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Hi! Thank you for your reply… that’s the line of thinking I was going for. I’ve also found a lot of other AGPCNP’s in my area who work in the field, so that helped too. Thank you again!

New AGNP with a question... Can an adult-gero primary care NP work in a plastic surgery office seeing post-op patients? No, there would be no rounding in the hospital. No, there would be no stepping in the OR -- strictly in the clinic seeing post-op patients, and doing injectables (this part I know I can for sure do). I will also be contacting my BON for clarification. Thanks in advance!

New AGNP with a question... Can an adult-gero primary care NP work in a plastic surgery office seeing post-op patients? No, there would be no rounding in the hospital. No, there would be no stepping in the OR -- strictly in the clinic seeing post-op patients, and doing injectables (this part I know I can for sure do). I will also be contacting my BON for clarification. Thanks in advance!

In my opinion, the aesthetics industry has a lot to do with networking, and being persistent. If you are not currently in the field or have a solid amount of experience, I have found that no one will teach you anything for free (unless a practice hires you and trains you for free) or let you shadow -- everyone charges a pretty penny to show you what they do and teach their skill. So I highly recommend that you definitely attend a course and get a certification at least for now -- and start driving out to practices to try and network. I have been trying to get into this field for some time now, and this year I decided a different approach -- so, I got certified in February and I recently started training as an injector -- but I had to network, because submitting applications and asking around to shadow was not getting me anywhere. It is a TOUGH field to get into -- but you CAN do it. Best wishes on your journey!

It's funny you mention travel and aesthetics -- I just saw an assignment posted on Medely for a need for an injector in CA. Might be worth looking into! I myself do per diem travel contracts, and am currently training as an injector -- but it is tough to find a flexible gig where I can have the best of both worlds. I want to still be able to take on travel assignments whenever I want, while still work on the side as injector..

There was no assumption that the RNFA role is an advanced practice role. I know what the credential is and how the role works when an RN is certified to be a first-assist. I just didn't word the original question correctly and I think it confused many and rightly so, so I apologize for that. My question was more in line with the latter part of your response, where you're doing cases in the OR (not only as a first-assist, but also doing cases ALONE without the surgeon in the OR for that procedure) and rounding in the hospital and seeing patients in a clinic. I've talked FNPs who do this in some states since I've posted this question, but I believe my state (Georgia) is requiring an acute care certification as an NP to be able to function in this way. Thank you for your response!

Right.. but here we are specifically referring to FNPs. The ones you are referring to are most likely acute care NP's. But I've also seen FNP's in some states who function this way as well. As others have responded.. looks like it varies from state to state.

Yes, I knew an RN can be a RNFA.. but I have seen PA's and NP's doing procedures alone (kidney stone removal/stent placement, TURP's, etc.), with no surgeon present. I don't think an RN can do something to that capacity, as far as I know. So I'm curious if the FNP would be able to work in this capacity..

Is this possible? An FNP also functioning as a First Assist (ex: in an outpatient surgery center)? Would this not be considered acute care or a role only for an acute care NP? If an FNP can function as a first assist.. in what setting would this be possible? Thanks!

AMEN. That is all.

The moment patients and their families became "clients".. that's where it all went downhill. I love taking care of people, but I don't get paid to be cussed at, spit on, bitten, strangled by my stethoscope, or sexually assaulted by a patient or their family member. I miss being in critical care, but I don't miss the BS of that hospital life.

Yes, thank you!

Yikes.. the last part of your statement. I always wondered how unsafe it felt to go into random people's homes..

I'm also curious to know how paramedics or other EMS personnel feel about this newly implemented position for NP's? Feel free to drop a comment about your thoughts!

Thanks so much for your input! I had a strong feeling they were using FNPs for this, especially considering the fact that they'd have to treat anyone in the population. I just didn't know if this would be an environment that the "consensus model" didn't necessarily agree with, considering it is a more acute care setting.. but I can see how it is now trending towards ENP's, as you said. Seems like a really interesting field and I also hope we have some more input from anyone out here working in this field. Thanks again!

Interesting. What sites do you see these postings on? I'm from Atlanta and all I see is "licensed nurse practitioner" or things like that under the description.. I never see which kind of NP they want. I think the 2015 thing you're referring to might be about the whole statement that the GA Board of Nurse Examiners was trying to put out regarding changes to licensure for FNP's working in acute care.. I think it was retracted..I could be wrong though.. And thank you! I'll keep that in mind :)

Any NP's out there working in fire departments/EMS? What kind of NP are you (FNP, AG-ACNP, etc.)? What do you do? Do you like what you do? Curious about this position!

Ran into this post hoping to find answers, but you have no replies smh. I'm an RN in GA and starting FNP school this November.. Did you end up finding a job? If so, what do you do now?

Agreed, no one really educates you on what will be available to you after you graduate and get certified. I certainly don't think I can do whatever I want as a future FNP. In fact, I chose this track bc I do not plan (nor do I want to) be in an acute or critical care setting. I currently work in the CVICU and I simply don't want to be here or inside of a hospital as an APRN. I was just curious as to what all is out there for an FNP to do, since every state varies. Especially here in GA.. probably one of the more stricter states as far as scope of practice and all that goes. Thanks for your input!

Got it. I'm actually trying to avoid the hospital But I will continue to do my research on the outpatient clinic subject. I'm sure they can't assist in surgery, but I bet there are other things they could do within the arena, as someone has stated before.. anyway, thanks so much!

Well, I'm about to start school and have chosen the FNP track. I'm currently an RN working in the CVICU. From my understanding, the state of Georgia was going to essentially stop FNPs from working in acute care, even if they had already been practicing in that arena (even FNPs who worked for, say, a cardiology group and rounded on patients in the hospital). I later learned they retracted that statement.. but it is still subject to change in the future. I mentioned in the comment above that it is difficult to see where FNPs can work, as I have seen job postings that don't specifically state duties nor state the type of NP they seek.

It's hard to say. I have not run into a job posting that lists specific duties for the NP. Nor does it specifically say what type of NP they are seeking. So it's hard to see where an FNP could be needed or used when no one specifies. I'm from Georgia btw.

Can FNP's work in outpatient surgical centers (ex: plastics, urology, general surgery, etc.)? Many people give me confusing responses. You wouldn't be in a hospital or rounding in one.. and the patients that have surgery in this outpatient setting are relatively "healthy".. Educate me, please lol.

I agree with the people talking about NP's (and PA's) filling a void, especially in the primary care arena. Even in the acute/critical care setting.. I work nights in CVICU and in one of the hospitals where I worked, we had no attending at night. It was just you and your midlevel. And they were great when poop hit the fan and it went down on the unit, especially with multiple patients coding. I recall a night where we had to crack a chest open at the bedside and wait for the MDs to arrive while we held it down. Don't ever underestimate your midlevel!

If you want some REAL shoes for work... try Hoka. Many nurses, including myself, swear by them. Take it from someone with a degenerated lumbar disc and who tried all the basic nursing shoes people get (Dansko, Nursemates, Nike, etc). Hoka sneakers are ridiculously comfortable and light. Best models are Gaviota, Clifton and Bondi. They have a thick sole but IMO, I'll take anything if it's gonna protect me!