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Yung4 - the application process is fairly straight forward. Penn Nursing has an amazing website will a lot of information that really breaks everything down nicely. Everyone has different personal situations and ideas about what works best for them regarding when to return to grad school...but my feelings are that I am young, recently married, no children and really wanted to feel prepared when I started an advanced nursing degree. There is SO much to learn by working in an ICU, so I feel great about my decision! Alexis.upenn - Congrats to you as well! What classes are you taking in the fall? Full time or part time? I am just finishing patho and research, both really awesome! Let me know if you have any specific questions and maybe we'll meet up sometime.

Hello nurses! I have waited a very long time to start a thread in this forum on this topic! I just found out earlier today that I have been accepted to start in the summer for U Penn's Acute Care NP program! :yeah:Or actually, it is now officially the Adult and Gerontology Acute Care NP program. As I figured, they have made the appropriate adjustments necessary to the curriculum to allow the future grads to take the new exam based on the APRN Consensus Model. Ahhh I still can't hardly believe it, I'm in a bit of shock! It's actually going to be happening, I am no longer just talking about it or thinking about it. It's real. I joined this website years ago and have sought advice from everything important throughout my, albeit young, career - new grad, first job, ICU, night shift, CRNA vs ACNP, student loans, etc. And I'm sure it will only continue from here. I'm going to grad school baby!!! Just wanted to share and possibly meet other future students in the program. Oh and of course, if anyone has any advice or words of encouragement, that is always appreciated! Thank you!

Oh my goodness it is so bizarre that this is the first thread I am reading tonight, because I am actually right in the middle of dealing with poor RT behavior. Working in the SICU and both of my patient's had abdominal surgeries, have huge round distended bellies, on 3-5 L O2 NC with 88-92% sats...not impressive and they are both struggling to take those big deep breaths we all keep asking them to. Breath sounds rhonchi/coorifice, very weak coughs, and poor incentive spirometry skills. They are basically identical with tenuous respiratory statuses. So the MD orders chest PT every 4 hours. Sounds great to me! Now at my last hospital we never needed an order for this, we just used our nursing judgment, clapped on those backs, and did what we had to do for our patient's! But here is different apparently. After paging the RT and bringing these new orders to his attention, he strolls in to the unit about 30 min later. He says that he thinks chest PT is contraindicated for one of the patient's because it makes his HR, which is already 100, increase to 110. And he gets dyspneic. Hmmm....I explain why I think he still needs it, and he suggests I call the MD to have him order neb treatments. So I do (I needed to ask the MD something else anyways), and he says that he doesn't think the neb treatments will hurt the patient but he still wants him to get chest PT. So I just told him that I'll do it with or without the RT's help, and he said thanks. Then the other patient is sleeping in the chair at the time, so he tells me he can't do chest PT on him now and walks away! He said to page him once he's back in bed. Arhhhhh! I feel like any excuse will do to get out of doing a little extra work to benefit the patient's. So frustrating! So I asked another nurse to give me a hand, we performed chest PT on both of my patient's, and now they are resting comfortably with better O2 sats and I'm weaning their O2. Thanks for nothing RT!

I don't know how much advice I can give you on your personal situation, but it is interesting because I am finding myself in a very similar situation right now. I currently work night shift in a SICU, but it can be very very slooooooow at times. We don't do major operations - a lot of basic ortho, gi, and gu. So I monitor incisions, NGTs, and CBIs - yawn. I can't even remember the last time I had a patient on a vent! Definitely not the type of critical care patient's I was used to compared to my last job, and not where I want to be working forever. I will (hopefully) soon be starting the ACNP program at Penn, going part time while continuing to work full time. In the next few months I have the opportunity to move to day shift, which realistically I will probably end up doing just for my sanity. But I often wonder how much productive studying I could accomplish, after my patient care is complete of course, with all of my down time on night shift....OR is it better to get back on the day time schedule like normal people? I will sleep like a normal person, eat like a normal person, wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with my husband! :) So, like I said, that's probably what I will do, but I can't help but wonder... And then to complicate the picture just a bit more, I have considered working in the cath lab or something like that because I love cardiology and may want to pursue that as an ACNP, and at least I would be learning new things and experiencing new challenges. But should I really embark on a new job when just starting school too? Hmmm....So like I said, no advice for you because I am in a similar boat too. Just sharing experiences and maybe we can figure it out together!

