Trauma NP Education

[Bteti20]

Hi,

I wanted to ask everyone what education they had for an NP that works in the ER. Also, I see there are many Adult Gerontology ACNP programs, but with that degree, what is the age limit you can treat if you are working in an ICU? Thank you for the help!

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I see there are many Adult Gerontology ACNP programs, but with that degree, what is the age limit you can treat if you are working in an ICU? Thank you for the help!

The Consensus Model states that AGACNP programs should prepare NP's to provide care from young adults to older adults. The actual age was not defined in the document. In Medicine, "young adult" could mean college age but some clump young adults with adolescents. ANCC's AGACNP certification exam's content outline includes questions on adolescent care.

In actual practice, I've never seen a combined Peds/Adult ICU (not saying they don't exist especially with Burn Units) so I've not had issues with the age limitation in AGACNP as a Critical Care provider. Physicians who trained as Intensivists train in separate tracks for adults and peds, hence, the separation between Peds and Adult ICU's.

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

For ER, you can be board certified through AANC or AAENP as a Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Both have different requirements. Must be a FNP for the AAENP.

West Virginia university has a good program. EMCP or Emergency Medicine Certificate Program. It's for physicians, NPs and PAs. Must have a Masters already.

[Bteti20]

So to be a NP in an ER/ED setting, you have to have an FNP degree. From the descriptions of some of the FNP programs, it doesn't seem like they prepare you for an emergency/trauma setting. Nomadcrna, you are saying that you get the emergency medicine cert when you are a FNP and that is what prepares/teaches you about your role in the ER?

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

I said nothing of the sort. I simply said that both the ANCC and AAENP have different requirements.

Both require a certain number of hours in the ER. 2000 if I remember correctly. You can also complete an emergency medicine program and they list approved ones.

The AAENP only allows FNP to sit for the certification exam. Their position and I agree with it, is that only the FNP can see all ages and types of patients. Many rural ERs have solo NPs as the provider. They have to be able to see anything and not be limited to just adults etc.

Sadly, most FNP programs do not prepare you at all for the ER. In fact many NP programs don't prepare you well enough for the clinic either. There are some NP programs that combine the ACNP with FNP and call it a ENP.

So basically you have two pathways. A traditional educational pathway or a OJT pathway.

[Bteti20]

AH! Got ya! Thanks for the info!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Some programs offer dual FNP/ACNP as well. Check out University of South Alabama's program. You do need to have at least 1 year of ICU or ER experience before starting the dual certification program.