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I ultimately want to become an ER nurse. I plan on getting my BSN, then getting an FNP and ACNP. Just to be sure, is there anything else I need to be able to operate as an ER nurse? Do I even need these certifications to be one? I think I'll need them if I wanted to assess patients in the ER and even treat them, if possible to a certain extent. I know where I'm at NP's are used in place of PA's in certain areas. any advice would be greatly appreciated

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Specializes in Emergency.

I am new grad. I will start in the ER at a Level I trauma facility in January. I have no certs, minimal experience as a tech in the ER. What I did was apply to an ER internship, interviewed and got hired. FNP, and ACNP, arent' requirements to be an ER nurse, I'm not quite sure where you are going with that.

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oh ok, where did you get hired at? I know I spoke with you at the MSU thread in the TX section. I'm planning on doing my preceptorship at University hosp which is a level 1 trauma center also. I've applied to several positions there and hoping for a call back. How did you get to be an er tech?

Also I had read somewhere that FNP, and ACNP were needed to not work in the ER, but to treat and care for patients in the ER dept, ICU, critical care, etc. Like mentioned before, I know that in some facilities NP's are used in place of PA's

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Also, do nurses with FNP, and ACNP get to do minor procedures? I believe I read that somewhere. I'm looking for all sorts of information and why is there a need for ACNP cert if you can work in the ER w/o it?

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@ladydeeb4213 - Being an ER nurse, you would only need an associate or a bachelor's degree in nursing.

On the other hand, if you meant you ultimately want to become an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, then yes, you might need an FNP and ACNP degrees. Working as an emergency nurse would most likely help you before you proceed to an NP school since some programs require you to work as a nurse too.

You shouldn't also rule out PA school too. After receiving your PA degree, you can work in any specialty without any additional training. As a NP, you are pigeon holed into one specialty and if you want to move to another specialty, you have to get an additional training.

If you have an autonomy issue, NP might be the way to go since PA's have to work under the supervision of a physician. On the other hand, I think all midlevel providers (NP & PA) should have a backup and shouldn't work alone.

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ohhhhhh lol :smackingf that's what I meant. An emergency NP. I originally went for my degree in PA to become a surgical PA but at the time I was 18 and not so serious about what I wanted to do. I was preoccupied :/ So I figured the next best thing would be an er nurse then become an emergency NP. Also I didn't know NP's could work w/o supervision of a superior. I thought in an er they would still be supervised by a physician

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Also, do nurses with FNP, and ACNP get to do minor procedures? I believe I read that somewhere. I'm looking for all sorts of information and why is there a need for ACNP cert if you can work in the ER w/o it?

Depending on the facility you're working on and depending on the group's rules and regulations you're working on, you might get to do some procedures such as suturing in the ED.

Also, there is currently no nurse practitioner specialty that is specific for emergency medicine. Some emergency nurse practitioner programs offer FNP and ACNP. FNP prepares you for family practice, ACNP prepares you for adult critical care. ACNP also means you can only practice on patients age 18 and above. Having an FNP specialty means you can also see patients that are pediatrics.

Also I didn't know NP's could work w/o supervision of a superior. I thought in an er they would still be supervised by a physician

There are some NP's who are independent in specific states but they are a minority. Nurse lobbyists usually call the relationship between NP's and physicians as "collaboration" when in reality, it's always supervision.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Okay, now that you said Emergency NP, then yes, you would need to get a master's degree. I applied to the local hospital out here in Wichita Falls, as a Patient Care Associate II, in the ER. I've been working there for a year. I got my job at Scott and White which is a Level I Trauma Center.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Flight Nursing, and Management.

Start off by getting your Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Trauma Nursing Core Course, Emergency Nursing for Pediatric Course, and you may even want to attend Advanced Trauma Life Support.

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Specializes in Emergency.

If you send me a PM, I can tell you how I got my job at the hospital. It's really beneficial and they will work with your schedule at MSU.

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@audgy thank you so much for the clarification. ok so as a FNP you are allowed to treat patients under 18 is that correct? and having an ACNP cert allows you to treat critical patients over 18? Is there a cert that allows you to treat patients under 18 in critical situations?

@prettyladie at the level 1 center you will be working as a er nurse or a pca II?

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Also what makes an nurse an er nurse? Is it just working in the dept or a specialty, or do er nurses go through certain training at their place of employment?

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