Acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP) are integral to the American healthcare landscape. An ACNP must obtain a graduate education in nursing, generally a master’s degree at minimum. The time it takes to become an acute care nurse practitioner can vary based on several factors. If you attended an Acute Care NP Program, for example, you are qualified to work in the ICU, CCU, and a wealth of other specialty clinics and hospital settings.Or, perhaps as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner you are prepared to diagnose and treat kids. NursePractitionerSchools.com is an advertising-supported site. Candidates must have pursued a concentration in pediatric acute care or a primary care track. Nursing schools usually offer this degree as a two-year program with about 40 credit hours of coursework, plus hundreds of clinical study hours. For example, if you become a nurse practitioner, you will be able to prescribe medications, whereas registered nurses cannot. Advanced practice nurses, including acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs), often earn generous salaries and can pursue a prosperous job market. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Adult-Gerontology: Candidates for ACNPC-AG certification must complete an advanced practice, graduate-level program intended to prepare them to work with adult and gerontological patients. nutrition services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing staff, etc. They work primarily in hospitals and urgent care centers. These registered nurses (RNs) with graduate training in advanced practice nursing provide many of the same... Find the right program for you and advance your education with an online degree. Explore the career requirements for acute care nurse practitioners. Some states may require more clinical practice than others. The two-year path includes 1,750 hours of nursing practice with critically and acutely ill pediatric patients, while the five-year path entails 2,000 hours. Requirements for this license vary by state. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying states for nurse practitioners, in general, are: The career outlook for acute care nurse practitioners is promising. A BSN is the minimum requirement for entry into a graduate program. Prospective ACNPs should research the requirements for NPs in their state, along with the requirements for any other optional certificates they may want to pursue. A Day in the Life of an Acute Care NP – Interviews with Two Experts, A Day in the Life of a Flight Nurse Practitioner, Heroism in Nursing Practice: Spotlight on Adult-Gerontology and Acute Care NPs, Alphabet Soup: LPN, RN, APRN, NP – Making Sense of Nursing Roles & Scope of Practice, How to Write the Perfect Nurse Practitioner School Personal Statement. Despite the abundant evidence that NPs provide safe, high-quality, and cost-effective healthcare, they’re still unable to practice to the full extent of their graduate education and clinical training in many states. Acute care nurse practitioners are required to complete an advanced-practice program to earn either a master's degree (MSN) or a doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). Nights, weekends, and holidays may be required, as is having to be on-call. The website offers a program search tool, an online learning center for continuing education, and information on policy. To become an acute care nurse practitioner, you will also need to meet these requirements: You will need to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree that includes specialized ACNP coursework. Acute care nurse practitioner duties may vary depending on the particular areas of work. State nursing boards generally require a graduate nursing degree from an accredited school to obtain an advanced practice nursing license. Although earning a DNP is preferred and often leads to higher salaries and more advanced job roles, nurses can become ACNPs with a master’s degree.Students should consider MSN or DNP programs with available specializations in acute care, including pediatric acute care or adult-gerontology acute care (AG-ACNP). The demand for nurse practitioners is all-encompassing, but is especially high in medically underserved and rural areas. For example, while a master’s serves as a general minimum education requirement, some nurses may choose to pursue a DNP, which takes additional years of study. Having a healthy outlet for emotionally trying cases is necessary for ACNPs. This valuable trait leads to higher patient satisfaction and improved patient care outcomes. NPs may practice independently if they maintain a joint protocol with a licensed physician. Certification is by exam and can take up to three and a half hours. As more patients utilize health care services, the number of physicians available to address their needs is not sufficient. Depending on their work environment, ACNPs may serve in different roles. Critical Care Registered Nurse Pediatric: The CCRN-pediatric certification offers a two- or five-year option. American Association of Colleges of NursingAACN provides the programmatic accreditation required by many state nursing boards for licensure. An acute care nurse practitioner is responsible for interpreting diagnostic patient tests, ordering necessary tests, managing care for critical patients, prescribing medications, and educating patients and family members about acute illnesses. Eligibility requirements include: Nurse practitioners must complete an online or paper application, after which they will receive information on testing. Pass the required exam in your specialty area. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners, Clinical reasoning (studying abnormal/normal test results to formulate diagnoses), Advanced health assessment specific to acute care, Pathophysiology in the acute care setting, Completion of an accredited, graduate level advanced-practice education program that includes supervised clinical and didactic coursework in adult-gerontology, Critical Care Knowledge Professional -Adult (CCRN-K), Critical Care Knowledge Professional-Pediatric (CCRN-K), Critical Care Knowledge Professional-Neonatal (CCRN-K), Telemetry-ICU Critical Care Nursing- Adult, Progressive Care Knowledge Professional (PCCN-K), CNS Wellness through Acute Care-Adult Gerontology (ACCNS-AG), CNS Wellness through Acute Care-Pediatric (ACCNS-P), CNS Wellness through Acute Care-Neonatal (ACCNS-N), Teaching, general, trauma and community hospitals, Evaluating patients who present with acute illness or injury, Ordering and interpreting diagnostic procedures/labs/imaging tests, Stabilizing patients in critical care areas, Placement of peripheral or central intravenous lines, Monitoring hospitalized patients and tracking progress, Setting patient goals to lead patients towards discharge, Providing patient and family-centered education, Collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure all facets of patient care is addressed (i.e. RegisteredNursing.org does not guarantee the accuracy or results of any of this information. The program must hold accreditation from an approved agency, and each student must complete at least 500 faculty-supervised practice hours. NPs can open their own private practices in certain states. Most programs build clinical experience into their curriculum. RELATED: The States with the Largest Nursing Shortages. Take and pass the required nursing exam(s). Working in acute care is also rewarding. In short, ACNPs save lives, and there is no higher reward than that. ACNPs hold more advanced credentials than RNs, who may possess only an associate degree and complete a nursing preparation program before licensure. PLEASE NOTE: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. Additionally, many advanced-practice programs require experience working as an acute care RN prior to admission. The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board offers the certified pediatric nurse practitioner-acute care (CPNP-AC) credential, and the American Nursing Credentialing Center provides the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner certification (AGACNP-BC). Many states require ACNPs to pass the highest credentialing exam in their specific field, as offered by an approved credentialing agency. Nurses also may choose to earn BSNs to increase their salary potential and take on more advanced job roles.While earning BSNs, students should take courses and participate in clinical experience that directly prepares them for graduate study in acute care nursing. HOW DO I BECOME A PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER? It also helps to reduce health care costs, as nurse practitioners provide comprehensive care at the first point of service. American Association of Critical Care NursesAs the world’s largest organization for specialty nursing, this association provides professional support for practicing critical and acute care nurses. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Nurse practitioners offer valuable services and primary care options for patients, and the BLS projects the field to grow by 26% from 2018-2028. Nursing is already a stable, in-demand career. The certification requires an exam. To become an acute care nurse practitioner, you will also need to meet these requirements: You will need to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree that includes specialized ACNP coursework. These highly skilled professionals work in a wide range of settings to provide high quality care to patients as part of robust, specialized healthcare teams. 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