FNP/AGACNP Career Path

JCS_APRN · May 18, 2019

Lindsay,

I can relate to your post, I'm in a similar path. I graduated the FNP program a year ago and immediately went into the agacnp for dual certification. My reasoning is like yours I wanted to be able to go anywhere, while gaining more knowledge and skills along the way. I had 7 years experience as an RN before graduating my FNP, with most being in a larger emergency department. I'm not sure that I will stay in the emergency department I'm leaning towards not.

As far as marketability, I've only met one other NP with dual certifications in FNP and AGACNP and it was one of my preceptors. She had multiple jobs, working in Urgent Care, Family Practice, intensivist/icu, Internal Medicine, an emergency. So, pretty much everywhere across the board.

When other NP's learn that I'm dual certifying the first question is why, or why didn't you just do the ENP. Truthfully, I considered the ENP but it seems like too short of a program to really gain anything. Also, it still keeps you in an outpatient setting. However, if I knew I wanted to stay in the emergency room I may have selective that route. Additionally, there are more areas requiring dual certification to work in the emergency department as it stands. There's also a lot of publications that recommend dual certification over the FNP in acute care settings. In my area most ER nurse practitioners that I know are soley FNPs. I find this strange because no part of the FNP program covers emergency medicine. It seems kind of risky to me...

As far as switching to ICU, I'm not sure it will be super helpful this late in the game. You will be gaining experience but the experience you will be gaining is as a nurse not as a provider. These roles are night and day as I'm sure you're well aware. My experience as a nurse helps me in situations, but only so much because I didn't have to know all the additional stuff. Personally, I think the best thing for you is to gain as much experience in your rotations as possible, if you're not considering working as an intensivist. If you find that you like working as an intensivist there are internship programs for new grads at some larger facilities.

That's just my opinion anyway but what do I know I'm in the same boat as you, lol.

Lindsay61116 · May 18, 2019

9 hours ago, JCS_APRN said:
Lindsay,
I can relate to your post, I'm in a similar path. I graduated the FNP program a year ago and immediately went into the agacnp for dual certification. My reasoning is like yours I wanted to be able to go anywhere, while gaining more knowledge and skills along the way. I had 7 years experience as an RN before graduating my FNP, with most being in a larger emergency department. I'm not sure that I will stay in the emergency department I'm leaning towards not.
As far as marketability, I've only met one other NP with dual certifications in FNP and AGACNP and it was one of my preceptors. She had multiple jobs, working in Urgent Care, Family Practice, intensivist/icu, Internal Medicine, an emergency. So, pretty much everywhere across the board.
When other NP's learn that I'm dual certifying the first question is why, or why didn't you just do the ENP. Truthfully, I considered the ENP but it seems like too short of a program to really gain anything. Also, it still keeps you in an outpatient setting. However, if I knew I wanted to stay in the emergency room I may have selective that route. Additionally, there are more areas requiring dual certification to work in the emergency department as it stands. There's also a lot of publications that recommend dual certification over the FNP in acute care settings. In my area most ER nurse practitioners that I know are soley FNPs. I find this strange because no part of the FNP program covers emergency medicine. It seems kind of risky to me...
As far as switching to ICU, I'm not sure it will be super helpful this late in the game. You will be gaining experience but the experience you will be gaining is as a nurse not as a provider. These roles are night and day as I'm sure you're well aware. My experience as a nurse helps me in situations, but only so much because I didn't have to know all the additional stuff. Personally, I think the best thing for you is to gain as much experience in your rotations as possible, if you're not considering working as an intensivist. If you find that you like working as an intensivist there are internship programs for new grads at some larger facilities.
That's just my opinion anyway but what do I know I'm in the same boat as you, lol.

Thanks so much for your reply! I found the same thing, that the FNP doesn’t cover the ER side of being an APRN. I wanted a program that was all inclusive and made me the best possible provider. The AGACNP component will be teaching me invasive lines and intubation and that’s critical in an ER setting. I’ve worked with mostly FNPs too at my ER in the fast track setting but one dual role NP works in our ER but he got scooped up pretty fast for a higher paying gig in another state. Which gives me hope that the value of our degree will be recognized. Thanks again for the reply!