Educational options for acute care nurse practitioner practice.
OBJECTIVE
During the Acute Care Interest Group Forum held on June 18, 2005, at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner's Conference, it was identified that information on educational options for acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) practice was needed, particularly for NPs who may have had other educational preparation but who were now working in acute care practice settings. As a result, a workgroup was formed to compile information on educational options for ACNP practice, including post-master's programs.


METHODS
Web site descriptions of ACNP programs (n= 70) and, as needed, phone calls to ACNP programs to obtain information on program offerings including post-master's and distance-learning options.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational options for ACNP practice include master's and post-master's programs, along with national certification. A growing number of educational programs offer post-master's options as well as distance-learning formats for coursework.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs interested in obtaining ACNP education, including those with other NP specialty education who are now working in acute care settings, have a number of choices for pursuing ACNP practice. NPs working in acute care need to ensure that their educational preparation meets the requirements set forth by the scope of standards for ACNP practice and national requirements and state regulations.
Kleinpell
Ruth M
RM
Rush University, College of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois, USA. ruth_m_kleinpell@rush.edu
Perez
Diego F
DF
McLaughlin
Richard
R
D003657:Decision Making; D004181:Directories as Topic; D020375:Education, Distance; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D014481:United States