Why would anyone do this? ACNP + CRNA

Specialties CRNA

Published

From Vanderbilt's Website......

Students who complete the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program within the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Program at VUSN and who meet other criteria for admission to Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) will be eligible for an early interview and potential acceptance decision at MTSA. An early interview/admission process is one that occurs before the general MTSA interview/admission process that occurs in January of each year. The student will be awarded the MSN degree by Vanderbilt upon successful completion of the ACNP program at VUSN, and will be awarded the Master of Science with a Focus in Nurse Anesthesia degree by MTSA upon successful completion of the nurse anesthesia program at MTSA. A student who completes both degrees will be expected to be trained to function in the advanced practice roles of ACNP and certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Students who are interested in this option need to contact MTSA for further information about their admission requirements and application process. MTSA contact information:

Why would you need/want both?

Donn C.

Specializes in ECMO.
I believe a PA-C practicing in acute care who later decides to get his/her RN/BSN degree will have a very hard time applying to nurse anesthesia school. What ALL NA schools require from RNs are NURSING experience and not patient provider experience.

IMO, Vanderbilt's decision to admit ACNPs into their Nurse anesthesia program stems from the fact, that these APNs have had acute care nursing experience prior to becoming ACNPs and therefore satisfies their requirement for "acute care nursing experience".

I, for example got accepted into NA school not because of my NP experience (I am an FNP who practiced in ER for over 2 years prior to applying to NA school), but because I had several years of ICU/ER nursing experience.

If a PA-C decides to go to NA school, then one would first acquire their RN degree (RN/BSN) and work in acute care for at least one year to be able to be eligible to apply to NA school.

Hope this helps answer your question.

How about this scenario. Unable to work ICU due to back injury so unable to get ICU experience. Gets ACNP degree and works ICU for a year or two. Viola! ICU experience, light on the back. More expensive I'll grant you, but an alternative. Clever!, no????

thanks i was wondering because of the post above. if it is true that a NP could do it why couldnt a PA-C/RN? i completely understand that that is how the system works right now. another question tho.... if one was a NP or PA in critical care, wouldnt you consider that a better foundation for CRNA school than being a ICU nurse? ok heres why, look at this...

http://sh.webhire.com/servlet/av/jd?ai=700&ji=1775537&sn=I (NP) more in detail description

http://sh.webhire.com/servlet/av/jd?ai=700&ji=1779880&sn=I (PA) cut and past job descript.

both practitioners have same duties and look at what the Critical Care midlevels do (procedure wise as well). doesnt that seem like a MUCH better prep for CRNA school? (intubation, vent management, alines, etc). so if one was a PA-C/RN, or NP, in critical care you wouldnt think one could handle CRNA school, as well as if not better than a ICU nurse? im not trying to stir a debate. i do think critical care experience is important b4 CRNA (ive seen from my short experience the "bad" pts in the ICUs and it takes a different skill set to manage those pts and thats why i mention NPs and PAs in CCM ONLY, not FP, IM, Peds, OB,etc), but why only in the role of ICU nurse? i THINK more midlevels (NPs and PAs) would follow the CRNA route in order to expand their scope of practice. maybe not. at this point i would love to do both, maybe im only dreaming, but would it seem like a great job to not just be "stuck" in the OR, but also have a few days rounding in the ICUs, seeing the progress of pts, and maybe even working in a pain management clinic as well....

ok that was too much, but its always nice to dream right? ok m rant is over, hopefully others will respond.

Specializes in ACNP, ICU.

The requirement for CRNA school is a year of acute care experience. It is up to the school to define what is acceptable experience. That is why some will accept ER experience or other areas besides the icu. What they are looking for is evidence the nurse understands hemodynamic monitoring, medication drips and real time management of the patient. They want to be sure the nurse can actively respond to changes in the patients status.

I have been doing some research on CRNA jobs and it seems like a lot of the management/chief CRNA spots want you to be ARNP/CRNA. This does not makes sense. I am not a CRNA (or a nurse yet for that matter) but it seems like they basically want you to be an MD. Is is common for CRNA's to also be a NP?

