Considering career as an acute care NP...advice appreciated!

Dranger · May 11, 2018

I am currently in an accelerated ABSN program to become an RN and I'm interested in pursuing an acute care NP path. I would love to hear anything about this role, anyone's experience, if they like it, what you do, etc.

Get ready for oversaturation and decreased salaries in the next few years. My advice is to work as a RN first then make that decision. The future of the NP profession is certainly in for some interesting times.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · May 12, 2018

I am currently in an accelerated ABSN program to become an RN and I'm interested in pursuing an acute care NP path. I would love to hear anything about this role, anyone's experience, if they like it, what you do, etc.

As a student nurse, if you're interested in eventually becoming an ACNP, then seek out the clinical rotations that get you in ER or critical care (if your school allows this).

As a brand new nurse, you will more than likely not be able to start directly in critical care or ER. You usually need a year or 2 of experience in step-down. In some facilities, you have to be a med-surg nurse before you can progress to step-down, and then eventually critical care or ER. I'm not saying it's impossible to go directly to those units, but it's the exception rather than the norm.

Get some experience as an RN and then hone in on what makes you "tick". You may find that the stress of critical care/ER isn't for you. Or you may find that you love it.

Most reputable ACNP programs require at least a year or more of critical care or ER experience before admission.