ACNP and FNP

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I am starting a rn to bsn program with plans to be a nurse practitioner. I am curious if anyone knows what once can do if they are an acute care nurse practitioner and wants to switch to family/adult, or vica versa. I can't see myself wanting to commit to just one. So what does one have to do to switch if they so desire or do both?

Specializes in Family Practice; Emergency Medicine.
So a FNP can work a floor but not say an ER? Main hospital chain doesnt allow NP in the ER anyway here.

where are you? I worked for an emergency medicine group and had privileges in an ER [hospital] for 3 years....they hire physicians, PAs, NPs.....in this state....NPs can pretty much work in any area a physician does except anesthesia of course......I'm an FNP by certification......so????

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

I believe a lot of us are on the cusp here.

With the "winds" of change a blowin', I plan to go back and get my ACNP. I have no desire to see kids, but I can see where an FNP/CEN with ED experience would literally...blow me away. I can see your point BS/NP, if you are a good FNP and have a great supervising ED doc...hey, go for it. I wouldn't waste my time on more soup unless I had to. Some of us are not so lucky, such as the feds (competition is bloody).

I do have a lot of PA/NP friends, none of them like kids, and that's why I chose ANP over FNP, god bless the PNP, give them double. I think the way healthcare is going, we do need to be more focused, hence the rise in children's hospitals.

If I were giving the good advice as Trauma is, I'd say ditto. Set yourself up for success, spend your money wisely, esp if you want to work in the ED/ICU areas.

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My local big trauma center hires a ton of FNPs to work in the ER and on their trauma floor. I've talked to a few of them and they recommended that I do FNP over ACNP/PACNP to get into ER/trauma.

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I guess everyone is different. I live in Pittsburgh, UPMC which is the big chain everyone I have talked to said they don't hire NP's they used PA's in the ER but nurses in general seem to hate life most places. Makes me think maybe long term being in a hospital may be a bad thing.

I don't know if it has any factual basis but a friend I went to school with said he read in a nursing magazine the new nurse career expectancy is 4 years.

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Specializes in Trauma, Emergency, Urgent Care.

The University of West Virginia offers a certificate in Emergency Medicine that is open to MD, DO, PA and NP. In the NP/PA case, it would be considered a post-master's certificate. I understand it to be a two year on-line program that essentially covers Tintinelli's emergency medicine text. Cost is about $8,000. There is an on-site requirement that covers procedural skills. Problem is, the ACNP is well accepted and this program is relatively new and offers no specific certification. Just a thought.

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I imagine it would be faster to just get another masters than to take a 2 year certificate program. Seems some places adult or family will be enough to work ER or ICU as a NP. Hell could always just do it as a nurse. Thanks for all the input. Guess options depends on where you live and I have no trouble moving and probably wont in a few years if it leaves more options for me.

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