Thanks

SC

Specializes in Nurse Practitioner/CRNA Pain Mgmt.

It is not common for a CRNA to be an NP at the same time. Most dual role APNs (NP/CRNA) are NPs first before becoming CRNAs. I should start a discussion board for dual role APNs to see how many out there are NP/CRNAs.

Vince.

Specializes in ECMO.
It is not common for a CRNA to be an NP at the same time. Most dual role APNs (NP/CRNA) are NPs first before becoming CRNAs. I should start a discussion board for dual role APNs to see how many out there are NP/CRNAs.

Vince.

u should, im interested in seeing what they see as far as the pros and cons...

especially when a CRNA/NP (or a AA/PA) may take 4 yrs to complete, excluding the 1-2yrs of experience requirement and what they see as their rationle of doing that route instead of the MD route in anesthesia.

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.

i do concur about the website ragarding dual roles.. it can be rather informative and, who knows, could also promote it in other ways solely beneficial...

i spoke with a new classmate today (srna) that was rather loquacious, and whole-heartedly warm about rather comforting things, i received a new insight about the dual role of NP-CRNA (or reverse for being unexpectedly PC) ..

my response, albeit provocative, was solely and most respectedly, was to just graduate, then i don't give a deuce ! (as quoted so eloquently from Stewie).

Specializes in ACNP, ICU.

i am currently studying to become an acute care np. i intend to study anesthesia when i complete this. i chose this route becuase this degree wil basically provide me with a masters degree in the prerequisite (critical care). Acute care NPs are trained to manage people in acute settings which include critical care. Anesthesiologist are freqeuntly contracted to manage ICUs because their specialty gives them the expertise needed to manage critical patients. By having both ARNP/CRNA, i will not only be more marketable, but will have a wider scope of practice and prescriptive authority. Additionally, i just wanted the knowledge afforded by both degrees. im kind of nerd like that.

Specializes in ECMO.
i am currently studying to become an acute care np. i intend to study anesthesia when i complete this. i chose this route becuase this degree wil basically provide me with a masters degree in the prerequisite (critical care). Acute care NPs are trained to manage people in acute settings which include critical care. Anesthesiologist are freqeuntly contracted to manage ICUs because their specialty gives them the expertise needed to manage critical patients. By having both ARNP/CRNA, i will not only be more marketable, but will have a wider scope of practice and prescriptive authority. Additionally, i just wanted the knowledge afforded by both degrees. im kind of nerd like that.

but people here are saying only bedside critical care would suffice for CRNA schools. what schools would accept your NP cc experience?

Specializes in ACNP, ICU.
but people here are saying only bedside critical care would suffice for CRNA schools. what schools would accept your NP cc experience?

The requirement is that the nurse have a year of acute care clinical experience. That experience should show the nurse understands hemodynamic monitoring, medication drips and other types of invasive monitors. Weather the nurse gains this experience as a bedside nurse or as an np is irrelevant. the school being applied to will decide weather the nurse's experience is adequate, but it must be at least a year. in my case, i already have more than a year of bedside nursing and will also have the masters when i apply, (thats the plan at least)

Just curious if anyone else is exploring this option or have any current input on this matter. This is an area of interest for me.

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
The requirement is that the nurse have a year of acute care clinical experience. That experience should show the nurse understands hemodynamic monitoring, medication drips and other types of invasive monitors. Weather the nurse gains this experience as a bedside nurse or as an np is irrelevant. the school being applied to will decide weather the nurse's experience is adequate, but it must be at least a year. in my case, i already have more than a year of bedside nursing and will also have the masters when i apply, (thats the plan at least)

not saying that NP experience wouldn't apply, but is definitely more limiting.. not many schools "consider" NP as current acute care bed-side experience.. make sure you check with the school before going any further...

Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.
Just curious if anyone else is exploring this option or have any current input on this matter. This is an area of interest for me.

I am also considering this option. I am a Pedi NP (inactive NP license) who is about to start in an adult ICU as a RN. I will start a post-master's certificate in the Fall to earn my ACNP. Snce it will only take me 4-5 courses to get my post-master's ACNP certificate, it is definately worth pursing.

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