IR NP?

[FankhauseRN, BSN]

Hey all, I'm an NP student working on my AGACNP with University of Texas at Arlington...

Currently working in a CVICU for the past year and 1yr of cardiac step-down before that. Just landed a PRN job in the IR as I've fallen in love with procedures here in the ICU. I've decided that I really want to go on to become an NP in the IR and do procedures that the physicians allow. I'm wondering what you all would recommend as the best way to get there being an NP in IR?

Should I try and spend more time in my new IR job? Should I just focus on ICU as that pertains more to my NP specialty? How can I learn about the procedures I'll potentially be doing? Do I have to get accredited to do those procedures?

Thanks all

[DextersDisciple, BSN, RN]

Awesome! I wish I could answer all these questions for you but I’m not too sure on accreditation and the like. I would say def pick up some more time in your PRN job so you can learn the procedures. There are many done there that you will not see at the bedside -even in the unit.

At my hospital the NPs and PAs do not do procedures but that is hospital/region specific. One of our PA is experienced in procedures from a previous position and has recently been able to perform Some Procedures.

[SFANURSE2011, MSN, RN]

Yes, you can find a job with a radiology group and just perform procedures all day. At some facilities I have worked at. They mostly do midlevel procedures thora, para, port placement, dialysis access, and may get access for an angiogram. That being said one is doing rounds on inpatient while the other is doing procedures. Just know wherever you go, you maybe limited as a NP on patient population since some IR will cater to pediatrics or be looking for a NP/PA with procedure experience already versus trying to teach them procedures. Good luck! Procedure nursing is very rewarding. ?

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

I worked in IR as a nurse prior to (and during) NP school. A few hospital systems in my region, including my own, uses APPs to do a lot of the procedures. They also do consults, clinic, pre/post, etc. I would say try and do more time in IR. As a nurse, my IR experience was SO helpful for NP school and working as a NP, maybe just as much or more than my ICU experience. And it will look great for applying to those rare IR jobs as a NP.

[scrubsDNPcNP, MSN, APRN, NP]

Hi. IR NP here. Like Dodongo, I was a nurse in IR before and during NP school, which is what helped me introduce NPs to my group. We hired a 2nd NP several years later. Initially, we were doing OP and IP pre/post consults and follow-up. Now we are doing minor procedures and ramping-up to do more. The extent of what APPs do in IR are varied, and procedures that you could be credentialed for are institution-dependent. I don't know where you are located but it seems East Coast institutions are more ahead when it comes to the complexities of procedures done. In any case, you are on the right path with your AGACNP and ICU experience. See if your school can arrange a clinical rotation for you in IR (my school was able to do this for me). Build on your IR experience and pair-up with IR APPs in your institution. If they don't have one, pave the way. It can certainly happen. The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has a branch for Clinical Associates (non-MDs). You might find some info there.