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Discussion

Post Master's ACNP

Hi there,

I am wondering if any of you have any experience with UPenn's post master's certificate program in adult acute care. Their formatting is perfect for me in that your acute care job counts as your clinical hours. Also, does anyone know of any similar programs where you don't have to obtain additional clinia

hours? $15k is a bit steep for 3 classes.

Thanks!

Anna

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    • Experts

    I looked at their program too and thought for $15k it was worth it - unfortunately they don't take CNS's.

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    • Author

    Yea, maybe i should just pay for it or see if my employer with with all the Consensus Model changes to scope for ANP. I am still paying off my NP so the thought of another loan... í ½í¸– I work as an in and outpatient EP Cardiology NP. Everyone I work with who is strictly inpatient is FNP.

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    Following- also interested in being dual certified

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    I'm not really aware of any other APRN program for an additional certificate that wouldn't require you to get additional clinical hours and counts on the job experience. I'm currently wrapping up my AGACNP cert and had to run the full gambit of clinical hours since acute practice is different to my clinical experience as an FNP working in primary care. Even though I did some hospital rounding and ER work in my FNP program, it's not quite the same.

    Where I live in Texas, we are required to prove that our additional certification comes with a degree focused clinical experience. Although I wish I could just count my current job toward my clinical hours.

    As to the price, the 15k seems totally work it since it's probably less than what you would be required to pay to complete a program that requires more work.

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    • Experts

    I actually checked out UPenn's program and yes, work time (provided in an acute care environment) can be counted towards clinicals as a post-MSN. There are several requirements that have to be met....

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    • Author

    Right, and if my current job didn't get me lots of acute care exposure i would definitely be seeking out a post masters in acnp that required different clinical hours.. but as it stands i would be looking to do clinicals very similar to my current job.

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    Hey! Just wondering if anyone ever finished looking into this program or actually enrolled or anything? I am certified as a Primary Care AGNP, but I practice as an inpatient hospitalist. I never ever want to practice in an ICU environment or anything close to critical care; however, I do want to make sure my scope of practice is protected/covered by my degree/certification, so a program like this seems like it would be a great option. Was it really only going to be 15k for the entire program? That's a good price to me. Most are going to make you repeat an entire 4 semesters worth of NP school and cost between 30k-60k depending on where you go. So this sounds perfect.

    So......anybody?......

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    • Author

    I am applying for the UPenn program for the Winter semester. They sent me an info sheet and it really sounds too good to be true. Cost is around $15k and as long as your employer is okay with it you can do all your clinical hours at your job. They have a 100% pass rate for AGACNP boards. I have seen posts on here by a graduate of the program who highly recommended it.

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    • Guides

    I know a couple of primary care NP's at work who did the Penn program and their ongoing clinical experience counted as clinicals (not retroactive but rather their current job while logging actual hours and patient encounters as they went through the program). They worked in acute care fields. The program is a way for current primary care NP's who work in acute care settings attain acute care certification. It's the only one of its kind right now but I can see how some BON's might question the way clinicals are set-up. Both person I know now have AGACNP certification through ANCC and that's all California cares about.

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