Nursing
Certification
Nursing Certification
types: ACNP - ANP - FNP - GNP - PNP - PMHNP
Nurse Practitioner Certifications
Nurse Practitioner candidates must meet all
of the following basic eligibility requirements.
At time of application, the candidate must:
- Hold a currently active,
unrestricted professional license in the United
States or its territories;
- Hold a master's or higher
degree in nursing;
- Have completed formal
training in the same specialty area of practice
in which they are applying for certification
through a master's program or formal post-graduate
master's program in nursing;
- Have graduated from a
program offered by an accredited institution
granting graduate-level academic credit for
all course work that includes both didactic
and clinical components, and a minimum of
500 hours of supervised clinical
practice in the specialty
area and role.
ACNP
The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) is
a registered nurse with a graduate degree in
nursing who is prepared to manage the health
care of acutely ill patients at an advanced
level. ACNPs use a collaborative model in their
practice to provide direct services to acutely
or critically ill adult patients in a variety
of settings. The ACNP's advanced education and
practice skills, along with diagnostic reasoning
and advanced therapeutic interventions experience,
are the key elements to provide quality care
to their patients. The ACNP also uses skills
in consultation, collaboration, and systems
management to provide effective restorative
care. The practice includes independent and
interdependent decision making and the ACNP
is directly accountable for clinical judgments.
ANP
The Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) is a registered
nurse with a graduate degree in nursing who
provides a full range of adult health care services
at an advanced level. This practice includes
independent and interdependent decision making
and the ANP is directly accountable for clinical
judgments. Graduate preparation expands the
ANP's role to include participation in and use
of research, development and implementation
of health policy, leadership, education, case
management, and consultation.
FNP
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is a registered
nurse with a graduate degree in nursing who
provides individuals of all ages and families
a full range of health care services at an advanced
level. This practice includes independent and
interdependent decision making and the FNP is
directly accountable for clinical judgments.
Graduate preparation expands the FNP's role
to include participation in and use of research
development and implementation of health policy,
leadership, education, case management, and
consultation.
GNP
The Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
is an expert in providing health care to older
adults in a variety of settings, practicing
independently and collaboratively with other
health care professionals. In this role, the
GNP works to maximize patients' functional abilities.
Specifically the GNP promotes, maintains, and
restores health, prevents or minimizes disabilities,
and promotes death with dignity. The GNP engages
in advanced practice, case management, education,
consultation, research, administration, and
advocacy for older adults.
PNP
The Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is a
registered nurse (RN) prepared at the graduate
level who provides primary and specialty care
for children from birth through 21 years of
age. The PNP provides direct and indirect health
care for both individual children and groups
of children in the areas of health promotion,
health maintenance, and health restoration.
These services are provided largely within family
and developmental contexts, and are directed
to children who are essentially well or those
who have acute illnesses, chronic diseases,
and disabilities. The PNP's practice builds
on previously acquired nursing knowledge and
includes client advocacy; coordination of care;
and collaboration with health care, school,
and community professionals. The PNP serves
a leadership role, addressing health care trends,
professional issues, role development, and research.
PMHNP
The Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
(PMHNP) is a registered nurse with a graduate
degree in nursing who is prepared to administer
advanced primary mental health care throughout
a patients life, in accordance with ANAs scope
and standards of psychiatric and mental health
nursing. The PMHNPs practice includes independent
and interdependent decision making and is directly
accountable for clinical judgments. The PMHNPs
role includes comprehensive physical assessment,
diagnosis, and medication management, in addition
to psychotherapeutic interventions. Graduate
preparation allows the PMHNP to expand into
the use of research, development and implementation
of health policy, leadership, education, case
management, and consultation in his or her practice.
Specific Eligibility
Requirements
1. Have graduated
from of an accredited masters or post-masters
program prepared to practice as either an
Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner (PMHNP), an Adult Advanced Practice
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse, a Family
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
or a Family Advanced Practice Psychiatric
and Mental Health Nurse, which includes:
a. Advanced health assessment to include both
physical and mental health (pediatric and
adolescent physical and mental health assessment
is required for the PMHNP-Family exam)
b. Pathophysiology (or neurophysiology/biophysiology)
c. Pharmacology or psychopharmacology*
d. Diagnosis and medication management of
psychiatric illness (clinical practicum);
and
Clinical training at the
graduate or post-graduate level in at least
two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.
*Pharmacology preferred; both Pharmacology
and Psychopharmacology are ideal, however
Psychopharmacology alone is acceptable. All
PMHNP candidates are expected to have a broad
understanding of basic pharmacologic principles,
along with a strong background in psychopharmacological
agents. An understanding of the major drug
categories and drugs, the drug's purpose,
its specific actions, and how drugs interact
and affect psychiatric and mental health problems
is required. Please note: prescriptive authority
may require a general pharmacology course
depending on the state in which you are licensed.
ANCC recommends that you contact your appropriate
state board of nursing for more information.
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