APRN Dual Certifications Benefits?

[N10SVFNP]

I am a practicing FNP-BC who is graduating in August from the PMHNP program. I am wondering if anybody else is dually certified like this and if so, is there any benefit to it? Are there any jobs out there where both can be used? I currently work emergency medicine and I am not giving that up, but I want to do Psych full-time. I would like to hear from others.

[Oldmahubbard]

I did this years ago. Got hired in psych, and there the ANP gradually ended. Zero benefit to dual degrees. No one will care, or recognize it.

I was afraid I could not get a job in psych.

I suppose if you want to take a part time psych job on one end of town and another part time FNP job on a different part of town, in abstract theory you could use it.

Would this make any sense? The answer is no.

I know people feel that additional medical training is needed in psych, and it probably is, but you should do it on your own.

My opinion. I would like to hear from others who have made the same mistake I did.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm dually certified as an adult CNS and a pediatric CNS.

With my two certs I can see birth to death but the amt of age-specific CME is daunting.

And no, I would never ever do this again.

[allennp]

I am aware of several FNP’s who have gone back to get ACNP certification so they could work acute care/inpatient roles.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

3 hours ago, Oldmahubbard said:

I did this years ago. Got hired in psych, and there the ANP gradually ended. Zero benefit to dual degrees. No one will care, or recognize it.

I was afraid I could not get a job in psych.

I suppose if you want to take a part time psych job on one end of town and another part time FNP job on a different part of town, in abstract theory you could use it.

Would this make any sense? The answer is no.

I know people feel that additional medical training is needed in psych, and it probably is, but you should do it on your own.

My opinion. I would like to hear from others who have made the same mistake I did.

Exactly. There are ways to do both. But in the end the necessity to keep up two certs plus cost/cme time will be annoying. In a clinic where you aren't itemizing your billing or seeing specific days for certain populations, you aren't benefiting yourself or your employer. Also few would pay you what you're worth in that capacity. A PMHNP is a higher commodity in the current environment than an fnp. But you can't command that clout if you aren't doing it full time.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I know an FNP who owns her own clinic. She was considering PMHNP so that she could see those patients in her clinic in that role also.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

1 hour ago, NICUmiiki said:

I know an FNP who owns her own clinic. She was considering PMHNP so that she could see those patients in her clinic in that role also.

Only scenario I feel is worth it. Most people don't have the ambition to own their own clinics and the majority of states there are still huge hurdles to own one.

[OllieW, DNP, PhD, NP]

I am dual in Family and acute care

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

I've thought about this because of the nature of the industry I work in which involves birth through the old old - acute/critical care. I can see going after a post grad pedi cert -- BUT... it's going to have to be very worth it. I know the NACNS is trying to figure out a lifespan CNS cert. That would be wonderful.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

7 minutes ago, WestCoastSunRN said:

I've thought about this because of the nature of the industry I work in which involves birth through the old old - acute/critical care. I can see going after a post grad pedi cert -- BUT... it's going to have to be very worth it. I know the NACNS is trying to figure out a lifespan CNS cert. That would be wonderful.

That would be awesome - I would be sooooo interested in this cert as I have both adult and child CNS certs - would love to combine them.

[fsuao2006]

Does anyone think the dual role in the case of FNP/ACPNP is worth it? trying to decide between an FNP or dual program. Currently work in procedures, have experience in ER, have considered urgent care/procedure type of NP but would probably be happy in a clinic area as well.

[allennp]

I think it might be for some. I have a hard time seeing where the differentation of the ARNP role is going to end. If I was 30 yrs younger going in to this I would struggle to decide, I am currently inpatient working at a level one center as a FNP. Sort of grandfathered in, now we hire mostly ACNP's for inpatient. Thing is I take care of kids as well. Both clinic, inpatient and ED/ICU. What cert would be best? I guess ACNP, FNP. Ironically I lecture and precept ACNP and FNP students, and have previously served as expert content source for the initial ACNP workup and planning(though in reality contributed little). My current position needs the pediatric component that the ACNP would not cover. The current consensus model has few advocates, but its water under the bridge and one must live with it.