MarylouNP

Well stated, and I agree completely. I have been an NP in cardiology for 10 years, was a cardiac RN for 13 years before that. Good luck and enjoy!

I think the answer re difficulty finding a job as an ANP vs FNP depends on where you want to work...I am an ANP, I have worked for an internist, a group cardiology practice and now a large teaching hospital. An ANP can see pts over age 18, and pts younger than that "with an adult condition." I think I have seen less than 5 pts younger than 18 in my 10 years as an ANP, but that is probably based on my choice of employers and specialty.

It is a different take than my original question but I did ask what the EP NPs in his hospital do. I am being asked to administer Propofol during ICD (defib) implants when they test the device by putting the pt into VT/VF then defibrillate the patient. Anesthesia at our hospital is not providing timely service, delaying cases (inpatient and outpatients) for hours! MY hospital administrator is telling me that I am allowed to do this but I can't find anything myself is the NYS Scope of Practice that clearly states whether or not I can. I want to talk to one more manager at my hospital to see what documentation her and the administrator have before I call the BoN myself for clarification. Credentialing is a whole separate mess. I started what I was told was the credentialing process for my institution. I am already ACLS certified. So I went to the moderate sedation class they told me I needed. It turns out it was the moderate sedation class that was part of our critical care orientation!!! What a joke! I talked to one of the EP docs who is recently certified--he had to take his ACLS (yes many docs are not ACLS certified) and be observed and signed off on airway management in 5 cases by an anesthesiologist. Any and all comments are welcome. This is all going on in New York state.

Thank you for all the information and points you have raised; you have given me some more great starting points to research, and I really appreciate it.

I would be interested in what your EP NPs do. Thanks for the info.

How would it work if the MD in the room is the doc implanting the ICD (the operator)? Could an NP give the propofol and monitor the patient? Thanks for taking the time to respond here.

That is exactly the situation--I am being asked to administer bolus dosesfor moderate(deep?) sedation IVP. I can't find anything on the NYS Dept of Education/Board of Nursing website about NPs administering, only that RNs cannot administer or monitor pts receiving propofol without protected airways....

Hi, I am an NP in the Cardiac Services Dept (mostly Cath Lab/EP service for now). My administrator has proposed an addition to my responsibilities---administering propofol for our Electrophysiologists during DFTs/ICD implants/cardioversions.....I have been assured this is legal and within my scope of practice, but I will be looking into this myself. I plan on speaking with the NY State Board of Nursing tomorrow.....just wondering if any one else out there is doing this, what you did to become credentialed, any tips etc.....Thanks in advance!

I just came across this article on a different thread and think it will clear things up some... http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/jobs/10starts.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

I am an NP employed by a large hospital system for one of their Cardiac Cath/EP labs. I do H&Ps, discharges, groin management and some follow up of cardiac issues/arrhythmia management. Essentially I do the same thing for the hospital as I did when I was employed by an interventionalist, but now I am hourly instead of salaried.....life is beautiful!

I agree with the previous post--go with the Adult program to keep your options open, and when it is time for your clinical rotations you can do some hours in the type of position you would eventually like to have. I have always worked in cardiac nursing (med tele, CV surg stepdown, transplant). I went back into the ANP program, did my clinical specialty hours in the cardiology/CHF clinic). My first position was with an internist/cardiologist. When he left the area I landed with a 10 doc cardiolgy practice, specializing in interventional cardiology. After 7 years I am back at the hospital as the NP for the cath lab/EP lab service! My dream job!

I am attempting to put together a Lido/Epi injection protocol together at my hospital, and would really appreciate any existing protocols that you could forward to me. It is not that I don't know how or haven't done this--my institution's nursing education department/Nurse Practice Committee is asking for research/articles/other policies or protocols on this since they are not familiar with this. Thanks so much!!!:redpinkhe