I was fortuante enough to have my undergrad nursing program paid for through a state scholarship I qualified for....so very grateful....but now here comes grad school! I am hoping to attend U Penn's ACNP this coming year and after doing some multiplication, it's looking like $60,000 ish! YIKES! Right now my husband and I are working on paying down his student loans, $40,000 ish, and so far we've been making some progress. No car payment, no kids. Just us and 2 paychecks. We are able to allocate ~$800 a month to his loans, so sloooooowly but surely it's getting lower. Seems painfully slow though. And to think I'm about to more than double it! Kind of terrifying, but what other options do we have? Just hoping for an NP position after graduation with a higher salary than I'm making now so we can keep doing what we have to do. Anyways, that's my story. Bottom line, loans suck.

What program did you guys attend? Do you have jobs or interviews lined up yet? Curious and excited for you all...!

CCRNDiva - I can not express how much I relate word for word to what you said in that first paragraph. I too had great aspirations of becoming a CRNA, was dead set on getting my 1 year of ICU experience, and then getting into a program. It's really bizarre because in my grad school application I recently submitted for Penn, I think I used the exact words "I didn't realize how much I would love working in the ICU..." Crazy! And admittedly, looking back, I was probably highly drawn by the salary of CRNAs. But here I am, certain that the scope and practice of an ACNP (or A-G ACNP should I say ) is perfect for me! Anyways, we should definetly stay in touch because I'll be curious what you end up deciding regarding staying full time or slowing down to part time. I am hoping to start the program this summer, and finish in 2014. I've actually thought about prolonging it to 3 years just so that everything will have been decided for certain by the time I graduate and am ready to sit for the boards. (But yikes, 3 years, really?) I feel like in 2014 the 'old' ACNP exam may still be around and if Penns program doesn't adjust to the new guidelines...I also have no idea where that will leave me! I've emailed the program director asking about this, haven't heard back yet. Ahhh professional purgatory....

Hi everyone - yikes, so I'm really confused now. I am hoping to begin an ACNP program this summer, part-time, should graduate in 2014 (a crazy time period from what I've just read)! So how can/will all of this potentially effect me? Should I not certify with ANCC when it comes time? I will have 2 options - ANCC and AACN, correct? Starting in 2014, will all ACNP programs automatically be forced to change to A/G ACNP? Or is this a friendly suggested option from ANCC? This seems like a lot of nonsense. How do you 'retire' the ACNP degree? I don't understand....

Thanks Juan - you are always so reassuring! I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunity to due clinicals at HUP while I'm in school that may/potentially/hopefully lead to a job opporutnity after graduation. I don't work there but have heard great things about the hospital. I know finding an ACNP position is a lifetime away, first things first GET ACCEPTED, right?! I just always like to have a plan set out and it's difficult to forsee the possibilities 2-3 years away. And thank you for clarifying the scope of practice thing...I just hear different things from different people about the NP boards trying to 'tighten' the scope for ACNP and FNP/ANP to give them more distinct separation, because I guess for so long there has been a bit of overlap. Anyways, thanks again and I'm sure this won't be the last time we speak! Take care! (P.S. where do you work right now?)

I have submitted my application for the ACNP program, hopefully will start in the summer! I am so anxious to get back in to school and when I attended Penn's MSN Open House a few months ago I got even more excited! It looks like such an awesome program with a very supportive group of staff. I believe the FNP works similar to the ACNP - rolling admissions every semester? It is my assumption that they have plenty enough space to educate almost everyone who qualifies and makes the commitment to pay for their school. It is gonna be pricey though...not excited about student loans in my future But worth every penny I'm sure in the end!

Congrats on approaching the finish line! I'm curious which ACNP program you attended? Did you like it overall, or not? Very very busy and time consuming? Have you started looking into jobs after graduation? I am hoping to start U Penn's ACNP program this summer...would love to hear back from you! Take care!

So it's been awhile since I last commented on this thread, but I am still curious on a few things. I recently submitted my application to U Penn's ACNP program and am super excited, hopefully I'll hear for an interview soon! It's really and truly an ideal job description for me, but when I think about getting a job after graduation though, I continue to be a little nervous....Is it true that they are starting to tighten the laws and scope of practice for ACNPs and regular Adult/Family NPs? So that if you have an Acute Care degree, you can only work within ICUs or ERs and if you have the Adult/Family you can not? I'm just worried that if I can not find a job in an ICU and would like to branch out and work with a Cardiology team perhaps, that I would not be allowed because I would not be using all of my Acute Care skills and thus would not be fulfilling the requirements to maintain the license? Does this make any sense? The idea of investing so much time and money in an education and degree that will not produce a job afterwards is simply terrifying! As I've mentioned before, I would like to stay working in the VA system but would be willing to leave temporarily to gain some experience as an NP if that's what is offered... Just curious on this! Any and all ACNP's please comment and let me know the latest that you've heard regarding this situation... Thank you!

