Nurse practitioner outlook?

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I'm thinking about going for my nurse practitioner but having trouble deciding which route to take if really like to end up in the er or icu which would be the best certification to get?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't know about other organizations, but mine employs some Acute Care NPs. They work with the hospitalists - mostly in critical care areas - performing tasks, rounding on patients, etc. Of course, they are used to cover the unpopular shifts & holidays. We don't use mid-levels in our EDs.

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The last hospital I worked in had Intensivists in the ICU with Critical Care Nurse Practioners covering for them. There were not NPs on the acute care areas. I have come across NPs working for cardiologists doing the cardiac testing procedures, covering on-call and nights, also worked with NPs covering for attending MDs with general practices. Supposedly with the new healthcare environment NPs are going to be able to run their own clinics under a Medical Director. I imagine this will vary by state. I have read some articles that suggest there is an over-flux of NPs but I am not seeing it where I am. I think there will continue to be many opportunities for NPs in the upcoming future of nursing. Their roles will most likely change as the field is changing also. Good Luck. I kind of wish I had become a NP 10 years ago and may regret not doing it when I should have.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I'm thinking about going for my nurse practitioner but having trouble deciding which route to take if really like to end up in the er or icu which would be the best certification to get?

If you only want to work in the ED or ICU then the ACNP speciality is what you want to go for. Just make sure that's the only thing you want to do!

Sent from my iPhone.

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