AGNP vs AG-ACNP - am I wrong?

[Polly Peptide]

Hello all - first allow me to say I'm sure some version of this question is out there, however I have done a ton of research and also read these forums extensively and am still having difficulty really ascertaining the answer.

I am applying to a direct-entry MSN program this fall and am trying to get a handle on how these specialties really look in practice. I've read the consensus model and understand to an extent how this will impact it (with the most obvious difference being the hospitalist role). But still, I am struggling.

I am not currently an RN (have been working on the business end of healthcare for 15 years), which is a limitation in my full understanding of the scopes of the role. Yet, I have to choose my specialty when applying for the direct-entry program.

I've thought for years that I desired to work with more complex patients, so I envisioned myself in an outpatient specialty clinic, with the ability to round in the hospital. It might be nice to have the flexibility to work as a hospitalist, thus I thought the ACNP track would be a good option. When I read the descriptions of ACNP, it is not all "ICU" focused, rather it COULD be that, but can also be well-suited for OP specialty. This seems to be a good fit for me.

However a recent personal experience has called all of this into question.

A close family member was just diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We have bounced from hospital to hospital, doctor to doctor, from one emergency procedure to the next. I witnessed an astonishing lack of continuity of care and personally wanted to step in to help them navigate and facilitate all of the communication and movements from one place to the next. Balls were dropped and unfortunate errors were made, delays in receiving proper treatment because of some of these issues. I just began to think that I didn't want to pop in and out of someone's life in such an episodic way...that maybe I am more suited to helping people navigate the system and coordinate their care.

And that makes me wonder if primary care is a better choice for me.

The problem is, I always thought "primary care" meant you caught the strep throats and hypertensions and handed the interesting stuff off to everyone else.

PLEASE forgive me if that sounds insulting...I do not mean it to be. I would love to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Do I have the wrong perception of primary care? I am wondering if that is actually my place after all?

Thank you for getting this far and any advice you may provide!

[smileyfacefee]

I am in the AGNP program because I do not want to work with kids. However, I am wondering if I should change to the FNP track because the AGNP track knocks out a lot of opportunities for me.