Why go for Adult NP?

Nursing Students NP Students

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Excuse me for simplifying... but,

I'm interested in becoming an NP and at first i was considering Adult NP. However, it has become apparent (to me) that Adult NP can see/treat 13yrs and up...however Family can see pediatrics and up.

So...FNP can treat all patients that ANP can, but ANP cannot see pediatrics (whereas FNP can),

Isnt becoming an ANP limiting yourself in terms of marketability/work?

Is there any reason to become ANP vs FNP? Other than perhaps *really* disliking peds/OB?

Just curious...

Depends on what type of work you intend to do, where you want to do it, and what type of patients you want to work with.

I am an ANP. I knew (after many years of working in the outpatient arena) that I had no interest in peds. I didn't want to spend my time learning about an entire segment of the population (children) that I had no intention of ever working with. The ANP program I attended really had a focus on prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic diseases. So we focused on preventive/routine care for adults - and the guidelines for management of the diseases most likely to be chronic and progressive in adults, such as COPD, T2DM, Heart Failure, Hypertension, etc.

So if you want to work inpatient with adults or outpatient in Internal Medicine, just about any subspecialty, or even a family practice setting but only seeing the adults in the practice then ANP may be for you.

I am an ANP in Cardiology and my background as an RN was in critical care with a focus in cardiac. I have never worked with the pediatric population outside of nursing school, and knew I never would. When I went back to school, I originally wanted the ACNP but my university had put the program on hold. I chose adult because I knew I would never take a position that would require me to treat pediatrics. Just a preference. Good luck!

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