Nurse practitioners in the neuro ICU

[bruinlaura]

Do nurse practitioners work in the NICU? My undergraduate degree is in psychobiology and I would love to incorporate my love of the brain with my desire to go into nursing. I would love to get an acute care NP and work in neuro but I am wondering if that is a job that exists.

[eborgelt]

We don't have any Nurse Practitioners working in out Neuro ICU. I work in a large teaching hospital, where interns and residents handle all the calls and patient orders. We do have a clinical nurse specialist who we can go to with problems with patient care, but she is usually just used as a resourse. She also sometimes staffs for a **** in short staffing situations.

[Elenaster]

We don't utilize them at my facility (large teaching hospital) for the same reasons stated by the previous poster, however I am aware that these jobs DO exist. I know that Duke University utilizes ACNPs in their neuro ICU and the job sounds really cool, however the pay is not all that hot.

[litepath]

~~We have four in our 14 bed Neurosurgical ICU here at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. This is a large teaching hospital with the CDC down the street on the edge of campus. Apparently the NP's here do quite a bit of assessment/progress notes and orders. I say apparently because I work nights and don't see them often.

[bellehill, RN]

We have a NP in our neuro ICU and one on our neurosurgery floor. They work days so it doesn't help me, but I know the day shift enjoys having them around. Oh yeah, I am in Columbus, OH...Go Buckeyes!!

[bruinlaura]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am thrilled that someday I might have the opportunity to work in neuro.