitioner in the ED. Two totally different roles.

The role of the ICU NP is not the same as that of a primary care NP. Very very different.

and one final thought for now....passing NCLEX means you are minimally competent to practice as a RN. It does not mean that you know what you're doing....as those of us who have taken NCLEX all know that it's not reflective of anything in real life.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think what they're saying is that in order to work as a NP in ICU, you will need previous experience as an RN in the ICU, minimally 5 years.

I went ahead and googled NP ICU jobs to see what job were saying about experience wanted. All of them stated they wanted an Acute Care NP to work within the ICU, and additional experience as an ICU nurse.

The only other option I can think of, as you will attain both your RN and your ANP within this program is to work ICU as an RN after graduation. Some ICU's will hire new grad nurses, but you may have difficulty finding a position because you also have your ANP, and many may see you as leaving shortly after. After several years of ICU RN experience, should you decide you want to go back for your CRNA, you would still be qualified as you have RN experience in ICU.

However, working as an ANP in ICU is probably not going to happen as it appears they want you to have ACNP.

[NurseKJ]

To the Original Poster-

There really are two issues here:

1) Will the state BON allow ANP/FNPs to work in an ICU?... again, you will have to check with the local state board.

2) The second issue is will an ICU hire an ANP/FNP-- for this, you would really need to check the job postings in areas that you are interested in to see what they are looking for. You might also be able to search the hospital websites to see what education the NPs that work there have (ie, a "provider/physician finder".)

I guess there is a third issue here too. Most ICU NP positions will require ICU RN experience. If working in the ICU as an NP is truly something you want to do, then you might be better off becoming an RN, and working in the ICU as an RN while you attend a Masters/DNP ACNP program, or a CRNA program, that you mentioned earlier. (Or become a primary care ANP, and enjoy good hours (9-5ish), with little to no weekends.)

So to answer your original question, ANP might be allowed to work in ICUs, on a state by state basis-- but only with ICU RN experience.

I hope this info helps. It gets all very confusing sometimes : )

[PMFB-RN, RN]

We have an ACNP who works in our ICU. Be advised that working as an provider intensivist in an ICU will not qualify you for CRNA school. For that you would need to work as a bedside RN in an ICU.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I realize I will need to work for a few years as an ANP in the ER or somewhere before I could even consider going to the ICU. I'm just trying to determine if being an ANP is going to rule out critical care in the future because why else would the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs exist?

*** Depending on that state you want to practice in an ACNP may not be qualified to work in ER. Also working ER as an NP will not prepare you to work in ICU.

[NurseKJ]

*** Depending on that state you want to practice in an ACNP may not be qualified to work in ER. Also working ER as an NP will not prepare you to work in ICU.

And may I add... Some states and/or ERs require both ACNP and FNP in order to work with monitored adult patients and to be able to see some pediatric patients.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

All OtherPs are correct.

Again, no skipping steps.

The job is more than education heavy, it is experience heavy as well.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

To the OP. I suggest you look into PA school. Many are masters degree programs, though there are also bachelors degree and associates degree PA programs. It would likely be the shortest rout to working in an ICU as a provider intensivists.

[efy2178]

Absolutely an ANP can work in an ICU. You may be trained for primary care but in an inpatient area you will most likely have a collaborative agreement and with trainig you can work in this area. I don't think there are any states that ban this.

I am an ANP an am working in an inpatient area as a hospitalist.