Hi guys,

I have a quick question:

I've been a board certified FNP (practiced in ER back in California) for about 3 years now. I had put my FNP career on hold to attend CRNA school in August, 2004 in Ohio (where I am now) for 2 years. Since I am NOT practicing as an NP, my question is...how can I keep my certification current (mine is valid for a couple more years)? I went on the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) website and found instructions on how to keep our certifications current. But, it's confusing to me. There's two ways: Continuing education and Practice hours. Since I'm not practicing, would I be able to count in the hours that I accumulated from the date that I passed my board exam? And, would my present curriculum in CRNA school be accepted as continuing education?

For those of you who are knowledgeable in this area, please give me some insight.

Cheers,

Vince

RN, MSN, FNP-BC, SRNA

Dude,

you've been on the forum for years now. I actually remember seeing you post before you got into a school. Actually, I almost didn't go to NP school after I saw that you were leaving NPhood to gas people. I respect your choice... I worked in the OR for years and know that I'd be doing it only for the money. I am now in an NP program and enjoying it so far... good luck with your CRNA thing.

To answer your question--from what I know-- (at least in michigan) credits earned in school do count for required CEs for your prefession. I'm guessing that you'd have no trouble logging the CEs.. but I would check to make sure Cali has the same program--I am surprised it's not spelled out on the state web site.

good luck!

Hi TMNurse,

Thanks for the advice. I'm also glad to hear that you're in NP school and that, you're enjoying it.

Eventhough I decided to pursue a career as a CRNA, I do not plan to stop practicing as an NP. I too, love being an NP. A lot of people where I am training to become a nurse anesthetist ask me, "Why become a CRNA? You're already an NP?" or, "Don't you like being an NP?"

My answer to that is simple. I truly believe that there is a great potential for me to provide care, both as an NP & a CRNA. I plan to someday work at/for an organization where I can perform and induce anesthesia and afterwards, manage my patients post-op. A good place for this kind of practice might be a GI/endoscopy clinic. I might decide to work for a GI group where I can work with GI specialists, seeing patients and managing their care and if the patients need to undergo procedures like and ERCP/EGD, etc, then I'd be available as a CRNA to administer their anesthetics in the procedure lab. Once the doc is done performing the procedure, then I can take over as an NP with the patient's post-op management.

I've talked to a few GI specialists about utilizing an NP/CRNA in their practices. Most, if not all hire either NPs or PAs. But none have had the opportunity to hire an NP/CRNA. It surely sparked a few interested docs on the idea that it'll save them money from paying anesthesia people separately on GI procedures. AND, with my idea, these GI specialists need only to get an anesthesia provider's license to be able to BILL for anesthesia charges for services that I as a soon-to-be CRNA will provide in their office.

Am I in it for the money? The answer to that question is a big NO. I make enough money as an NP. I'm very content financially. Surely, I will make more as a CRNA, and even moreso if I practice both as an NP & CRNA. But, money isn't everything. I'm much more motivated by what I can provide with both roles to patients and the exciting things that I can do promote the dual role of becoming NP/CRNA.

Good luck with your training as a future NP!

Vince