FNP in the ED?

APNgonnabe · Apr 9, 2010

Hey, everyone. So, I feel like I've asked this question before but can't seem to recall completely. I'm currently doing my BSN preceptorship in the ED (graduation is 23 days away!) and I love it. I want to work in the ED for a few years, and I then plan to become an FNP. I really like the primary care aspect of the FNP but at the same time I feel like I'll want to be working emergency as well. Do ED's hire FNP's and if so what is their role? I know some programs offer an emergency care NP specialty but I think that's a very limited position and not as broad and marketable as an FNP. Thanks!

The ED is really an interesting place which is why so many of us flock to it. There have been several post on this subject but here is a summation from what I recall...

FNP are good for the fact that they can see all age ranges. They typically are utilized in areas such as "Fast Track" or Urgent care although some have reported the NP running their own pt in the main ED. As for the EDNP progarams; some of them like vandys is and FNP/Acute Care NP. As I understand it takes a little bit longer to complete but you'd have an expanded age range. I am not familiar with many of the Emergency NP programs so there could be others out there to find, be sure to see what NP boards they prepare you to take.

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 9, 2010

I discussed this with an ACNP student in our ED, and some of the docs.

An FNP won't have trained much, if at all, on some of the advanced ED skills. An ACNP, on the other hand, won't have trained on the age range - especially peds. That's probably why the Vanderbilt program is a combined ACNP/FNP curriculum. Note that there isn't a board cert for 'Emergency' NP.

The Field continues to evolve. The original NP was an FNP, and working in underserved populations. Who knows? As the evolution continues, we may see an officially sanctioned Emergency NP.