Do hospitals hire FNP-C?

[Guest05/31/18]

I understand the scope of practice is sometimes state specific. With that being said, do hospitals/acute care frown on FNP-C vs FNP-BC? Will one affect my career negatively perhaps?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

Scope of practice concerns are often both hospital and state specific. Regardless, you should probably be not expecting too many job opportunities in hospitals or acute care whether you are aanp or ancc certified so long as you're an fnp.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

The consensus is moving in the direction of only hiring AGACNPs as inpatient providers. I do know some FNPs that work inpatient but many are being told they must now go back to get an acute care post-master's. The ones already working in that environment may just escape this, but going forward new providers wishing to work in inpatient areas will most likely need to have their AGACNP and not FNP.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

You will probably need your ACNP/AGCNP/PACNP. You also need to pay attention to your state nurse practice act - you might be considered practicing "out of scope" if you're an FNP in a hospital setting.

[WinterWolf90]

I think this depends on he region you're in. Where I am at, nobody offers the acute care np. Everyone that works in the hospital is a fnp. I hadn't never even heard of the acute care np until like a year ago.

[eastsideRN, BSN, MSN, NP]

I am located in Central California and most people I talk to (including physicians, nurses and NP's) do not know the difference between FNP and ACNP. The consensus model is driving the NP specialty change and I suspect it will take years to be applied to practice. Check with your local or prospective employer Human Resources personal to find out which degree is preferred. Here the FNP is still the front runner NP degree to have based only on the "womb to tomb" patient demographic. However your mileage may vary...

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'm in the midwest, ILLINOIS to be specific and FNPs are outpt only here. The ones currently credentialed are grandfathered in but they can't change positions either.

[mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

Our intensive care group here in Tennessee hires FNPs for their practice, although we see no kids. i think it is a combination of more FNPs than ACNPs out there and the vagueness of our scopes in the nurse practice act.

[Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

Depends on where you live. In New Mexico they don't really care in most parts of the state. In Texas I was hired as an FNP working inpatient cardiac, but told them I was getting my AGACNP at the time.

A very large hospital group in Houston just got rid of a huge chunk of inpatient FNPs and only kept those that were finishing their Acute Care degree.

As others have said, state laws and regional culture will be the biggest factor but there are still places that hire NPs on the inpatient side. Areas with more desperation don't care.

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

The vast majority of inpatient positions are listed as "ACNP preferred" in the academic hospitals in my area. There was just a FNP hired into the ICU at one of the smaller community hospitals but she had multiple years of high acuity ICU experience as a RN. I think the other issue driving this in my area is that we are over run with PA schools so hospitals have the option of hiring PAs and ACNPs preferably over FNPs.

So as more ACNPs graduate I'm forecasting that at some point within the next decade FNPs can not reasonably expect to get any inpatient position in any locale other than very rural/small facilities.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I think we also need to clarify the term ACNP because that incorporates both AGACNP and AGPCNP, the former being acute care and the latter being primary care. Only AGACNP is acute. I believe this issue will affect AGPCNPs in the same way as FNPs. I think some folks may get confused and believe the first A denotes Acute when it actually stands for Adult.

[schroeders_piano, RN]

I'm in the midwest, ILLINOIS to be specific and FNPs are outpt only here. The ones currently credentialed are grandfathered in but they can't change positions either.

I live in Southern Illinois and FNPs (new grad and those with primary care experience) are hired to work in the Acute Care setting frequently in my area.