FNP or AG-ACNP

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Specializes in CCRN SCRN Flight Nurse.

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had some insight on the pros and cons of these NP specialties. Everyone seems to be telling me to do FNP, saying it is more marketable and I can train to work in inpatient settings. I have seen many FNPs working inpatient at one of the hospitals I worked for, so I have seen this to be true. I personally have a passion for acute care. I couldn't imagine myself doing primary care and being happy, though the thought of doing telemedicine from my home is quite tempting. AG-ACNP sounds more appealing to me because it is the population I love to work with and where the majority of my experience comes from. I also hear FNP is becoming oversaturated, low pay, not many jobs, with the majority of them in primary care. AG-ACNP, I think, is less saturated and might provide a better salary working inpatient. If I choose AG-ACNP I'm afraid I will lose out on some job opportunities like working in urgent care (due to the inability to treat kids). As well, there are a lot less AG-ACNPs out there so finding preceptors could be increasingly more challenging. Any insight would be appreciated ?

 

(My experience includes medical/surgical/telemetry, correctional nursing, neuro/neurosurgical intensive care and progressive care, surgical/trauma/transplant intensive care, university clinical instructor for critical care, critical care ground transport, and I'm currently a flight nurse.)

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On 1/2/2022 at 12:50 PM, mollyxrn said:

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had some insight on the pros and cons of these NP specialties. Everyone seems to be telling me to do FNP, saying it is more marketable and I can train to work in inpatient settings. I have seen many FNPs working inpatient at one of the hospitals I worked for, so I have seen this to be true. I personally have a passion for acute care. I couldn't imagine myself doing primary care and being happy, though the thought of doing telemedicine from my home is quite tempting. AG-ACNP sounds more appealing to me because it is the population I love to work with and where the majority of my experience comes from. I also hear FNP is becoming oversaturated, low pay, not many jobs, with the majority of them in primary care. AG-ACNP, I think, is less saturated and might provide a better salary working inpatient. If I choose AG-ACNP I'm afraid I will lose out on some job opportunities like working in urgent care (due to the inability to treat kids). As well, there are a lot less AG-ACNPs out there so finding preceptors could be increasingly more challenging. Any insight would be appreciated ?

 

(My experience includes medical/surgical/telemetry, correctional nursing, neuro/neurosurgical intensive care and progressive care, surgical/trauma/transplant intensive care, university clinical instructor for critical care, critical care ground transport, and I'm currently a flight nurse.)

Consensus model. If you want to do acute care do ACNP. Don't believe what others are telling you, unless you live in the boondocks you WILL NEED your ACNP to work inpatient. Almost every job posting I have seen in my area says ACNP required or preferred.

Nothing a FNP trains for will be useful inpatient. I am an ACNP and work inpatient btw...

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

It is for this very reason that I pursued a dual ACNP/FNP degree and got dual certified. I really wanted to work in the ER when I was done, so having both was a huge boon to get hired as a new grad. They like that I can see patients of all ages for "fast track" type care, plus I have the acute care training for adults. Best of both worlds. There are only a few programs that offer the dual degree, but it's definitely worth it to check it out, if that's what you're leaning towards. I went to University of South Alabama and did the Dual Role ACNP/FNP program. They also have a Dual Role ENP/FNP as well. 

Like you, the thought of doing family practice is not appealing. I did enjoy my clinical time in family med & internal med, but I much prefer the hospital setting in the ER or ICU. I thoroughly enjoyed my ER & Intensivist rotations. I fell in love with ER during my clinicals. It's just the perfect fit. Don't select a specialty because "every tells you" to do it. Choose what makes your heart happy. What motivates you to care for your patients. What population you prefer working with. *YOU* are the one who has to live with the career path you choose, not anyone else. As stated above, the Consensus Model is pushing towards ACNP certification for the hospital setting. 

Also, think about this: do you want to treat pediatric patients and/or OB/Gyn? If not, don't waste your time with FNP. You'll spend a lot of time focusing on populations which don't interest you. Something to think about.

Good luck with your decision ? 

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