Hi Vikichck and AZRN - so I realize that this conversation and these posts are about a year old, but I'm wondering if you did acutally end up transferring to Philadelphia? I'm also a VA RN in Florida right now and considering making a move to the Philly area in a few months (with the weather right now, I'm freaking out a bit but it will be fun I'm sure)!! I'm very curious if you are working in the VA now, which department, and how you are liking the area....and much more if you are actually there! Look forward to hearing, thanks!

I am very interested in UPenn's ACNP grad program, already been working in an MICU for 2 years - does anyone have an idea of the number of applications received and how many are accepted? Thanks!

aura of laura - where are you getting your opinion os philadelphia sucking as a city? Have you lived there? I was thinking of transferring up there and possibly getting in to UPENN's ACNP program....I'd love to hear more of your thoughts about the area. Thanks.

U Pitt sounds good too, I visited Pittsburgh a few years ago and had an awesome time there! ghillbert - did you get an ACNP degree from there or how is your opinion of the program based? Lately, I have been really leaning towards UPENN's program and I'm wondering if there is anyone out there that can comment on it? The good/bad/ugly/anything! Also, how much $ am I looking at for the ACNP program? THANKS!

Interesting...where do you work at? To apply for NNEI, is it 1 or 2 years (after boarding date) that you have to have been an employee with the VA? Are you required to work at least part time while in school? And is the VA that's funding you where you'll be expected to work afterward? Do they have many open NP positions in your area, or do they just create one for you after you graduate and are licensed? Any of this info would be greatly appreciated, thanks so much!

Sandnnw - I would LOVE to talk to you! I've been an RN in the MICU in Gainesville, FL for almost 2 years and am very interesting in pursuing an ACNP degree. Just started exploring NNEI and other funding options through the VA and I'm already becoming somewhat disgruntled. Our NNEI coordinator said they are no longer funding for this track in our area, mainly only interested in CNL - but I thought this was a national scholarship program, not facility based!?! Regardless, I've started reaching out to other VA's near ACNP programs to see what options they offer. Where are you from again and which VA supported you? Were you required to work the 3 years afterwards at that specific VA? I'm hearing conflicting stories about this whole thing and speaking to someone who has successfully gone through the process would be incredible! Was it ever such a pain that you wished you had just paid for it yourself? Hope to hear back from you, thanks!

Yes I am still here in Gainesville and I'm wondering if we know the same people. I have been put in contact with a few ACNP's at Shands and I've already began communicating with them, hoping to set up a time to shadow them and see what the real day to day activities can include. I know UF offers the program and I do plan to apply, I just kind of wanted to branch out and see what other opportunites were available in this big country of ours. And I heard a lot of UF's program is online, which I don't love the sound of. BUT I do hear you about the cost, so maybe I should just suck it up, get the degree, and then explore for jobs in a few years....thanks again!

All very good points, thank you! Just from looking online, my top three programs so far are: University of California at San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Virginia. I work at a VA hospital right now in the MICU for the past 2 years, and I would really like to continue a career with them so my search has been somewhat limited to programs near VA's. Like other posts I've read on this topic, I too was interested in becoming a CRNA for the longest time but after starting to devlope as a nurse, now I'm leaning more towards ACNP. I've read a lot of your posts, so I know your description of the job and it sounds really awesome and very much up my alley! I love the ICU, the procedures, the drugs, the codes, the patients, the families and can't even remember why I was so drawn to the OR and CRNA... I have heard horror stories though of nurses getting this degree and then not being able to find a job utilizing it, man that would suck! I would really love to go to an awesome program and know a job was waiting for me in the same area (moving is a pain) when I graduated. Is that just asking for too much? Comments/advice? Thanks again!

Anyone have recommendations for the top 5 or 10 Acute Care NP programs??

Well I never received the package from UPS (must have got lost) but did just get a phone call and was informed I have been chosen as the 2nd alternate for the VA selection...kinda bitter sweet feelings I guess. Glad I'm still sort of in the running, but now I wonder how long it will be until I know for sure if the candidates already chosen will fully commit or not? Hmmm....I guess I'm still waiting....

Also still waiting to hear - I thought for sure we would have heard something by now because I was also told mid-september. And now we are almost in to October! Hopefully any day now...!

Good luck to you with the second board selection! I received the acceptance email from NEU which I guess is half the battle, but still waiting to hear from the VA panel which I'm hoping will be in the next few weeks! I feel like I applied a lifetime ago! Crossing my fingers for a little while longer....!

Oh yes, I've heard extra copies of everything are key for success with the VA and NEU! I'm at the NF/SG VA in Gainesville, FL. Where are you? I know of one other RN applying from this hospital, what about yours? I think it's getting more and more competitive each year - the secret is out! What have you heard about USAGPAN transitioning to the Doctorate program? I heard from some people that it would be happening in 2011 and then also heard not until 2012.....