ANP vs. FNP - who gets hired?

Specialties NP

Published

First off, apologies if I have missed the answer to this question in another thread.

I'm about to start an adult health NP program. When I started this application, I chose adult health over family practice because "family practice," to me, sounds like "miserable primary care doc who sees 1000 patients/day and makes $0." But I've recently been looking at job listings in my area (SoCal) and everybody seems to be looking for FNP's rather than ANP's.

I'm not really sure what subspecialty i'm interested in. I like complex medicine - so maybe something ICU/Cardio-related, but honestly I'm still pretty clueless. What I do know for sure is that I'd like to be employed after I graduate !

So. Is a FNP more market-able ? In terms of eventually developing a subspecialty of interest and trying to get hired - is an ANP or FNP more flexible? Will the alphabet soup really impact my career trajectory?

Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Anesthesia, Education, etc..

cjdedon-

You will have a Pedi rotation (as well as an OB/GYN rotation) where you will be immersed in the role. It was definitely challenging in the beginning. I remember telling my friend who is a Pedi nurse that I could handle a bloody mangled limb with ease but walking into an exam room and seeing a 4 year old sitting on the table made me break out into a cold sweat! :barf02:

Just remember that you are a student and you are there to learn - your preceptor (should) know this. I did my rotation in a busy inner-city Pedi clinic where we saw about 50 kids a day. By the end of the rotation, I felt very comfortable and was sad to leave. (Same thing with doing pelvic exams and pap smears in GYN - after about 100 of them, I still couldn't always find the cervix but felt 1000x more comfortable doing the exam). Don't be too nervous about it- I promise that you will do just fine! :kiss

I would do FNP. That's what I plan on doing.

I see an NP at a clinic and she told me she wished she had done FNP. She originally did adult health, and now her work is requiring her to go back to school and get certified in peds, as her clinic will be allowing children to be seen soon.

She said the same thing that many people are saying, that an FNP is more marketable.

Do you get a cert for prescription writing after school, or is that just granted when you graduate and pass boards?

The other thing to consider is ACNP. If you are interested in ICU work then thats more appropriate scope wise. Our hospital has not hired an FNP in some time. ANP for the IM clinics. ACNP for specialty clinics and inpatient work.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Unfortunately there is no ACNP option at my school (this was actually my first choice). I'd like to eventually work in L.A., and they seem to hire FNP's to pretty much every setting here. I think I can get by without the ACNP.

It seems from what I have seen it is easier to get a job as a FNP.

Are there any ANPs that are able to work in fast track or urgent cares? Is it remotely possible to get hired here if you don't have your FNP?

If one is an ANP is it better if you need to go back for a post-masters to get an FNP or a PNP to fulfill both populations?

Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

I think it will depend on the Urgent care you work at. Most of them want FNPs or PAs because they can see people of all ages. We had a lady in our class who came back and got her FNP (she was an ANP) because her job was asking her to see kids. You learn a ton about adults in the FNP program so it is a good choice if you want to only see adults. You never know what the future may hold for you later on. I think it keep your options open. I know another ANP that went back and got her PNP and didn't end up keeping up with it. She Said the was too high and she was not working with kids. Seems easier to just do FNP.

thanks for the advice. I'll be entering a program this fall but am not slated to do FNP. However, i might find myself in a pickle and not be able to switch to FNP since that is the most impacted program. I can do ANP alone most likely very easily.

Would I also have many restrictions on family or occupational medicine practices as well with ANP?

Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

You can see kids ages 12 and up as an ANP usually. Occupational medicine you should be fine :). Family, you would just see those 12 and up.

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

I am leaning toward FNP because of the broad scope. However, I would like to do acute care as well. The school in which I am interested doesn't have that track. I looked for other schools bit am overwhelmed with the information out there. I simply want to know if there is a way I can take the FNP at the one school and then pick up the acute classes I need to add to my certification. How does that work?

Specializes in ER, ICU, Nurse Manager.

WKShadowRN,

The University of South Alabama has a dual FNP/ACNP program. You will be able to sit for both boards. I am starting it in the fall.

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.
WKShadowRN,

The University of South Alabama has a dual FNP/ACNP program. You will be able to sit for both boards. I am starting it in the fall.

Thank-you for that, I'll check it out

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