Will ENP become a primary certification?

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.

Just wondering - will Emergency Nurse Practitioner ever become a standalone license/certification?  I have an interest in working in an ER and nearly no desire to ever work in a primary care environment.  It would be nice if there was a focused pathway, as I'm sure I'm not the only one in these shoes..

Thoughts?

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Don't see ENP becoming a second license due to the NCSBN Consensus Model for APRN Regulation. There is a certification available now:

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP)

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
On 1/30/2022 at 1:27 PM, NRSKarenRN said:

Don't see ENP becoming a second license due to the NCSBN Consensus Model for APRN Regulation. There is a certifications available now:

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP)

Kind of a bummer that the path to ER (a unique skillset IMHO) is to go through FNP...  Would be nice if you could enter an ENP program from the start (which would also be more than a 1 year fellowship)..

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On 1/31/2022 at 6:45 AM, FiremedicMike said:

Kind of a bummer that the path to ER (a unique skillset IMHO) is to go through FNP...  Would be nice if you could enter an ENP program from the start (which would also be more than a 1 year fellowship)..

CRNA's I think would be the closest fit due to intubation and anesthesia. 

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
On 1/31/2022 at 7:45 AM, FiremedicMike said:

Kind of a bummer that the path to ER (a unique skillset IMHO) is to go through FNP...  Would be nice if you could enter an ENP program from the start (which would also be more than a 1 year fellowship)..

There are ENP programs at certain schools. They're often labeled 'FNP in Emergency Care' program, though sometimes dual FNP/ACNP. Either way you have dedicated ED rotations plus either family med rotations or ACNP rotations if a dual ACNP program. Rutgers has an ENP program.

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Specializes in Emergency Department and Emergency Management.
On 1/31/2022 at 4:45 AM, FiremedicMike said:

Kind of a bummer that the path to ER (a unique skillset IMHO) is to go through FNP...  Would be nice if you could enter an ENP program from the start (which would also be more than a 1 year fellowship)..

There are programs that you can start directly in an ENP program, Vanderbilt and University of South Alabama for example, though all direct entry programs are combined with FNP curriculum. These programs allow you graduate, take the FNP then the ENP, and start right in the ED without having to be employed in primary care. I have the same desire to work in the ED as a NP and just got into a FNP/ENP program. As an Emergency Department RN I have seen that 90% of what the PA/NPs do in the ED is primary care or urgent care clinic work, FNP education fits this role well, where the ENP comes in is that 10%. If you want to go straight to working in an ED you might consider the PA route (I see you have your Paramedic, so it's a natural transition), though based on my conversations with our PAs you would still need a lot of primary care focused education to work in an ED. 

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
10 hours ago, ParaBandAider said:

There are programs that you can start directly in an ENP program, Vanderbilt and University of South Alabama for example, though all direct entry programs are combined with FNP curriculum. These programs allow you graduate, take the FNP then the ENP, and start right in the ED without having to be employed in primary care. I have the same desire to work in the ED as a NP and just got into a FNP/ENP program. As an Emergency Department RN I have seen that 90% of what the PA/NPs do in the ED is primary care or urgent care clinic work, FNP education fits this role well, where the ENP comes in is that 10%. If you want to go straight to working in an ED you might consider the PA route (I see you have your Paramedic, so it's a natural transition), though based on my conversations with our PAs you would still need a lot of primary care focused education to work in an ED. 

I definitely appreciate the input!  Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near Alabama or Vandy, and our first grandchild is on the way so not interested in moving there for a few years.

As for PA, it’s the pre-reqs that kill my desire to do PA.  These days, they’re essentially the same pre-reqs that are required for medical school, and it just seems to me that if I was going all that way, I’d just apply to medical school.. 

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Specializes in Emergency Department and Emergency Management.
1 hour ago, FiremedicMike said:

I definitely appreciate the input!  Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near Alabama or Vandy, and our first grandchild is on the way so not interested in moving there for a few years.

Oh, they are both offered in remote/hybrid classroom! Only have to be on campus a few times a year.

Hope that helps!

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Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
4 hours ago, ParaBandAider said:

Oh, they are both offered in remote/hybrid classroom! Only have to be on campus a few times a year.

Hope that helps!

That really does and gives me a direction, looks like I can actually start the program with just my ADN also, so that's double cool!

Do you know if there are mandatory primary care clinical rotations or can you do all of your clinical in the ED?
 

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Specializes in Emergency Department and Emergency Management.
1 hour ago, FiremedicMike said:

Do you know if there are mandatory primary care clinical rotations or can you do all of your clinical in the ED?

 

I believe there are primary care rotations as well as women's health, L&D, and others in addition to the ED clinical time. I have not started my program, but a coworker of mine is in a FNP/ENP program doing primary care clinical at a walk in/urgent care that provides primary care appointments. He is 100% an ED nurse and never thought he would enjoy the primary care aspect, but is finding it very valuable and interesting.

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Specializes in Emergency medicine.

As an FNP working in the ED (studying for ENP right now), I wouldn’t entirely discount the experience that primary care provides. After all, many acute issues are exacerbations of chronic issues, and you’ll find one does a whole lot more chronic care management than expected. Many times a shift I get to practice my “how ARE you taking your blood pressure at home?” and “are you REALLY REALLY taking those meds as prescribed?” interviewing and education skills. And peds! You’ll definitely need to know pediatric primary care… because they’re almost all primary care cases (in my experience, sick kids are blessedly few and far between). 
 

Wishing you the best in your journey!

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