ENP or ACNP to expand knowledge base

[ab3236]

Cross posted with a different title from the Advanced Practice forum

I am in the midst of clinical rotations for FNP. I have a background in ED and ICU staff nursing. I am not interested in the ICU as an NP however do want to work in the ED hence my FNP choice. However I am also possibly open to other specialties such as Ortho or Neurosurg. I had planned to roll right into a post-masters AG-ACNP to broaden my education and have in case I burn out on the ED. The better hospitals in my area are starting to mandate any NP who works in house have an AG-ACNP. And the way I see it my ICU experience made me a better ED nurse and vice versa so I can get it for possible use in the future or just to broaden my education.

I just learned today that our school is looking to launch a post-masters ENP program. Of course the director was touting how awesome it would be, all the procedures and skills you'd learn, etc. And it does sound cool and like it would help make one a much better ED NP.

However seeing as they are rare and not required would it really be worth it other than to perhaps cut down on a learning curve? However with any luck I would be working while pursuing this. And I would still be limited to FNP type settings. I mean after 5 years experience will any network care or would my the skill sets be any different for a ENP/FNP or an FNP?

On one hand I like the better, more specific education. On the other I don't like being pigeon holed see benefit to a broader knowledge base for practice and job opportunity.

Thoughts?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to student NP forum

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I can only speak to where I work, but the ED requires the NPs to have both FNP & ACNP to work in the ER. The ICU will hire AG-ACNPs only, but it's preferred that you have both. I have no idea if other hospitals are like this. I only know that's how it is where I'm at.

I'm going to do DNP-FNP with a post-graduate certificate in ACNP so I can work in the ED. I almost (but don't) wish I could do PA because their program is less time than the DNP, but I'd have to quit working to do PA. At least the DNP, I can keep working the whole time.

[ab3236]

I see the DnP as a worthless degree creep but that's another conversation...

Here we exclusively use FNP's in the ED for the ability to see kids. And really modern emergency medicine is in large part primary care for many, many people. The ENP focus sounds great on the surface. I think it would do great as a "minor" during a grad program or as a mandatory residency post grad (I think all NP's should have a mandatory residency post-grad, but again, another conversation lol). However I question its use at the current moment. Like I said before I think it would help reduce the learning curve initially but what benefit would it hold 3-5+ years down the road? And the glamor of learning cric's, lines, intubation, FAST, etc all sounds great but how many ED NP's are performing these skills?

I had cross posted this hoping it wouldn't get buried in the Student Forum and to hear from working NP's but that seems like it failed lol.