IR NP

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hello! I am a nurse with approx 9 years of experience mostly in ICU, cath lab and IR - and I currently work in the IR. I've done IR in both the hospital setting and outpatient setting. Experienced in pre op / post op / intra-op / sedation and scrubbing. Love the field and I am entertaining the idea of becoming an NP in Interventional Radiology in the future.

Trying to find resources and guidelines about how to become one + learn about rules, regulations in my state (Virginia) to help me decide if this would be a good choice. When I go to the board of nursing site things appear really non-specific. Maybe I am just not looking in the right place? Not sure.. Would appreciate some guidance and thoughts. Thank you! 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Are there any NPs in your IR group? I think your best bet would be to find out from someone working in that role. Regulations and guidelines are so rarely a good reflection of the actual role and expectations. We had a great NP in our IR suite in my previous organization. It seemed like a pretty cool role. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
JBMmom said:

Are there any NPs in your IR group? I think your best bet would be to find out from someone working in that role. Regulations and guidelines are so rarely a good reflection of the actual role and expectations. We had a great NP in our IR suite in my previous organization. It seemed like a pretty cool role. Good luck!

Unfortunately no - we do not have any mid levels performing procedures in my workplace. I just heard from fellow nurse friends that they have worked in environments that included PAs/NPs performing some procedures in the IR which would be such a cool thing to do! 

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Specializes in APRN.

I would think anything radiology would be the the field any NP is the least prepared to operate in.  

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I think it is hospital dependent. Some hospitals require acute care NPs to be able to work in IR, while some will accept an acute care residency in lieu of the ACNP. 

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

you can perhaps reach out to:

https://www.sirweb.org/member-central/volunteer/sections/NP-and-pa-section/

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Go and talk to your IR team at work. My hospital, for example, only hires PAs in IR, as do many, which I never really understood as the ACNPs (eg. in ICU) already do most (or more) of the procedures that the IR PA's do. I recently found out though that it's because the NPs are under the nursing union, and the PA's aren't - so the IR physician group finds it a lot easier to hire PAs. 

So ask your group. There are some certifications such as those for interventional cardiology that involve both procedural and radiologic items that might be helpful. You have a leg up if you're already an RN in IR and have contacts in the field. 

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What are these certifications that you referring to?

khillbrt said:

Go and talk to your IR team at work. My hospital, for example, only hires PAs in IR, as do many, which I never really understood as the ACNPs (eg. in ICU) already do most (or more) of the procedures that the IR PA's do. I recently found out though that it's because the NPs are under the nursing union, and the PA's aren't - so the IR physician group finds it a lot easier to hire PAs. 

So ask your group. There are some certifications such as those for interventional cardiology that involve both procedural and radiologic items that might be helpful. You have a leg up if you're already an RN in IR and have contacts in the field. 

 

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khillbrt said:

For example: https://cci-online.org/credentials/registered-cardiovascular-invasive-specialist/

 

this is for cath lab techs not NP's

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