Can I have two nursing specialties?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2011

Can I be a nurse practitioner and a nurse anesthetist?
Is it possible to have two specialties?

I guess it's possible to get them- just not sure why you'd want both....

SneakySnake · Aug 7, 2011

My nurse midwife was a CNM and a NP. She became a NP first and later decided she wanted to become a CNM.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2011

My nurse midwife was a CNM and a NP. She became a NP first and later decided she wanted to become a CNM.

Totally different- they compliment each other much better.... a CRNA practices in surgery only; most NPs are office based.

:)

taylorxteddy · Aug 7, 2011

This thread talks about someone knowing someone with both... I'm sure you can work both specialties, but you couldn't do the programs dually. You would have to do one and then the other. Good luck to you.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/nurse-practitioner-crna-401223.html

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 7, 2011

While it may be possible, it would not be advisable for most people. Maintaining your expertise in both specialties would be extremely difficult -- and beyond the reach of most people. At best, you would most likely end up being a mediocre practitioner of both specialties.

sunshine100 · Aug 7, 2011

They are so different. I am just wondering, why would someone want to do both? What would your main focus be?

ctersi01 · Aug 7, 2011

You can be anything you want, if you really wish to invest the time and money. Most CRNA's that I know didn't want to work in an office setting seeing patients. Conversely, NP's follow patients like any PCP would. One thing to keep in mind, though, the majority of CRNA programs require ICU experience. There is a reason for this.

Usually, but not always, when people enter 2 programs, they complement each other. For example, a women's health NP and a nurse midwife program.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2011

While it may be possible, it would not be advisable for most people. Maintaining your expertise in both specialties would be extremely difficult -- and beyond the reach of most people. At best, you would most likely end up being a mediocre practitioner of both specialties.

i'd have to disagree with that as someone who maintains active clinical practice in two areas - Spinal Injuries in the in hospital acute and rehab settings and pre-hospital and event medical care ...

i'd like you to justify why i 'must' be mediocre ...

allnurses Guide · Aug 7, 2011

Some CRNAs were NPs first. I had one PNP in my class. Some CRNAs go back and get their NP to circumvent some state's laws regarding CRNA prescriptive authority/ability to independently order &bill etc. in order to provide pain management.

There are reasons why some people have both, but in general it is mostly pointless because you will spend all your time doing only one of the professions. I haven't heard of any CRNAs that actively work as an NP and as a CRNA.

allnurses Guide · Aug 7, 2011

Totally different- they compliment each other much better.... a CRNA practices in surgery only; most NPs are office based.
:)

CRNAs mainly work in surgery, but is not the only place you will find us working.....pain clinics, offices, pain consults, OB, eye clinics, gi clinics, regional anesthesia services....

rn/writer, RN · Aug 7, 2011

i'd have to disagree with that as someone who maintains active clinical practice in two areas - Spinal Injuries in the in hospital acute and rehab settings and pre-hospital and event medical care ...
i'd like you to justify why i 'must' be mediocre ...

The OP is looking at pursuing two advanced practice areas, not just different nursing specialties. Both types of practice mentioned require a lot of continuing ed and other activities to maintain the advanced practice status. I believe llg was saying that the demands of advanced practice are significant enough that to attempt to maintain proficiency in two such areas would compromise the practitioner's quality and keep them from achieving their best in either one.

What you are talking about is being proficient in more than one clinical area, which is certainly doable, especially in the areas you named, which dovetail nicely. Pool/agency nurses are often skilled in a number of areas and switch back and forth among them on a day-to-day basis. I know some really excellent nurses who are proficient in a variety of specialty areas.