title: Educational options for acute care nurse practitioner practice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rush University, College of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois, USA. ruth_m_kleinpell@rush.edu
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kleinpell
authors.forename: Diego F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: 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