ACNP vs FNP: My Summarization of the Great Debate

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I, like many others in the forum, have been recently struggling with which NP program to pursue - FNP or ACNP. I've read so many threads and talked with so many people (RNs, NPs, nurse recruiters, professors, deans) and this is the summary that I've compiled.

Does anyone have any thing to add?? Please let me know!

FNP

Pros:

  • Care for patients of all ages
  • Flexible career options (Primary care, ambulatory care, urgent care (?))
  • Increased need for FNP/PCNP in future of US healthcare
  • Increased need in underserved populations
  • Increased opportunity to work abroad
  • Will learn more about US healthcare system
  • Increased opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with patients
  • Often working with healthy patients
  • Opportunity to open own practice

Cons:

  • Ineligible to work as NP in hospital setting
  • Sacrifice in-depth knowledge in one population for more basic knowledge across lifespan
  • Often working with healthy patients
  • Mellow work atmosphere
  • Most likely working 5 days/wk, less $ than ACNP

ACNP

Pros:

  • In-depth knowledge in adult population
  • Can work anywhere in hospital (ED, ICU, Floor)
  • Can follow pt throughout hospital stay (trauma NP)
  • More fun work atmosphere
  • Most likely working 3-4 days/wk, more $ than FNP

Cons:

  • Education limited to adults
  • Career options limited to hospital setting
  • Limited ability to develop relationships with patient (?)
  • Decreased need in underserved populations
  • Decreased opportunity to work aboard

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
3 hours ago, FiremedicMike said:

Sheesh, I feel like this thread got pretty hateful and aggressive..

Not so at all - we are debating a topic that is of the utmost importance to all APRN students, prospective students and even current APRNs.

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Yep. Some people began getting way to irate which is why i gracefully bowed away. Some ACNP feel some kinda way that i am an FNP and former critical care nurse working in critical care and do my job well. Some ACNP feel im not qualified for my job when FNP'S have been working in critical care for decades and they feel somehow because of some state consensus models that we are now all of a sudden unqualified when there is no data to support that ACNP provide better care of acutely ill patients. So. It is what it is. As you can tell i have maintain a rational attitude the entire dialogue

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Specializes in NICU.
On 9/3/2019 at 9:46 AM, traumaRUs said:

Not true. In many states it sure is in place. Lawyers are waiting for you.

Not sure if you were referring to my post. What I meant was that yes the consensus model is coming as it should be and is already true for many states. But it's going to take awhile to filter through to all the states. After all...it took until last year for Florida NPs to finally schedule II rights!

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ACNP cert is no longer available

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46 minutes ago, Jdartis22 said:

ACNP cert is no longer available

? ACNPC-AG

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Yes. But no longer just ACNP. It has to be specialized. Its baffling that the core difference between ACNPC NP is ACNP AG is they dont do a peds rotation like an FNP. Their clinical setting fot training is almost identical

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
2 hours ago, babyNP. said:

Not sure if you were referring to my post. What I meant was that yes the consensus model is coming as it should be and is already true for many states. But it's going to take awhile to filter through to all the states. After all...it took until last year for Florida NPs to finally schedule II rights!

I actually was referring to the Consensus Model/LACE. I should have explained myself better.

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