Online RN-to-MSN ACNP programs offer an alternative to traditional classroom learning. Students can log in and out of virtual class sessions at times that fit into their schedules, whether during nursing shifts or when taking care of the kids.
Prospective nurses should consider their long-term career goals when deciding on the right pathway to an acute care nurse practitioner degree. The best choice may depend on what kind of patients they want to work with.
How Online Programs Make It Possible
Online programs allow registered nurses interested in becoming acute care nurse practitioners to advance their careers without leaving the workplace or relocating. The programs offer flexible schedules for students who must complete coursework around their nursing shifts and other responsibilities.
These RN to acute care nurse practitioner programs online prepare registered nurses (RNs) to manage the care of adults and elderly patients with acute and complex chronic health conditions, often in collaboration with physicians. They provide a strong background in nursing research and advanced practice and the ability to develop and implement solutions for patient and population needs as educators, consultants, advocates, leaders, and agents of change.
The programs typically combine asynchronous didactic content, synchronous class sessions, and in-person Objective Clinical Intensives. In addition to the convenience of an online program, students save money on tuition, other program-related fees, and living expenses. This may make online nurse practitioner programs a more affordable educational option for many prospective students than their traditional in-person counterparts.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
Nurses who thrive in fast-paced healthcare environments and are passionate about treating the most critically ill may be well-suited for an acute care nursing role. These nurses often work in hospital settings and focus on diagnosing, managing, and treating patients with serious cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, women’s health, or psychiatric conditions.
Acute care NPs must be able to assess patients and create plans of care based on their specific needs. This includes creating and implementing a plan of care that promotes, protects, and restores the patient’s health.
Online RN to ACNP programs at Arkansas State University typically use a learning management system to facilitate online class discussions, interactions, and prerecorded lectures that students can watch at their convenience. Many of these programs also schedule on-campus intensives for hands-on training in health assessment and clinical techniques like central line insertion. The key to determining which program is best for you is finding an accredited institution that offers the coursework that best fits your career goals.
ACNP Specializations
If you’re a Registered Nurse, there are many pathways to becoming an ACNP. First, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) through an RN-BSN bridge or a traditional on-campus BSN program. Once you have your RN license, you can choose from online NP programs offering specialty areas in acute care nursing.
Graduate programs often combine classroom instruction and simulation with extensive clinical rotations. These hands-on experiences provide a foundation for learning to assess and treat patients in emergency departments or other fast-paced healthcare settings.
In addition, AGACNP students gain experience with diagnosing and treating adult and geriatric patients who suffer from acute illnesses or injuries and who have exacerbated chronic conditions. This allows nurses to become leaders in the acute care setting and empowers them to mitigate urgent medical concerns while developing policies that help prevent moderate concerns from escalating into emergencies. Moreover, the national AANP community supports students in all stages of their careers.
ACNP Certification
If you’re thinking about becoming an ACNP, it’s important to consider the educational requirements. An advanced nursing degree and plenty of clinical experience are needed to prepare for this specialized profession.
While the exact curriculum varies from program to program, core courses include physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, and epidemiology. Many AG-ACNP programs also offer simulation courses to help students develop the hands-on skills to evaluate and treat acute care patients.
A typical AG-ACNP patient population includes adolescent and adult patients facing severe, short-term health issues that require fast-paced critical thinking skills. They’re often treated in hospital inpatient units like intensive care, emergency and trauma departments, surgical suites, and medical-surgical or specialty hospitals.