FNP student - need clinical specialty suggestions

Trauma Columnist · Aug 21, 2018

I vote for nephrology - huge variety of patients and for many of them we are their PCP

terfernay · Aug 25, 2018

I think this is something you'll have to decide on your own. I took the time to shadow various NPs in different areas to get an idea of where I would like to practice when I graduate. I found out that I am most interested in Family Medicine and OB/GYN.

InquisitiveAPN · Aug 28, 2018

I vote for something exotic like the Department of State. Get some primary care and emergency training. Pick up some extra certs like remite practitioner, EMT, WEMT, audit an ATLS course, go to some procedure boot camps, and treat and train embassy and consulate staff and contractors in all reaches of the globe.

Arjen Rudd, "deeplomahtic eemunity."

-sorry if you don't get the reference. Classic.

babyNP., APRN · Aug 28, 2018

Well we can't tell you what you would like...my suggestion is to see how your clinical goes and see if anything piques your interest. If you want to work in a hospital you can always do a post-masters acute care program if you want both roles and have a good clinical experience to do that.

I was gung-ho for adult critical care all throughout nursing school until my last year when I did a pediatric rotation, figured out that I could take care of babies for a living and instantly changed all my plans...

pro-student · Aug 28, 2018

There is no such thing as an acute care FNP program. Acute care NP tracks are age specific and either pediatric, neonatal, or adult/geriatric. FNP is a primary care

specialty across the lifespan.

If you're interested in being an NP in an emergency setting, the lifespan scope of practice is ideal but based in part on the consensus model there is a push to have educational preparation match practice. There is ENP certification available which requires you to have FNP certifiation and either submit a portfolio based on your practice or attend a formal ENP program, complete a year long formal resisdnecy, or have at least 2 years experience in the role and pass an exam.

If I were you, I'd resist the urge to specialize so early in your training especially when pursuing a broad primary care area. This is especially true if you don't have a strong attraction to any particular specualty (which your post seems to make clear). If there's something you're interested in and have the opportunity to do some clinical hours in (e.g. - urgent care which is often staffed by FNPs or family med) by all means go for it. But also be open to experiences that might not seem like your first choice. However, if you're really dead set on acute care, you should consider switching programs before you get too deep into a program that doesn't align with your career goals. Hope that helps.

InquisitiveAPN · Aug 28, 2018

I actually thought I'd want to become a CRNA. It's why I went to nursing school. I hated hospitals and couldn't stay in confined in an ICU long enough to get the requisite experience. I did ER, but they move around a lot and are less structured there. Didactically, crna school would be sweet, but yeah going to hospitals makes me feel sick inside.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 1, 2018

I vote for something exotic like the Department of State. Get some primary care and emergency training. Pick up some extra certs like remite practitioner, EMT, WEMT, audit an ATLS course, go to some procedure boot camps, and treat and train embassy and consulate staff and contractors in all reaches of the globe.
Arjen Rudd, "deeplomahtic eemunity."
-sorry if you don't get the reference. Classic.

That does sound exciting and I absolutely love the Lethal Weapon series :)

DelightfulNP · Sep 4, 2018

It sounds like if acute care has been where you spent the majority of your career then the ACNP program would be more suited than FNP. However, I have known folks who have worked in acute care and wanted to make a complete change and thus pursue FNP route. I think this will come down to personal choice.