general NP career questions

[Nurse Man-ingitis]

[color=#808080]within the hospital setting, generally speaking, which department is best suited for an np?

[color=#808080]for nps who work in hospitals rather than outside clinics, etc. are there outside employment opportunities for nps on part time basis?

[color=#808080]i want to work in cardiology in either icu or ccu, which specific np program (family, adult, etc.) will give me the greatest opportunity to pursue this? :redbeathe

[color=#808080]thank you everyone who contributes to this thead as it is meaningful to me.

[JDCitizen]

[color=#808080]1. within the hospital setting, generally speaking, which department is best suited for an np?

[color=#808080]2. [color=#808080]for nps who work in hospitals rather than outside clinics, etc. are there outside employment opportunities for nps on part time basis?

[color=#808080]3. [color=#808080]i want to work in cardiology in either icu or ccu, which specific np program (family, adult, etc.) will give me the greatest opportunity to pursue this? :redbeathe

[color=#808080]4.[color=#808080] thank you everyone who contributes to this thead as it is meaningful to me.

1. depends on what kind of np you are. family can cover "almost" any regular floor. my days with an internal medicine / nephrology group i made rounds on every floor except the babies / children's.

2. really depends on your area.

3. i say family but i am biased. a lot depends on how the school you are going to is set up some don't allow those kind of clinicals. also depends if the hospitals will let it happen. also the need of a preceptor.

4. no problem... but i really don't think i did much in the definite answer category..

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

**I am not an NP**

For ICU/CCU - acute care NP (ACNP) may be best, but it depends on your local market and scope of practice.

PS: That colour/size text you used is ridiculously hard to read.

[7starbuck7]

I am also not a NP (yet) but if you want to stay in acute care I would go with ACNP.

[DaisyRN, ACNP]

if it is available to you, choose acute care... especially if you want to work in the icu/ccu. i am not about to get back into this issue, but the specialty you should do depends on the needs in the area in which you live. it also depends on the board of nursing regulations in your state. in texas, family nps are being pushed out of the hospital setting because they are trained in outpatient/primary care. if you want more details on this issue, you can go and view my previous posts.

good luck!

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

I agree, if you want to work in the ICU setting, definitely get your Acute Care NP certification. Good luck.