FNP or AGACNP?

[nursern828]

I know this question has been asked 1000 times, but I am having so much trouble deciding what I want to do! 

I am a practicing nurse with 2 years telemetry and 2 years ICU (general ICU at a community hospital).

I think my dream job would be some sort of specialty group specifically either cardiology or neurology (probs would prefer cardiology). I would like to see pts outpatient, but round in the hospitals/critical care for these patients as well. My initial thought was AGACNP as I don't care to work with children, but do speciality cardiology clinics prefer FNPs to treat children with heart conditions etc?  I would also consider internal medicine/hospitalist, but is that mostly FNP or ACNP? I also don't want to close my self off to ICU/critical care, although I don't see that as my lifelong career given the tough schedule of ICU. I'm all over the place clearly, haha

My hospital does not hire ANY NPs at all so I know very few to talk to or get a sense of their roles. There also aren't a ton of hospital NP jobs in my area, but I would definitely be willing to move. 

Everyone at work tells me to go to FNP because they are more versatile, but if I want to round in hospitals/see cardiac patients on the floors shouldn't I be acute care NP? Or am I going to limit myself?

Given the fact that I would likely have to move to find an ACNP hospital job, I am also concerned that finding a job would be difficult do to my lack of connections at major hospitals that would hire those NPs.

My biggest fear is choosing ACNP and being unable to find work anywhere...

Could I go back and get my FNP post cert later to work with kids?

Second question: Most programs near me only offer MSN for ACNP. There is only one DNP program. Everyone I talk to tells me to go for my DNP. Does it matter?

Im so lost!

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

You have absolutely answered your own question here:

I would like

1 hour ago, nursern828 said:

round in the hospitals/critical care for these patients as well

 

1 hour ago, nursern828 said:

I would also consider internal medicine/hospitalist

 

1 hour ago, nursern828 said:

I want to round in hospitals/see cardiac patients on the floors shouldn't I be acute care NP

Everything in your own post that points to the FNP track is what "others" have said... 

2 other points:

Yes you can do a post masters FNP certificate if you desire at a later time. and you can do the MSN program now if you would prefer to do one of the local programs then complete an online DNP program while you are working.

[Guest1144461]

Sounds like ACNP. Do a residency/fellowship. You might have to move, just accept that.

[IvyNurse1908]

The questions you are raising are the exact reason I’m doing a dual program. I can’t imagine going back to school after this.