Dual Role

eastsideRN, BSN, MSN, NP · Nov 17, 2020

This answer to this questions is certainly one where your mileage my vary. Where do you want to work? Adult ICU? ACNP. Hospitalist? ACNP. Specialty outpatient services such as adult cardiology, neurology or pulmonology? ACNP. Family Practice? FNP. Rural clinic? FNP. ER or Urgent Care? then you will likely need both, or perhaps just FNP (womb to tomb) unless you live in a state that adheres to the consensus model, then you need AG-ACNP and/or P-ACNP. I work ER in California and we provide care to all ages. A NP who has age restrictions on their license would be less desirable than a PA. I am in central California in a town of nearly 500,000 we have one Peds ER and it is on the same campus as the Main ER (they share a wall). When the census is low or provider staffing is low they will have one physician and one midlevel to cover both by constantly going back and forth between adults and pediatrics.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 18, 2020

It all depends on your career trajectory as was mentioned above. I decided on Adult ACNP in 2002 when I started my NP Program. I had hesitations and doubts as anyone just starting out now but it ended up real well for me. I have been in Adult Critical Care Medicine since 2005 after having a short stint in in-patient PM&R which I found too boring. I am transitioning into a new role next year...in-patient Adult Cardiology which would give me a more stable schedule that does not include nights. I am looking forward to this new role and glad that I did not have to add another layer of NP training to achieve it.

CVVH, MSN, RN · Nov 20, 2020

On 11/18/2020 at 12:29 PM, juan de la cruz said:

It all depends on your career trajectory as was mentioned above. I decided on Adult ACNP in 2002 when I started my NP Program. I had hesitations and doubts as anyone just starting out now but it ended up real well for me. I have been in Adult Critical Care Medicine since 2005 after having a short stint in in-patient PM&R which I found too boring. I am transitioning into a new role next year...in-patient Adult Cardiology which would give me a more stable schedule that does not include nights. I am looking forward to this new role and glad that I did not have to add another layer of NP training to achieve it.

I'm curious, what does your new role involve? And why the switch from CCM to Cardiology after so many years?

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 20, 2020

31 minutes ago, CVVH said:

I'm curious, what does your new role involve? And why the switch from CCM to Cardiology after so many years?

I've done CCM since 2005. I still love it. However, the nature of the specialization requires shift rotation. We have explored various ways to minimize the night shift commitment for senior staff (like myself) and I have one of the lesser requirement for it actually. However, the flipping to nights and days is starting to wear on me physically. I started as an NP in my mid 30's and was OK doing that until I turned 50...I'm 51 now. I'll be working in in-patient Cardiology (General Cards, does not include Advanced Heart Failure patients) rounding with the in-patient attending and there are residents as well. It's 3 12-hr shifts all days and no Sundays. I'm looking to retire at 62.

Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP · Nov 21, 2020

I work in primary care....I am happy with just having my one certification. While I think I would like the role of some acute care positions, when I talk to people in the role they aren't always in love with the hours. I'm at a place in my life.......that QOL matters a lot to me. I like family medicine, I get a little of everything and it is rare that something interesting doesn't happen in my day. I am content