A dual degree of FNP & ACPNP smart?

Specialties NP

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So, I am looking to go back to NP school full time. I've worked in the cardiac ICU for 1 year, Neonatal ICU for 3 years, 2 years of Per Diem Pediatric Home Care.

My plan is to do Jeffersons 1 year program for my FNP, and then go back for my Post Masters in ACPNP at University of South Alabama. This is the fastest combination of programs I can find, for a very reasonable price. With these two degrees, I like the job flexibility of Adult Primary Care, Pediatric Primary Care, and Pediatric Acute Care.

I am looking to go back full time, I have that option to go to school full time and not have to work. I want to focus 100% on my studies; I will still work homecare per diem because I can call up at 8pm and tell them I'd like to work tonight and they will send me out to a case for 10pm, EXTREME flexibility. I work per diem now, sometimes I work 4x a month, or I'll go 1 or 2 months without working at all.

Does the combination of FNP and ACPNP seem reasonable? Smart? Like mentioned, I love the flexibility and wide variety of job offerings associated as well as having selective and board knowledge.

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I've seen a few programs that combine the two. Some places call it "Emergency Nurse Practitioner" because you get the benefit of critical care management and the ability to see all age ranges, perfect for emergency/urgent care settings.

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Specializes in Pediatics, Family Practice.

I think doing a dual program is very smart. You get two specialties done at one time. If your interested in being able to work in primary and acute care, that track is the way to go. I have a cousin who is attending USA's Emergency NP program. I believe that it is a dual FNP/ACNP program that's three years. I would look into it if you would like to get everything done at one school.

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Specializes in Emergency.

So if it's a dual program, does that mean you have to sit for the boards twice? And maintain two licenses (not including the RN license, so actually 3)? Just curious....

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Specializes in Pediatics, Family Practice.

Zmansc from what I understand if you want to be certified as an ACNP and FNP you do have to take both exams once the program is completed. Yes, if you are licensed as an ACNP you would have to maintain that license as well as the FNP license. They are two different specialties.

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Specializes in Emergency, Family Practice, Occ. Health.

You would have to maintain both national certifications (FNP, ACPNP). As for licensing you would have to keep your RN and NP licenses. I highly doubt that you would have 2 separate NP licenses to maintain. Here in Michigan all APRNs (NP, CNM, CNS,etc) hold the same license. Scope of practice us based on your national certification(s).

It should be pretty easy to keep up on CEs as most will count for all three certifications (RN, FNP, PACNP).

USA's program is well respected. I would go for it.

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I decided to look up a few in this situation I knew. It appears that CRNA/NP have three licenses (in my state), where dual NP or FNP/CNM only have two.....

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Specializes in Pediatics, Family Practice.

Zmansc when you say three licenses for CRNA/NP does that mean one for CRNA, one for NP, and then the RN license? While a FNP/CNM has one for the APN license and their RN license? I'm curious because my cousin was told she would need to be licensed for both FNP and AACNP. I am thinking about getting a post-master's certificate as an acute care PNP and its too late to call my state's BON. It looks like I was wrong on my previous post, sorry about that.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Yes, one for CRNA, one for FNP, and one for RN. For the CNM/FNP, she only had one for both the CNM and FNP and one for the RN.

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