I am a nursing student right now in an Accelerated BSN/RN program. It will be a long time before I decide on NP schooling but I would like to know more about it before hand since I've been having thoughts of medical school.
In the end I want to be a person that is able to keep someone alive in an acute setting, for example, being able to handle a code. Also I would like to open my own practice one day to take care of patients with everday problems and be able to refer them to specialists that are outside of my knowledge.
What are doctors able to do that a nurse practitioner cant? I live in NYC and I believe NPs are able to work under their own license and prescribe medication. Particularly I am interested in becoming an FNP since they are able to see a wide variety of patients.
What types of small end surgerys are NP's able to perform? What drug's can't they prescribe? What is the limit to the medical diagonses they are able to make?
If anyone can shed some light that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
ANCC and AANP certified NP's need to recertify every 5 years. We do not need to take the certification exam again to renew our certification if we meet the required number of CEU's and remain in clinical practice as nurse practitioners. ANCC has other requirements for recertification in addition to CEU's and clinical practice. The option to retake the exam is available if the NP has not met the CEU's and clinical practice requirements.
Pinoy, I thanked you there and I'll thank you here for that post.
I gotta ask, though: Regarding ACNP-BC, what's the -BC mean? While we're at it, what's the -CSC mean?
What types of small end surgerys are NP's able to perform? What drug's can't they prescribe? What is the limit to the medical diagonses they are able to make?
If anyone can shed some light that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I don't know what NP's can do in NYC. But where I am from I know they can write prescriptions but if the prescription is for a controlled substance (ex. ritalin-schedule II drug) the written prescription must be signed by the doctor NOT by the FNP.
I accompanied a client to the doctor's office for a check-up with the FNP and for renewal of the clients ritalin prescription. The FNP wrote AND signed the prescription, however when I took the client to the pharmacy to fill the prescription, the pharmacist could not fill it as it was signed by the FNP. The pharmacist stated it had to be signed by a doctor. We had to go back to the doctor's office and obtain another prescription to take back to the pharmacy. I was quite dissappointed to think that the Doctor and the FNP did not know what the FNP is and is not allowed to do.
What types of small end surgerys are NP's able to perform? What drug's can't they prescribe? What is the limit to the medical diagonses they are able to make?
If anyone can shed some light that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I don't know what NP's can do in NYC. But where I am from I know they can write prescriptions but if the prescription is for a controlled substance (ex. ritalin-schedule II drug) the written prescription must be signed by the doctor NOT by the FNP.
I accompanied a client to the doctor's office for a check-up with the FNP and for renewal of the clients ritalin prescription. The FNP wrote AND signed the prescription, however when I took the client to the pharmacy to fill the prescription, the pharmacist could not fill it as it was signed by the FNP. The pharmacist stated it had to be signed by a doctor. We had to go back to the doctor's office and obtain another prescription to take back to the pharmacy. I was quite dissappointed to think that the Doctor and the FNP did not know what the FNP is and is not allowed to do.
The NP scope-of-practice is defined differently in every state. Take a look at the link that I posted up a bit and you can see some of the state-by-state breakdowns.
I love being in the medical field and nursing is such a great profession but it's not the type of material that I really like to study. I'm learning a great deal but since nurses provide different care to patients, everything we learn is very surface compared to medical school courses.
Although nowadays we don't need doctors to cure patients of diseases that are common because of our advancements. Nurses and PA's have enough under their belt to take care of illnesses.
I, too, found much of the content of nursing school to be very surface and it was very frustrating to me. I know there was a stark contrast between what was emphasized in school versus what the real world demanded of licensed nurses. Of course, school can never teach everything; but I do believe the gap needn't be quite so large as some experience.
Personally, I'd hate it if advanced nursing education was similar. Unfortunately, I've heard many NPs complain that NP school didn't really teach as much concrete clinical stuff as they had hoped. It sounded like students were more or less on their own to ensure that they felt prepared for practice after graduation; that much of the coursework didn't seem directly relevant to their future practice.
I've heard of some NPs who were able to arrange a great situation wherein they'd receive plenty of guidance & backup, and be able to slowly ease into their new role. I've heard of others who were being pushed to handle cases as independently (and as quickly) as possible in order to keep a high throughput to be able to justify their own salary. Basically, the trial-by-fire approach to training - which is NOT how I learn best.
That's why, to me, PA school sounds more appealing; it seems more clearly focused on preparing it's students for practical clinical work and there's a built-in transitional period after one finishes the formal school portion of preparation for practice.
But, clearly, NP programs work for many, even direct-entry programs. It's up to you what you think will suit you.
I thought about it but I believe NP's are able to practice without being under a doctors license. Although I still don't have a firm understanding of the difference between an NP and PA.
Things may have changed over the years; but a FNP I worked for said that PAs and NPs get the same education but NPs are licensed under the nursing boards where PAs are licensed under another. Also, the FNP has FNP and PA-C behind her name while an PA would just have PA-C. NP's can practice independently while a PA can not and must have all of their charing signed off by a MD. Some of what a midlevel can do varies by state, in California a NP can write triplicate medications while other states can not.
Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.
NP's can do minor procedures like toe nail removal and punch biopsies, generally speaking. We do not get a surgery rotation, If I want to do a wide range of surgical procedures I'd have to go to Surgical First Assistant school which I believe entails 2000 hours of practice in that role, UNPAID practice I believe. I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the third time I assure you.
UC Davis used to train PA's and NP's together and you had NP after your name if you were an RN before and PA for all other degrees. If it were still in existence like that, That would be the route I would take, hind sight being 20/20. Good luck in whatever you decide.
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Music in My Heart
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Pinoy, I thanked you there and I'll thank you here for that post.
I gotta ask, though: Regarding ACNP-BC, what's the -BC mean? While we're at it, what's the -CSC mean?