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Is It Time To Upgrade My Credentials?
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W I T H
C O L L r A O U r S
Is It Time To Upgrade My Credentials? I am a clinical nurse specialist with a master's d e p e in m'ticul care nurses in pm'natal obstztks. Available mles for advanced pr& rn care are expanding to include perinatal clinical nurse specialists, perinatal nurse practitiomm, and others. Would you explain the differett advanced practice roles and the educational background required for each? Kristen D. Priddy, RNC, CNS Forth Worth, TX There is some overlap among 'the roles of the perinatal clini'cal nurse specialist, perinatal nurse practitioner, and nurses prepared in critical care obstetrics, which means there is not one clear answer to your question. Perinatal clinical nurse specialist programs traditionally prepare nurses to function in five areas: patient management, research, consultation, administration, and education. Perinatal clinical nurse specialists generally function in hospitals or in educational outreach programs. They are typically involved in staff education, and sometimes oversee maternal and neonatal units. Although perinatal nurse practitioners also are involved in education, consultation, research, and administration, their main focus is in caring for high-risk pregnant women and women in the immediate postpartal period. Perinatal nurse practitioners need to be prepared to assess neonatal well-being, especially in home settings. But there is less contact with newborns for perinatal nurse practitioners. Perinatal nurse practitioners may function in hospitals but they are just as likely to care for women in clinics or in home care. The titles "perinatal nurse practitioner'' or "perinatal clinical nurse specialist" differ in both educational training and role responsibilities. Susan Gennaro, DSN, FAAN, is director of the Perinatal Graduate Programs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA.
February 7997
Your degree isn't obsolete, but you may want to broaden your role. In many states, nurse practitioners have prescriptive privileges and can be reimbursed for patient care, something that is not as universally true for clinical nurse specialists. If you want to have a role that depends on your being able to receive reimbursement or prescribe drugs, you may want to think about obtaining further education. Because the health care arena is changing rapidly, regulations pertaining to reimbursement, prescriptive privileges, and so forth, may limit your ability to work in a particular role. For example, although state requirements differ, in every state you do need to graduate from a
program that prepares nurse practitioners specifically as nurse practitioners. State regulations for perinatal clinical nurse specialists are not as codified and so more variations in educational preparation may exist but a master's degree is a usual requirement. Directors of perinatal nurse practitioner programs have worked together as an industry to develop core competencies for all perinatal
In every state, you do need to graduate from a program that prepares nurse practitioners specifically as nurse practitioneii. nurse practitioner programs. Although regional needs influence some programs to teach specific skills, such as first assisting on obstetric surgery, that skill is not a universal requirement. Your best bet might be to seek out nurses in your geographic area who are functioning in the kind of role you would enjoy, and then inquire about the specific educational and experience requirements needed for that particular role. Good luck as you explore how you can use your abilities to provide the best possible care to perinatal patients.
+
For additional reading on advanced practice roles, check out:
b Perinatal nurse practitioners and health care reform. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 1995,597-601.
b High risk OB nursing. The Journal of ferinataland Neonatal Nursing, 1995,22-31.
b The perinatal nurse practitioner: An innovative model of advanced practice. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 1995,602-606.
Also, plan to attend 'Becoming an Advanced Nurse: Options and Opportunities," a panel discussion scheduled for June 16th at the AWHONN 1997 Capitol Opportunities Convention in Washington, DC.
Lifelines
53
W I T H
C O L L r A O U r S
Is It Time To Upgrade My Credentials? I am a clinical nurse specialist with a master's d e p e in m'ticul care nurses in pm'natal obstztks. Available mles for advanced pr& rn care are expanding to include perinatal clinical nurse specialists, perinatal nurse practitiomm, and others. Would you explain the differett advanced practice roles and the educational background required for each? Kristen D. Priddy, RNC, CNS Forth Worth, TX There is some overlap among 'the roles of the perinatal clini'cal nurse specialist, perinatal nurse practitioner, and nurses prepared in critical care obstetrics, which means there is not one clear answer to your question. Perinatal clinical nurse specialist programs traditionally prepare nurses to function in five areas: patient management, research, consultation, administration, and education. Perinatal clinical nurse specialists generally function in hospitals or in educational outreach programs. They are typically involved in staff education, and sometimes oversee maternal and neonatal units. Although perinatal nurse practitioners also are involved in education, consultation, research, and administration, their main focus is in caring for high-risk pregnant women and women in the immediate postpartal period. Perinatal nurse practitioners need to be prepared to assess neonatal well-being, especially in home settings. But there is less contact with newborns for perinatal nurse practitioners. Perinatal nurse practitioners may function in hospitals but they are just as likely to care for women in clinics or in home care. The titles "perinatal nurse practitioner'' or "perinatal clinical nurse specialist" differ in both educational training and role responsibilities. Susan Gennaro, DSN, FAAN, is director of the Perinatal Graduate Programs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA.
February 7997
Your degree isn't obsolete, but you may want to broaden your role. In many states, nurse practitioners have prescriptive privileges and can be reimbursed for patient care, something that is not as universally true for clinical nurse specialists. If you want to have a role that depends on your being able to receive reimbursement or prescribe drugs, you may want to think about obtaining further education. Because the health care arena is changing rapidly, regulations pertaining to reimbursement, prescriptive privileges, and so forth, may limit your ability to work in a particular role. For example, although state requirements differ, in every state you do need to graduate from a
program that prepares nurse practitioners specifically as nurse practitioners. State regulations for perinatal clinical nurse specialists are not as codified and so more variations in educational preparation may exist but a master's degree is a usual requirement. Directors of perinatal nurse practitioner programs have worked together as an industry to develop core competencies for all perinatal
In every state, you do need to graduate from a program that prepares nurse practitioners specifically as nurse practitioneii. nurse practitioner programs. Although regional needs influence some programs to teach specific skills, such as first assisting on obstetric surgery, that skill is not a universal requirement. Your best bet might be to seek out nurses in your geographic area who are functioning in the kind of role you would enjoy, and then inquire about the specific educational and experience requirements needed for that particular role. Good luck as you explore how you can use your abilities to provide the best possible care to perinatal patients.
+
For additional reading on advanced practice roles, check out:
b Perinatal nurse practitioners and health care reform. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 1995,597-601.
b High risk OB nursing. The Journal of ferinataland Neonatal Nursing, 1995,22-31.
b The perinatal nurse practitioner: An innovative model of advanced practice. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 1995,602-606.
Also, plan to attend 'Becoming an Advanced Nurse: Options and Opportunities," a panel discussion scheduled for June 16th at the AWHONN 1997 Capitol Opportunities Convention in Washington, DC.
Lifelines
53