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
- 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:
- 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)
- Pathophysiology (or neurophysiology/biophysiology)
- Pharmacology or psychopharmacology*
- 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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