[reesern63]

Would a current NP be willing to offer some guidance to me? I think I'm ready to take the plunge, but I have questions and concerns. I promise not to be too "needy." If someone is willing, we can take this to e-mail so we're not clogging up the board with one thread devoted to my questions.

Thanks in advance.

[Psychaprn]

What specifically are you interested in? You won't be clogging the board-probablly there are others interested. Sorry no one's answered you-maybe if you were more specific or didn't ask for e-mails. Good Luck!

[reesern63]

I'm looking at the adult care & acute care programs. I considered FNP, but I really have zero interest in dealing with kids or women's health issues. I'm more interested in adult illness, acute and chronic.

Some of the hospitals in my area let NPs make rounds, write orders, admit, etc. That would be OK, but I'd probably be more interested in office based practice; I've had my fill of hospitals.

I'd have to do an online program, so right now I'm trying to sort through which ones look good and which ones to steer away from. Drexel's program interests me, and it's not far from where I live. Their acute care program has a two one-week residency requirement, so that would be workable.

I'm wondering if I'm limiting my options by not also looking at FNP. Is it possible to go that route and then work in a practice where you don't have to see peds. pts.? Would an IM group even consider a FNP?

[sailornurse]

It depends on the area you live in. I am an FNP, it has opened doors for me that I did not even consider when I was in school.I am teaching & I love it!!! Locally, FNP is the way to go. I am seeing FNP's in urgent care/fast track in ER, one FNP works for a cardiologist & yes if you do not want to see kids you can do that but specializing in fields that only see adults. Consider the market & if you might ever move to another state. In my FNP program we had WHCNP's & Geriatric NP's coming back for FNP as the market for them was very tight. Here in New Mexico NP's have independent practice, so can open your own practice without any MD involvement. You say you've had "Your fill of hospitals" but I think that Acute Care NP's work in hospital ICU's and such.

[pinoyNP]

Sounds like you need more of an advice on which route to pursue. I totally agree with sailornurse. Find out what employment opportunities are available in your area if you are have to stay where you are. If you are willing to relocate, then you probably will have a better chance of practicing the field that interest you the most. Definitely steer away from ACNP if you've had it with hospital work. I chose ACNP because that's always been where my comfort zone and interests are. There are ACNP job opportunities in many urban settings and that is exactly the kind of area I live in so I didn't have any trouble finding employment. Unfortunately, this area has an abundance of primary care physician providers. Many FNP's and ANP's who dreamt of working in primary care ended up working in acute care specialties here. But then again, it all depends on your "connections", a colleague of mine who went for her FNP ended up working for a FP doc whom she had establizhed a good working relationship with as a nurse. So that means jobs are there if you play it smart. In general, I see more FNP's and ANP's in rural settings doing the primary care work or office practice that their training is intended for. Most ER's and urgent care centers here prefer FNP's with the exception of a few centers where the NP does not have to see kids.

[reesern63]

As long as I wouldn't have to do peds or gyn, that would be OK. I wouldn't mind doing some hospital, I just wouldn't want to be stuck in the hospital all day every day.

Most of the NPs in my area are FNPs. None in the EDs; most round only on med-surg units when they're in hospital, with the exception of the NPs who work for the cardio groups, and that's not my interest either. I want a little more variety.

Thank you for the suggestions so far. They really help and have given me much to think about.

[JALEXSHOE]

Originally Posted by reesern63

As long as I wouldn't have to do peds or gyn, that would be OK. I wouldn't mind doing some hospital, I just wouldn't want to be stuck in the hospital all day every day.

Most of the NPs in my area are FNPs. None in the EDs; most round only on med-surg units when they're in hospital, with the exception of the NPs who work for the cardio groups, and that's not my interest either. I want a little more variety.

Thank you for the suggestions so far. They really help and have given me much to think about.

I am a student in a FNP program.

I was faced with these same decisions. The decision ends up being a personal one. One must look inside themselves and discern what it is they are looking for.

Have you asked yourself, what do I really want? Where do I see myself in 5 years, 10, 20? If you know the answers then you can answer your questions.

One must also look at where they want to live and what the practice guidelines are for that state. Are you going to live there for the rest of your life or do you consider that you might want to be mobile?

What kind of hours are you looking for? Are you interested in straight days or is shift work and overtime still acceptable? What kind of patient volume are you interested in?

If you are sure of your practice area and know without a doubt what it is you want to do, then your options become much simpler. For example, if you only ever want to be a hospitalist or work in the ED. Perhaps, geriatrics or mental health is the way you want to go.

But if you are in a position like me, where I have done so many things, then I made my choice on what would bring me the most flexibility. I want the ability to be able to choose. I have an incredible amount of intensive, critical care, and trauma experience. I love these fields. I currently think I will always work in an area abutting these fields. But I want to make sure I do not limit other opportunities as I continue to age and grow. So i chose the broadest scope available and I will make the most of it. In the state where I reside, a FNP can still work in those areas. Be aware that in some states they cannot though.

I thought about acute care, but this would limit me working in an ED, as one must see children also, unless it was an adult only ED. I thought about Emergency NP but this limits me to working only in the ED and not being able to consider private practice. I just didn't want to get locked into one area and I plan to explore all the marvelous opportunities open to me once I am in my fabulous 40's with a degree in hand.

The answer is education and research. Figure out what you really really want and then research the heck out of it.

Heck, I think I might even join the red hat society so I can wear them red hats and boas. Oh la la.

Good luck.

[7starbuck7]

I have been going thru this same decision making process. It has seriously been the hardest decision to make! I have 7 years of experience, mostly in critical care. I ruled out Acute NP early on because I do not want to limit myself to the hospital.

I have gone back and forth between Family NP and Adult NP for months. I am 99% sure I am doing Adult NP. I have met with the advisor and am applying for Spring admission. It comes down to a couple of things for me...#1 I have no desire to work in ER/Fast Track/Urgent Care #2 I despise Peds and even if I suffered thru the clinical portion in the FNP program and I would never be comfortable seeing kids in practice. Women's Health I would be absolutely fine with, but I have zero interest in peds.

My ideal job is a specialty practice. I do worry about the market becoming over-saturated in my area. But this is what I want to do and I am going to take the risk. If it takes me 6 months or a year to find my ideal job, then so be it.

Good luck!

[Atl_John]

Okey so what really is the difference between, ACNP, Adult NP, FNP. I know that FNP does primary care correct and does the entire life span, correct? ACNP I believe does things that are acute in nature, from flue to broken bones, but only in adults. And then Adult NP....what is their function when compared to the ACNP and FNP.

John

[core0]

Originally Posted by Atl_John

Okey so what really is the difference between, ACNP, Adult NP, FNP. I know that FNP does primary care correct and does the entire life span, correct? ACNP I believe does things that are acute in nature, from flue to broken bones, but only in adults. And then Adult NP....what is their function when compared to the ACNP and FNP.

John

I'm not sure if this is completely correct, but one of the NPs at work explained it this way from a medical model:
FNP = FP
ANP = Internal Medicine
ACNP = Hospitalist

David Carpenter, PA-C