HELP! NP in acute care VS NP in family care???

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Hi everyone.

This is my first post. I have been following other threads to get information but the drama and bickering is CRAZY.I feel like I am at work..lol

Here is my dilemma and I hope you can help!

I have been an L&D nurse for 10 years. I have no med/surg or acute care experience but REALLY want to. I have been unable to find an entry level position to an ICU/ED type setting in my area(south of San Francisco,CA) or even into a stepdown unit.

I am planning to attend graduate school and would love to do Geogetown's ACNP/CNS program but they require 2 years acute care experience. So you can see my problem eh?

I like bedside care and teaching and am very good with practical applications/hands-on kinds of things. My problem is that I now can't figure out if I should attend a CNS or CNL program and then hopefully soemone will train me, or do the FNP program and hope I can get experience that way.

Please advise, much appreciated.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

10 years in L&D is significant! Is there a chance that this could be something you want to pursue advanced practice nursing training on? Speaking of the San Francisco area, it will be very hard to expect an ICU/ED to offer a position to someone with L&D experience so I think that might not be a wise option for you at this point. I suggest looking into FNP (or WHNP/CNM even) given your experience. I strongly sway you against Georgetwon ACNP/CNS option -- even if they accept you, your nursing experience will work against you as far as looking for jobs after you graduate.

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Specializes in pre hospital, ED, Cath Lab, Case Manager.

Think about what type of setting you eventually want to practice. There is quite a buzz in the Philadelphia area about this question. Jeff and Penn are making all their NPs have acute care certification. All their NP who do not have an acute care certificate have to go back to school to get it. The state BON has not made it a requirement to have an acute certification to work in the hospital setting, but they are "looking into it".

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