So I know there are many threads on this already, but I have a predicament. I was recently accepted into Villanova's AGNP program. When I first started my graduate applications I thought that was the program I wanted to be in. I currently work as an Occ Health RN, and before that I was in the Surgical/Trauma ICU. After stalking allnurses and speaking to other grad students, it seems like everyone is saying go the FNP route so you are more marketable. I do want to get a job when all is said and done. I don't plan on working with children, but it seems more and more employers want FNP vs AGNP.
I emailed the admissions director about switching tracks. She emailed me back and wants to talk to me about my reasons why. She doesn't think "being more marketable" is a good reason. Frankly, I don't either, but I also don't want to be looking for a job 1 year after graduation because I chose the wrong track.
Flipper628 I am not sure what to tell you. I am in the same boat. I figure I can always work as an RN if I can't find a job. And I have confidence in my ability to figure out what to do to find an NP job, even if it means starting out as a volunteer. Until I read it here a few minutes ago, I was unaware that there were 400 applications for each NP job. I graduate in December and its too late to quit now. You can analyze every situation to death but at some point you just have to take a leap.[/quote']
Just remember you can't work as solely an RN forever once you take your NP boards!
Why not? Does it effect your ability to re-certify?
You need to recertify every five years and to avoid re-testing (or worse) you need at least 1000 practice hours as an NP. That give you basically four years to secure a full time NP job.
Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.
Flipper,
i just graduated from Villanova in Dec. Our last day of class they have the previous graduating class (from all specialties) come and talk to us about jobs, board exams, etc. Everyone had a job lined up or was working as a NP already. I agree with the other posters networking is the way to go. I found my job on a online job search engine but some of my friends in the AGNP and FNP tracks accepted positions at their clinical sites.
Also at Villanova the FNP track is the most popular, fills up quick, and they have a limit to how many students they accept. Whereas the PNP and AGNP tracks don't usually fill up to max capacities. That could be why they are giving you a hard time about switching.
Zmansc, all good points. At my school, FNP is a full additional semester. But the main reason is, I don't want to do a clinical in the nursery, and I don't want to do a clinical with children, and I really don't want to take care of the 12-yo. My desired population is geriatrics and specifically end of life. I guess that I came in with a very specific goal and so really want to focus my efforts there. For someone who is more open, I understand why FNP makes a lot of sense.
I am in a different position, I want to work with infants and children but can only do so as a FNP as I don't have the clinical work experience to do straight PNP and won't by the time clinicals would start at the few good programs that have PNP programs.
I wasn't trying to suggest your solution wasn't the right choice for you, just trying to give the alternate position so the OP and others could see some reasons for making each choice. It does sound like you knew what you wanted, in that case, the decision you made was the right one.
I'm planning to go the route of AGNP primary care, and I may go into an adult psychiatric–mental health NP program post-master's option. I have a high interest in adults and aging population, and I want to focus on providing services to them. I had debated about FNP but I agree that if there are areas you do not have an interest in it's best to go with AGNP. And Tammy, you said end of life care is an interest, the school I'm looking into has a subspecialty in palliative care.
I decided to stay in the AGNP track. I really have no desire to work with children. I know this will exclude from ED's, urgent care, and minute clinics but I really don't have a an interest in those areas either. My program is well established and has a good reputation so I feel like I will be prepared to get a job when I graduate. Thanks for all the advice and opinions.
Just remember you can't work as solely an RN forever once you take your NP boards!
I am in New York states & I know plenty of NPs who only work as RNs because they didn't enjoy being a NP. As a matter of fact I work with one in the Cath lab
I am in New York states & I know plenty of NPs who only work as RNs because they didn't enjoy being a NP. As a matter of fact I work with one in the Cath lab
Let me clarify:
If an NP takes the board exam and becomes certified and is licensed, they have to recertify in five years. If they do not that the required practice hours in advanced practice role they can not recertify and will not be able to renew their APN license.
To recertify they would need to pass the board exams again or complete another post masters certificate and pass the boards again.
BostonFNP, APRN
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