by There are numerous clinical areas in which acute care nurses and nurse practitioners can work.
For example, they can work in hospitals and choose further specialization track such as intensive care, surgical department, or emergency room.
Some nurses and NPs may start their career in ambulatory or clinic work setting.
When a nurse wants to change the career track and switch to new challenges in their career, he or she will need to gain acute care experience.
But, what are the opportunities for acute care experience outside the nursing school?
There are some options, but those depend on the department and the title of the nurse and NP.
Some departments have strict requirements related to the positions and hire only nurses with acute care experience.
Additionally, facilities can set a time frame for the appropriate acute care experience.
For example, a facility may state that it will hire the only nurse who has been working in the acute care setting for six months in the last five years.
Luckily, there are some cross-training programs for nurses at some facilities.
Cross-training programs resemble graduation programs, but are shorter.
There is off-site and on-site training, but the training specification depends on the specialty of the department.
For example, nurses enrolled in cross-training to a telemetry floor can be asked to take EKG classes or classes on cardiac rhythms.
For nurse practitioners, a pathway to the acute care experience can be slightly longer, but it depends on their educational background and certifications.
Students are required to have a specialty certification in the majority of states to get a nurse practitioner license,
Nurse Practitioners can obtain certifications in family medicine, women’s health, acute care, etc.
If they want to switch areas, NP practitioners may be asked to complete another NP program.
For example, family-medicine certified nurse practitioners are trained to treat patients of all ages but focused on the preventive approach.
If such a nurse practitioner wants to work in acute care, he or she must obtain certification in acute care NP.
The benefits of choosing the nursing field as a profession are endless career options and different roles.
When a nurse or nurse practitioner feels burnt out, they may seek a career change.
Fortunately, there are great opportunities for changes in the nursing profession, as healthcare workers of all profiles are in demand across the country.
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