Dual Role - NP/CRNA

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Does anyone on this board know if it's possible to hold these two licenses concurrently in the state of Alabama? If so, this is a route I am highly interested in because I have the desire to become a NP and CRNA. Doing it this way would allow me to boost my gpa for the NA program at the college I'm interested in here in Alabama and meet their requirements all while earning a useful degree. If someone knows if this is legit please reply. I've been doing a lot of reading and I don't know if the rules are different (I'm they are) from state to state but I really want to get a clear understanding.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

I don't know about Alabama but I'm licensed as both fnp/crna in 6 other states. There should not be any issues. No reason to have any.

Having both is a huge help.

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I'm sure that it is a huge help. I would love the dual role. When I read this as being a possible opportunity I immediately started thinking it was something I could do. Were you a NP or CRNA first?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I don't know about Alabama but I'm licensed as both fnp/crna in 6 other states. There should not be any issues. No reason to have any.

Having both is a huge help.

Just curious, how is having both a huge help?

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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

1. Having FNP makes you attractive for many rural hospitals that may not run a full OR schedule every day. Many rural hospitals do procedure a couple days a week. I found that being able to do ER, clinic or inpatient medicine also makes me very attractive. I was at one rural hospital where I did anesthesia 2 days a week and covered ER 2 days a week. You bring a broader set of skills to the table.

2. Having a general medical education is also a help in doing anesthesia. In patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes, HTN, asthma or heart disease to name a few. I have a much broader view and understanding of these patients and their treatment, not just when they are in my care for anesthesia. Treating these patients in the clinic or ER in both acute and chronic processes, helps me when I have a patient with these same issues in the OR.

Treating an inpatient with ketoacidosis or diagnosing and treating a clinic patient with HTN, diabetes or asthma truly broadens the more narrow view I had before I became an FNP.

3. On the other hand, being a CRNA is absolutely priceless when I cover the ER. With our anesthesia/intensivist backgrounds, I am able to do much more than the other NP/family practice docs that cover the ER. I'm very comfortable for instance, sedating peds for fracture reduction or abscess draining. I can give an adult with a badly broken ankle pain relief for 8+ hours. Airway management, trauma stabilization and much more. I can do pain procedures in the clinic which tend to make the bean counters happy.

I enjoy helping people. I like that I am able to have a friend bring their child over on the weekend, diagnose Otitis M. and treat the child. Or reassure my neighbor when his child has a temp of 102 and URI symptoms.

So each education helps me as a whole to provide better care for my patients.

Just curious, how is having both a huge help?
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Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.

I spent 19 years as a CRNA then went back for my DNP and long the way got my FNP. :)

I'm sure that it is a huge help. I would love the dual role. When I read this as being a possible opportunity I immediately started thinking it was something I could do. Were you a NP or CRNA first?
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Contacted Alabama BON today and it's possible to be licensed as both.

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