GNP vs ANP

Specialties NP

Published

Hi,

I recently graduated with my BSN degree and love working in the geriatrics field (have been doing it for the past 10 years). My question is: Should I go for the GNP or , as so many have recommended, go for the ANP? My dilemma is that I would like to only work with the geriatric population, but fear that I wouldn't be able to get a GNP job (since there's not that many out there). Also, I love the idea of the GNP program where it would be specific to the population I'm interested in, whereas the ANP will include adolescence which doesn't interest me.

My goal is to work full-time and go to grad school part-time, thus finishing in aprox 5 yrs and getting some nursing experience in the meantime.

I'd love to hear thoughts from both GNP's and ANP's. The two GNP's I've spoken with also have their ANP, so that didn't help much. Also, would you recommend that I work in a skilled nursing home vs a hospital to get the max experience/exposure to this population?

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would not limit your choices: go for ANP or better yet FNP. You can still see geriatric pts with either of these but the job opportunities are much fewer. I have a friend who is a GNP (graduated 2 years ago) and still works as a staff nurse because there are no positions.

In the end, even if you have the degree you want, if you don't have a job, its not worth much IMHO.

Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

Take from someone who has made the mistake of limiting oneself. Go FNP, You'll thank me later.

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