I'm a dually certified ACNP/FNP. My goal is to eventually work in the ER. I have the opportunity to do a residency program at my hospital that covers multiple specialties: ER, ICU, trauma, nephrology, cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, infectious disease, endocrine, heme/onc, and palliative care.
Pros: it's a full fellowship program with classroom instruction, rounds with teaching physicians in each specialty, exposure to all the departments in the hospital, excellent learning opportunity, chance to gain more confidence in diagnosis, procedures, etc.
Cons: the pay is "meh" compared to the workload, no time off during the program, geared for MDs/DOs (but they do take NPs/PAs), doesn't start until November (a little over 7 months from now).
For those who are current acute care (hospitalist or ER) NPs, do you think doing a fellowship as a new grad is necessary? Or do you feel that going right into the specialty I want (ER) would be a better route? I would love to hear opinions as I like to weigh all the pros and cons before making a big decision. I have until mid-April to make a decision.
