Adult-Gerontology NP versus Family NP

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Hello!

I currently have my BSN and plan to go back to become a Nurse Practitioner. I am debating between Adult-Gerontology NP and Family NP.

I would love to hear my fellow nurse's thoughts on the two. Which is more valuable to our society? More fulfilling as a nurse? Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Cheers,

Shannon

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Hi Shannon,

I posted this exact question a few months ago. I also spoke with my program director. It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to do urgent care, minute clinic areas then you need fnp. You should also look in your area as far as jobs go. A good point that the program director brought up was that in my area for primary care isn't made up of just family practices, most people bring their kids to pediatricians and pregnant women go to the ob, so its not required to have a fnp to work in family practice. Some places may only want fnp but I have seen a decent amount of jobs listed that ask for agnp/fnp/ or acnp.

I went with agnp as I have only worked with adults and prefer to stay that way. Good luck with your choice.

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Thanks so much! I'm new to posting on forums, so I might have missed an easy way to make sure this question wasn't already posted. :)

I appreciate the feedback. This gives me a great place to start and I will take your advice and look into the needs of my area, etc.

Good luck getting your AGNP (if you're still working towards it).

Cheers!

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I'm just starting it, just finished my first class:up:

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I don't see any real advantage in doing AGNP over FNP, as I think the length of training is similar, maybe 1-2 extra semesters for FNP.

I did PNP and I really am only interested in working with children, but if I had to do it all over again I'd do FNP, because the practice I'm in now sees children and adults (mostly children) and so I'm limited in what I can do. I will probably eventually go back to get FNP.

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That's awesome! I'm sure you'll be a great AGNP!

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Thanks, JeanettePNP. I can see what you mean about having more flexibility with the FNP. That was one of my initial thoughts. I've always worked with adults, but have also always had an interest in working with kids. I would love to have the option to do both.

Thanks again, I appreciate it!

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Specializes in Transgender Medicine.

I never wanted to see peds. EVER. So I went with AGNP. FNP and AGNP are exactly the same lengths of time to complete, but in the AGNP you get more in depth education on adult and geriatric medicine to compensate for the ped and OB coverage that is done in the FNP program. AGNP was basically like doing an Internal Medicine degree for me. No regrets here! But you gotta look at your area. I live on the MS Gulf Coast.

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Specializes in Internal medicine/critical care/FP.

Why limit yourself. Most places in my area want fnp. I have never seen a position for a GNP or anp. Even in the hospital I see kids occasionally. With an anp I would not be able to do so

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I agree with chillnurse, thats why I went into FNP. Most places for NP positions list FNP but they may be willing to hire an AGNP.

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Specializes in Transgender Medicine.

That's how places around in my area do. They may list FNP, but they accept AGNP. We can see down to age 13, so we're not too severely limited. But it's what YOU want to end up doing really. I don't ever want to work in an environment where I would be expected to see kids, no matter how few and far between. They hired me in my current position for Internal Medicine over the other 6 applicants specifically because I was AGNP (they were FNP), and I had done all of my clinical time in an Int Med setting. And that's exactly what I had set out for goal-wise when I went back to school. I have also had another place that I interviewed at think it was weird that I didn't train for peds, and so they went with another candidate. But then, I didn't want to work there at that point anyway because I had found out at the interview that occasionally they see peds. Ick! LOL!

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Specializes in Internal medicine/critical care/FP.

After a year or two experience. The extra bit of adult info you gather from leaving out peds and on will be errelevent. I am also not a fan of seeing kids or ob and I don't use on much either. But I am trying to pick up extra shifts in the er. Something I could not do if I was an anp

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