Ohio BON Restricting FNP Practice

Specialties NP

Published

OBON Pursues Additional Regulation of Primary Care NPs - OAAPN

I think we will see more and more of this.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

The only impressive thing about my FNP program was they told us straight up this will not prepare you to work in acute care and if that is what you want to do you are in the wrong program.

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The only impressive thing about my FNP program was they told us straight up this will not prepare you to work in acute care and if that is what you want to do you are in the wrong program.

Same. They were very up front about this from day one. ACNPs were not permitted to do clinical out of the hospital, and FNP/AGNP were not permitted to be in the hospital.

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Same. They were very up front about this from day one. ACNPs were not permitted to do clinical out of the hospital, and FNP/AGNP were not permitted to be in the hospital.

Ours was similar. We could only do 20 percent of our total clinicals in an emergency, with an md, or urgent care setting. And toy didn't want to run the risk of eating that should you need an md for peds or ob /gyn For the most part they pushed primary care/obgyn sites only.

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Funny this was posted because in my ER in AZ there's a huge storm brewing with the FNPs. We have an FNP who is incredibly arrogant and acts like she knows everything and did an online program. She sees a crazy number of patients and brags about it - even hypoxic and hypotensive and septic patients, chest pains, DKA. She doesn't staff her cases with physicians. Many physicians have complained about her and went on a huge rampage trying to prove she is working beyond her scope of practice. Which she is. The laws clearly state that if she wants to work with complex or unstable patients she needs an acute care NP certification. Which she doesn't have. It's sad because she's ruining things for the other FNPs in the ER who are quite good and thoughtful in their work. However, good or not it doesn't seem like it's in an FNP scope to work ER unless they're just working fast track.

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.

As a point of clarification for me - If I start with FNP and then roll right into a post-masters ACNP certificate program, I would then be able to work in hospital in Ohio, correct?

My ultimate goal is to work in the hospital, either in the ER or on the floor. I'm sure some of you will wonder why I would pit stop at FNP over just going straight to ACNP.. As my username suggests, my healthcare experience is as a medic, so to get to ACNP, I either need to pit stop at RN or FNP first. I also have a 7.5 year timeline to hit my 25 years in the pension system, so I'm at that point in my current career where I have both too many and not enough years to simply walk away.

I also kinda feel (I admit this I only my perception) that an FNP base under an ACNP certificate would set me up with the most comprehensive knowledge base possible for what I want to do with my NP license. Am I correct in that thought?

(I hope we can not turn this into a 4 page tangent about direct entry FNP programs, I've read through all of them on here and I do see both sides and understand everyone's points)

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Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Seems logical to me. But because you don't have an RN and thinking of doing a direct FNP then ACNP its going to put you out let's see 3.5 yrs or so give or take (Just checked Ohio state and it's 3yr for direct entry + 1-1.5 for ACNP cert). Why not get the PA in 2-3 depending on possible Pre-reqs and then you are free to practice acute care?

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
Seems logical to me. But because you don't have an RN and thinking of doing a direct FNP then ACNP its going to put you out let's see 3.5 yrs or so give or take (Just checked Ohio state and it's 3yr for direct entry + 1-1.5 for ACNP cert). Why not get the PA in 2-3 depending on possible Pre-reqs and then you are free to practice acute care?

2 reasons -

1. The admission requirements for PA school are obscene. If I'm going to take the pre-reqs for med school, I'll just take the MCAT and go to med school.

2. My schedule is flexible enough that I can do NP school without quitting my job. PA school, to my knowledge, is 5 days we week of class/clinicals.

Given the above, plus the fact that in the end, they both have the same job opportunities, I can't see why folks choose PA school over NP school..

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Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Fair, there is good reason to choose PA over NP in certain circumstances but I won't go over that here. Anyways, to get to your career goals, what you are describing should work just fine. Direct FNP then ACNP. Also getting the FNP and ACNP should give you a broader medical knowledge base than either of them separate. It also ticks the box to cover ped's which can be important in the ER setting.

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As a point of clarification for me - If I start with FNP and then roll right into a post-masters ACNP certificate program, I would then be able to work in hospital in Ohio, correct?My ultimate goal is to work in the hospital, either in the ER or on the floor. I'm sure some of you will wonder why I would pit stop at FNP over just going straight to ACNP.. As my username suggests, my healthcare experience is as a medic, so to get to ACNP, I either need to pit stop at RN or FNP first. I also have a 7.5 year timeline to hit my 25 years in the pension system, so I'm at that point in my current career where I have both too many and not enough years to simply walk away. I also kinda feel (I admit this I only my perception) that an FNP base under an ACNP certificate would set me up with the most comprehensive knowledge base possible for what I want to do with my NP license. Am I correct in that thought?(I hope we can not turn this into a 4 page tangent about direct entry FNP programs, I've read through all of them on here and I do see both sides and understand everyone's points)

There's a slight problem with your approach. ACNP schools typically require a minimum of acute care experience as an RN. Getting your fnp and even its lunge of work doesn't make you more qualified to get your ACNP. You'd be better off working for a year, ship the fnp, and flint straight to acute care.

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Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.

Agreed, shame there is not more dual degree options meant more specifically for the ER/ Urgent care tract vs the hospitalist kind of education. I feel the ACNP is to broad. Big difference between ICU ACNP vs hospitalist vs ER vs cardiac cath outpatient.

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
There's a slight problem with your approach. ACNP schools typically require a minimum of acute care experience as an RN. Getting your fnp and even its lunge of work doesn't make you more qualified to get your ACNP. You'd be better off working for a year, ship the fnp, and flint straight to acute care.

Ah, that's good info to have. I just took some time to check Ohio State's website and it appears that attending THEIR FNP program will qualify me to attend THEIR post-masters ACNP. I will be emailing their advisor next week to verify this path is correct before I really start plowing ahead.

Again, thanks for that tidbit!

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Specializes in Neurology, Psychology, Family medicine.
Ah, that's good info to have. I just took some time to check Ohio State's website and it appears that attending THEIR FNP program will qualify me to attend THEIR post-masters ACNP. I will be emailing their advisor next week to verify this path is correct before I really start plowing ahead.

Again, thanks for that tidbit!

Might also be wise to inquire if they will specifically place you in say a fast track clinical or urgent care. FNP's get placed their very frequently and would help with your end goal.

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