School to add FNP or ANP

Specialties NP

Published

Specializes in Women's Health.

Hello! I am currently a WHNP with ANP coursework done. I love women's health and chose not to do my clinicals for ANP because I received a great job offer in a wonderful place and didn't really want to do primary care. I do not regret my decision at all, but now want to do the clinical hours so I can sit for ANP boards - or add FNP (I should only need peds courses there).

The problem I am having is finding a school to just do clinicals. I understand that I may have to add a few gerontology courses. I tried to go back to Vanderbilt where I received my MSN, but I would have to fly back one week a month to do 3 additional gerontology courses (I'm in Cali now) which is not doable with my job.

Are there schools that will allow me to sign up to just do clinical hours? Or would an online school be a good option?

Thanks for any help!

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My understanding is that the ANCC has replaced the ANP with AGNP.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I would think what your looking for is a post-masters certificate as a FNP or AGNP. These are designed for someone with training and experience in one NP specialty to learn what is needed in another specialty. The credits you have for your current degree should transfer, but then they would require a certain number of additional didactic credits as well as additional clinical hours. Each program would have their own requirements for courses, as well as rules on what credits would transfer into their program, so it will probably take a bit of research to find the post-masters certificate that works best for your needs and situation.

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Specializes in Women's Health.

Thanks! I am not opposed to doing extra coursework. Although I think if I'm going to do that, I'd rather just go on and do FNP. I was going to try to do a Post Masters added to my DNP so that I could get financial aid, but couldn't make it happen with Vanderbilt because of the requirement to be on campus. I contacted several schools here in California and literally got no response to either email or voice messages.

I will keep looking!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I know Frontier has a post masters in FNP that only requires one or two short on campus visits. I'm sure there are many others too.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Women's Health.

I will contact Frontier. I'm from Kentucky so am familiar with their program. I hadn't thought of them. Thanks!

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