NP's in the ER???

[Hopegirl]

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I am currently researching the NP career path, and it seems to me that there are very few NP's that work in the hospital setting, except for Kaiser. Are there actually any NP's in the ER? ICU? SICU? Where are they most commonly found? Doctor's offices?

TIA!
-HG 🙂

 

[hakksar]

I am not sure of any an absolute answer but all of the NP's that I know work in primary care specialties (mostly Pediatrics and Family Practice). I am not sure about ER or ICU etc. There are quite a few PA's I know in the ER and my fiance (an ICU RN) works with a few PA's in the ICU. My fiance sees nurse anesthetists regularly in the ICU though (usually checking on surgical patients).

 

[JDOC]

NPs do practice in the ED. I have been an NP for over 3 yrs. I specialized in family practice but mainly worked ED in Florida, OK, and NC. There is an emergency nurse practitoner program at UTHSC in Houston.

 

[Hopegirl]

NPs do practice in the ED. I have been an NP for over 3 yrs. I specialized in family practice but mainly worked ED in Florida, OK, and NC. There is an emergency nurse practitoner program at UTHSC in Houston.

Great! What did/do you do in the ED that sets you apart from a RN?

Thanks!
-HG

 

[osorry1]

Most NPs that work in the ER are FNPs or Acute Care NPs and deal with most non-emergency ER visits- suturing, infections (FUOs), castings, etc. and are involved in most everything else that comes through. Some do more of an urgent care setting practice but that depends on the ER. Most NPs see, assess, examine, order and interpret labs, diagnose, prescribe and discharge the patient with some/minimal physician collaboration. Major differences from the RN role.

 

[JDOC]

osorry1 has it right. As an NP in the ED I have taken care of all types of patients. Anything from ant bites, lacerations, MI's, Abdominal Pains, Migrains, Lung Cancer, Fractures, Pneumonia, MVC, etc. I do the inital H&P, order and interpret labs and other diagnostic tests, and then decide what is best for the patient(either admit or dishcarge). Then write the prescriptions for whatever medicines are needed. I would collaborate with the physician on duty if there was anything I wasn't sure about.

 

[Hopegirl]

osorry1 has it right. As an NP in the ED I have taken care of all types of patients. Anything from ant bites, lacerations, MI's, Abdominal Pains, Migrains, Lung Cancer, Fractures, Pneumonia, MVC, etc. I do the inital H&P, order and interpret labs and other diagnostic tests, and then decide what is best for the patient(either admit or dishcarge). Then write the prescriptions for whatever medicines are needed. I would collaborate with the physician on duty if there was anything I wasn't sure about.

That is so great to hear! May I ask what state you live in?

-HG

 

[JDOC]

I live in NC but work in SC. I have also worked in Oklahoma and Florida.

 

[nathansackett@e]

ucsf has an acute care NP program that you may want to consider. I have worked with various NP's who work in the 'fast-track' or green zone in the ED. they do everything...pretty cool job, if you ask me!

 

[aggiecrew]

do NPs and RNs HAVE to have some kind of specialized training to work in the E.R. or can they just get jobs there fresh after graduating from their programs?

thanks

 

[CapeJaz]

Emory also has an ER NP program

 

[Budder]

I worked in an ER where they had an NP there. The ER was a level IV trauma center, so it's smaller and sees less acute patients. She was very smart and very good with the patients.