Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Career Guide| NurseJournal (2024)

FAQs

How many questions is the acute care NP exam? ›

The exam allows 3.5 hours to answer 175 questions (150 scored plus 25 pretest questions that are not scored). For exam prep resources, scroll down to view Study Aids. If you do not pass a certification exam, learn about retesting..

AG-ACNPs and PACNPs are more versatile than FNPs because their education qualifies them to work in primary care as well as in acute care. Acute care protocols and procedures, however, are not part of the family nurse practitioner educational curriculum.

Can ACNPs intubate? Yes. ACNPs perform a variety of life-sustaining medical procedures. Whereas certain states regulate if RNs can intubate patients, ACNPs who have been trained can intubate patients to save their life.

What happens if I fail the exam? ANCC: If you fail the ANCC FNP exam you will have the ability to retake the test after 60 days of the last testing date; however, you cannot take the exam more than three times in any 12 month period.

To pass the ANCC examination, an examinee must achieve a scale score of 350 or higher. Prior to conversion of an examinee's score to this scale, the examinee's raw score on the examination is determined, which is simply the number of test items that the examinee answered correctly (e.g., 105 out of 150).

Pediatric primary care is among the highest-paid NP specialties. You can expect an average annual salary of $113,387, which translates to $54.51 per hour.

FPA sees NPs as fully independent practitioners under their own umbrella--they're not doctors, so they don't follow doctor's rules for oversight, but they can practice independently.

Are acute care nurse practitioners in demand? ›

Salary and Career Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there continues to be a demand for nurse practitioners in all specialized positions. The BLS projects the employment of NPs, which includes ACNPs and FNPs, to grow 26 percent by 2028.

Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants perform chest tube insertions as well as trauma surgeons do.

You can prepare to make the transition from FNP to acute care NP by enrolling a post master's, or postgraduate, certificate program designed for nurses who have already earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

Skills & Abilities

Acute care nurse practitioners have the expertise to perform advanced nursing care for patients that are critically and acutely ill and possess specialized skills and abilities, including: Performing hands-on procedures such as intubation, chest tube insertion, resuscitation, and lumbar puncture.

The general adult certification exam averaged an 89.2 percent passing rate while NPs taking the adult gerontology primary care exam have just an 81.9 percent success rate on average.

Urgent Care Nurse Practitioners

The NP may treat four or more patients per hour throughout the entire work day. In most urgent care clinics, the expectation is that the nurse practitioner be able to handle a patient volume of about four patients per hour similarly to the primary care setting.

Are Nurse Practitioner Exams Difficult? Yes. Both of the examinations to become a Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) are very challenging.

The AANP is rumored to be the easier of the two exams, specifically for those seeking their FNP certification since it has a 5% higher pass rate than that of the ANCC FNP exam. Using the pass rate as a basis for difficulty then you can reasonably say that the AANP exam is easier than the ANCC.

The ANCC test consists of 150 to 175 multiple-choice questions as well as 25 pilot test questions, which won't count towards the score. Each test question is good for a predetermined number of points. A perfect score would be 500 points. To pass the exam, the students must have a score of at least 350.

What happens if you fail ANCC? ›

Apply to Retest

If you do not pass a certification exam, you may retest after 60 days. Candidates may not test more than 3 times in any 12 months. To retest, candidates must meet eligibility requirements in effect when the retest application is submitted.

The average hourly wage for a Nurse Practitioner is $56.75. The bottom 10% of hourly NP wages is $38.21. The top 10% is $78.54 per hour. The median hourly wage for a Nurse Practitioner is $58.02 per hour.

Which states are best for nurse practitioners? BLS data lists the top-paying states and their annual mean wages as California ($151,830), New Jersey ($137,010), New York ($133,940), Washington ($130,840), and Massachusetts ($129,540).

you're seeking a faster way to advanced practice. If better work-life balance is important to you, a NP has more flexibility and more options for accelerated training than a MD. you want to practice more autonomously.

Many job markets across the U.S. are saturated for nurse practitioners. Many are not. Regardless of the situation in your area, if you're a new grad you may need to be determined and flexible as you look for that coveted first position.

NP starting salaries show increase

The average salary offer for NPs increased 12 percent year-over-year to $140,000 in 2020/2021.

The average program length to become an NP is 15-24 months with 720 clinical hours as a nurse first. Physician's assistant training programs are highly competitive and require undergraduate coursework in science as well as several years of hands-on medical experience with direct patient contact and care.

How hard is it to pass the NP exam? ›

They will take a great deal of analytical thought, clinical judgement, and preparation. In 2021, the AANP exam pass rate for the Family Nurse Practioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP) exams was 84%. Similarly, for the 2021 FNP exam pass rate for ANCC certification was 87%.

Total raw scores are converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800 points using statistical procedures equivalent for all administrations of the examination. A minimum passing scaled score of 500 must be obtained to pass the examination.

The AOCNP test is a computer-delivered exam consisting of 165 multiple-choice questions.

To pass the ANCC examination, an examinee must achieve a scale score of 350 or higher. Prior to conversion of an examinee's score to this scale, the examinee's raw score on the examination is determined, which is simply the number of test items that the examinee answered correctly (e.g., 105 out of 150).

The Difference Between NP and Nursing school

In NP school, you'll deep dive into concepts you've already learned in nursing school and learn how to apply them in real-world situations. It is much more advanced and in-depth. Overall, both are complex and challenging, but in different ways.

To pass the ANCC examination, an examinee must achieve a scale score of 350 or higher. Prior to conversion of an examinee's score to this scale, the examinee's raw score on the examination is determined, which is simply the number of test items that the examinee answered correctly (e.g., 105 out of 150).

The exam cannot be taken more than three times in any 12 month period. AANP: Candidates who do not pass the certification exam may apply to retake the test.

The ANCC test consists of 150 to 175 multiple-choice questions as well as 25 pilot test questions, which won't count towards the score. Each test question is good for a predetermined number of points. A perfect score would be 500 points. To pass the exam, the students must have a score of at least 350.

Once you pass the test, your certification is valid for four years. Note: If you're eligible to test, you'll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) within 2 weeks of applying.

Allow a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks of planned study after you complete the review course to maximize your likelihood of success on this important high-stakes exam.

What is the hardest nursing certification exam? ›

Emergency nursing is considered one of the most difficult fields of nursing, and certification in this specialty is highly desirable.

The ANCC exam can have up to 200 questions that you'll have to complete in 3 to 4 hours. You'll have to answer a minimum of 150. This is another reason why some people consider this exam to be harder.

Test takers of all ANCC exams will be given the results of their exam on site. If a passing score was achieved, a test taker's certification start date will be the date the exam was completed. For those who do not pass the ANCC, exams can be retaken after 60 days have passed from the date last tested.