Family vs. Adult NP=which is better?

[ReeseW]

I am trying to decide which career path to take for an NP degree. In comparing family vs. adult NP, I am considering the following factors:

1.) Salary difference for FNP vs. ANP? Is the pay better in a private practice or hospital setting?

2.) Which has a better outlook in terms of the job market? In other words, are there more FNP or ANP jobs out there?

3.) What are the greatest rewards you have gained in choosing NP as your career path?

4.) If I decide further down the line to advance myself to Doctorate level, would I have to start all over in terms of taking graduate level coursework or would I be able to enter a DNP program w/ credits earned from my NP degree?

Thanks for your replies to these many thought-provoking questions!:up:

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Really it is a personal choice. I will say though that when the job market is tight (like it is a lot of places), the broader scope of practice, the better off you are.

Where do you see yourself working? In the hospital, you might have 24/7 job opportunities while in the outpt world its more M-F but certainly can be 24/7 too.

[nursep2b]

I'm going into the third semester of an Adult/Geron NP program. I believe I would have been better off in the FNP track but this particular school was very picky about having certain types of experience for different tracks and I was told I only qualified for Adult/Geron (primary care). So...I'm going to make the best of it. I'm assuming my best chances at employment will be in places like urologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist office...places that only see adults. Running a small clinic and doing housecalls would be a dream come true, but we'll see how things go.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

And....you could always return to school for a post-MSN PNP.