Going from ANCC certification to AACN cert? Anyone?

[traumaRUs]

Okay so I am soo not wanting to return to school at my age (56). However, I have both an adult health CNS as well as a peds CNS certifications thru ANCC.

In looking further, it appears as though I could take (and hopefully pass) the AACN peds CNS exam and get certified thru them as the ANCC certification exam that I took in 2011 is being retired in Dec 2015.

From the website, it looks as though my program fulfilled all the requirements. Was wondering if anyone else who currently has the ANCC CNS cert has successfully switched to AACN?

Thanks for any more info....needless to say I'm beyond frustrated with the stupidity of all this.

CNS Curriculum Approval Program

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for those suggestions - I will contact the NACNS.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Okay - well this is what I've found out:

1. ANCC - no grace period for the Peds CNS. I do have "provide care" to pediatric patients in order to cont the cert without retesting. Since I'm not an educator and don't precept (due to my job not allowing it), I have no way to obtain the 1000hrs needed to recert.

2. ACCN - has a peds CNS but they can not guarantee I would qualify to sit for it - $300 will get my foot in the door to see if I can even qualify to take their peds CNS exam and again I would have to retest every 5 years unless I change jobs (not an option at this time).

3. So, I have decided to just obtain a third post-MSN cert as an FNP, certify via AANP and be done with it. The school has a 100% pass rate so far.

To say I am completely disgusted with the course my educational path has taken is the understatement. I have a friend who is virtually in the same position and we are jointly disgusted.

When the Consensus Model was presented, there were going to be no population based exams retired. However, as we all know this has not been the case.

My end concern is that the Peds CNS will eventually just go away completely and as I am already 10 years post-MSN, repeating more courses makes my skin crawl.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. You guys are the greatest.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

How about letting it lapse and getting the certification from ANCC when you need it, since you'll have to test anyway?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Whispera - thanks for the suggestion but ANCC is who is retiring the exam - it won't be possible to take after Dec 2015. ACCN DOES offer a Peds CNS exam but there is no guarantee that they will cont to do so with the Consensus Model.

So.....today was my first day in the post-MSN FNP track. Five courses, 500 hrs clinical and I will be done in Dec 2016.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Oops, got my A's mixed up!

[mursej, ADN, BSN, DNP, LPN, CNS]

Trauma where are you going for your FNP? Was there any wait list / application hoops to jump through?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm going to a private college in central IL and doing a post MSN so it was 18 credit hrs, most of which is clinical. No wait list at all.

Application hoops

background check

drug test

nothing else

However this is the college where I got my two CNS certificates so all my transcripts were there and it was easy to figure out what I needed.

[Jen477]

Hi TraumaRUs,

I've looked everywhere for a list of states that recognize AACN NP or CNS certifications for licensure.

Have you come across such a list?

Just curious.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Here you go:

Certification State Maps

[Jen477]

Thank you, TraumaRUS!

I am interested in which states take AACN Advance Practice Certifications.

I discovered this site (if its ok to post):

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | ACNP | Nursing License Map

AACN's ACNPC (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) is "...currently accepted in Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin" (Nursing License Map, 2014).

[Jen477]

Hi TraumaRUs,

I have really learned and gained a lot from being part of AACN. I started off with earning the CCRN, and was encouraged by a very supportive local AACN chapter and by supportive unit managers. This peaked my learning, and I later earned my ACNP.

I'm having to hold 2 certifications: (1) AACN's ACNPC-AG, and (2) ANCC's AGACNP-BC.

I plan on maintaining both.

I'm curious on your thoughts on holding 2 certifications.

Would it be a long time coming until a good majority of states do recognize AACN's ACNPC-AG or ACCNS?

Thanks in-advance! I learn from you everytime!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks so much for your kinds words.

As to the feasibility of continuing to hold two certifications - I think its up to you. The way that nursing education and certification is changing I wouldn't bet on anything one way or the other.