ACNP vs FNP --Help please!

Specialties NP

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I am currently a student in an NP program. I am in the Emergency Track which is really just a dual track. Acute care and Familly. This track interested me due to its versatility. I am undecided as to which avenue to persue after school, and figured this track most marketable and helped me with my indicision. I have worked in ICU and ER for 6 years. I am interested in working with specialist (cardiology, neuro etc), but also open to ER work (minor care), and clinic work. My dilema is the hours and length of program. Being a dual program, clinical hours are double and it is 1 semester longer. I knew this going in, but after 2 semesters it is clear the workload will probably be too much for me and my family. The delima lies in which track now? Family vs. Acute care. I have heard it is more about experience then certification. Obviously Acute car cant see kids, so this seems limiting. I know a FNP that just got on with a cardiaologist (ICU RN). Also would need to be FNP to work in mnor care or clinic. What are some opinions for me with my indicision of future track. I have to pick track by 4/1. Where do you work as ACNP or FNP? Do you have to be certified this way to work where you work? Any info would help. Thanks

Specializes in ICU/ER.

Thank you, all these posts very helpful, head still spinning. Seems to me FNP still has more flexibility.

Does anyone know how much longer youd have to go back to school to get another, age specific or area specific certification after already having an FNP degree? I am having the same dilemma now; I currently work in the ICU and love it, but want to go back to school and am not sure what kind of NP I want to be. I know I want to start a family in the future too so I am not sure which NP role would work best with being able to have kids. It seems to me ACNP have crazy weird hours where as FNP at least have consistent hours. I also could potentially do ACNP until I have kids, but I do not want to go back to school to get an FNP once I have kids. Any ideas on how to best go about this? How long would schooling have to be in order to get both degrees at the same time? Thanks for any help you can give!

Depending on your program it is generally 16 - 18 credit hours to pick up a post masters in a different specialty.

That is correct ACNP is the new ANP is the old term which is the one being eliminated. It will be AG ACNP (acute care) or AG PCNP (primary care) track choices for Adult care certifications.

I am in the same boat as many who have posted before me. 2 years ICU experience here and LOVE it! Going back to school in the fall but I think I am going to do FNP...My big fear is that in my area there are mostly huge educational hospitals and most of the ICUs where APNs are employed are also regularly staffed by residents and intensivists so often times these NPs don't seem to get to practice their full scope. This is why i will go FNP for now, more options for different specialties, possibly more autonomy if I find the right clinic and at least for now I would have to ability to round on inpatients if I work for a specialty practice. I hope I don't miss my ICU rushes too badly...

On a side note, after all the research I have done into the NP world I think our profession has fragmented WAY too much. If anything I think clinicals should just be a little longer and more inclusive of different specialties and everyone should have to do acute and chronic issues. I feel this way because I honestly almost opted for PA school because of the absence of this turfing

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