| Curriculum |
What does an ACNP do?
For a description of the role of an ACNP, visit the American Association of Critical Care Nurses website at http://www.aacn.org/ or contact the American Association of Critical Care Nurses for a set of standards of practice for ACNPs. Their primary function is patient care management in the acute, critical, or chronic illness states.
Are there jobs for ACNPs in NM?
Yes. This is a role new to New Mexico, and some areas and care systems need to be oriented to their usefulness. Graduates, through their student experiences, are identifying opportunities for inpatient care management.
Can I do the program part-time?
Some students take the core and clinical core courses part time. Once you start with the ACNP courses, arranged clinical experiences are time-intensive and geared to the needs of the clinical agencies, and there is little flexibility. Application of knowledge in clinical settings requires coordination between classroom learning and clinical time. You have 7 calendar years from your first course to complete the degree.
If I am an FNP or a CNS, how can I become an ACNP?
On review of your transcripts from your master’s program, it will be determined if any graduate core courses need to be completed. To be eligible for the national certification examination, you must complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the acute care setting.
What does malpractice insurance for ACNPs cost?
Malpractice rates vary with the issuing companies. On graduation, ACNPs typically pay approximately $1200 per year.
Do ACNPs function independently?
The scope of practice in New Mexico is very supportive for nurse practitioners and allows them to function independently. This is not true in all states. If you are planning to practice in a state other than New Mexico, you must become familiar with that particular state’s scope of practice, which can be obtained from the state Board of Nursing.
Is this concentration offered online?
The courses are Web-based or Web-enhanced. The ACNP clinical courses are taught in block format. Students are in class for a total of six weeks over 15 months for the ACNP concentration courses.
Can I do my clinical experiences in my home town?
If appropriate, and with adequate preparation, clinical experiences can be arranged at various sites around the state.
If I have a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, how can I become an ACNP?
Students with an MSN will have already completed the core courses. They will be responsible for taking the remaining ACNP courses and completing the clinical requirements. They must have taken advanced pathophysiology and graduate pharmacology within the past 5 years. Faculty will review any advanced health assessment courses on a case-by-base basis.
