Competencies for NPs

Our thanks to NAPNAP's Program Manager, Heather Keesing, MSN, APRN for answering this question. (Posted 9/20/07)

Question: I am an ACPNP and am being asked to perform spinal taps, am I allowed to do this? Are there any written guidelines about what procedures an ACPNP is allowed to perform?

Answer: The acute care nurse practitioner is "educationally prepared to provide advanced nursing care to patients with complex acute, critical and chronic health conditions, including the delivery of acute care services", as delineated in Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies, which were developed by the National Panel for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies in 2004. Some nurse practitioner (NP) educational programs may prepare acute care NPs to care for a specific patient population (e.g., adult, child) and additional, age-specific competencies may be necessary. The competencies in this document apply to all acute care nurse practitioners and have been endorsed by NAPNAP's Executive Board. These are posted on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties' (NONPF) website (www.nonpf.com). Additionally, the NP Primary Care Competencies in Specialty Areas contains a section specifically related to pediatrics and may also be found on NONPF's website. Click here for Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Competencies in Specialty Areas: Adult, Family, Gerontological, Pediatric, and Women's Health (2002).

The competencies do spell out specific procedures that most ACNPs are educated in, including lumbar puncture, but it is extremely important that you are appropriately credentialed and privileged in your institution to perform these specific procedures.