FNP or AGNP or AGACNP

BritFNP · Oct 7, 2014

Most people are going to respond saying family NP since you can see patients from birth to geri. The other two limit you.

Dranger · Oct 9, 2014

I work with both FNPs and ACNPs.

For some reason people have the idea that FNP makes qualified across the board to take of everyone with just as knowledge in pediatrics as well as adult health. While in a way FNP is a lot broader in scope but if you want to do adult as well as inpatient acute care, ACNP is the way to go. Sure there are some FNPs that work as hospitalists but their training is not as specific as ACNP nor do they do the inpatient procedures (central lines, LPs etc) generally. Also according to state BONs and the updated consensus model, NPs will need to practice within their scope which for a FNP is primary care across the lifespan and ACNP which is adult health in a acute setting.

In-patient works interest me more and if I were to go NP it would be ACNP. In my research for my area, ACNP jobs are specifically harder to come by but pay more than FNP. Many more FNP jobs available.

f3rr0 · Oct 13, 2014

If you want to be more marketable, FNP is an option. However, as an AGNP I see patients from adolescents to geriatrics. I love it.

allnurses Guide · Oct 27, 2014

Also according to state BONs and the updated consensus model, NPs will need to practice within their scope which for a FNP is primary care across the lifespan and ACNP which is adult health in a acute setting

The consensus model does not mention the setting. Setting does not determine which training is most appropriate - it's the patient population. ACNPs are trained and licensed to take care of acutely ill patients, wherever the setting is. FNPs are trained and licensed for the primary care needs of patients. You can have a primary care clinic in a hospital where FNP would be best, or an acute outpatient unit where ACNPs would be best.

Only you can determine where you want to work and in what specialty. It is moving more in certain states towards the fact that those working with acute patients in hospital setting need ACNP and not FNP training and licensure.

In my experience, it's hard to hire new grad FNPs for my acute specialty in hospital setting, purely because their clinical was all in minute clinics, outpatient setting etc. You need educational preparation for the role you want to work.

If you don't know and want to keep your option open, do FNP then post-masters acute care (adult or peds depending on your interests).

Also - research your area. In my area, ACNP jobs are plentiful and FNP jobs are less so. We have a lot of large acute care hospitals though who can't get enough qualified advanced practice providers.