FNP vs. ACNP

[Redds]

Hi,

I recently have been researching FNP and ACNP online programs. I am having difficulty in differentiating on what you can and cannot do with each role. I am someone who likes options when it comes to a career and do not want to be stuck in one place/ specialty. I would like to get my FNP being that you are more likely to get a job placement in the ER after specific certification. My NP goals and interests include: ER, critical care, acute hospital setting as well as possibly outpatient, or specialization in cardiology or pediatrics. If you hold an FNP, my question i,s can you still work in an acute care hospital setting and obtain specific certifications if needed without going back and having to repeat for your ACNP? Also, any advice on good online FNP programs? Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Background: I have my BSN and I am currently working as an RN in critical care.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Welcome to Allnurses.com! Your thread has been moved to our Nurse Practitioners forum to elicit more responses. Good luck with your educational endeavors.

[Larry3373]

I am currently enrolled in the FNP- AG ACNP dual role through university of south alabama, which is designed for the ER, and will allow me to test for both FNP and acute care certifications. I believe it is a good program, but it is 100 percent self study. read 5 chapters and then take a test, lol. I've only recently started, but from what i can tell, it is a good program. The orientation was online, and there is a clinical orientation required before you start clinical that is on site (about a year into the program for 3 days as I recall). From the research I have done, it really depends on the area you work in with regard to allowing you to work in the hospital in an acute care setting with only the fnp. In one hospital I work for, FNPs are allowed to work in ER fast track, and as hospitalists, but not in the ICU. In some instances, you may be hired for a hospital position as an FNP, but your state board of nursing may feel that you are practicing outside your scope. The acute care cert only allows you to work with adults. If you do the dual role like I'm doing you can do pretty much anything, but your clinical hours in school will be doubled. (From about 140 a semester to 300). With acute care only you may have trouble starting in ER because you won't be able to see all ages. You will be able to work in an adult ICU, as a hospitalists, and in cardiology, surgery, or some other specialty area. The contention is that the roles have overlapped so much, so that many FNPs seem to feel that they should be able to work in acute care since they have already been doing so effectively. My concern is that with the consensus model, there seems to be a push to better differentiate the NP roles, and state boards of nursing may begin to crack down on FNPs working in acute care.

[Larry3373]

Also, I have not worked in the ER, but they accepted me into the masters program for ER providers with my ICU experience (they actually prefer ICU experience over ER).

[Redds]

Thank you. This helps a lot. I came across that program while researching. Another concern for me is I'm looking for a part time program. It looks like they only have full time programs in all the schools offering the dual major online.

[OCRN3]

As FNP I have been able to work in the hospitals SNFs and clinics with no other certifications

[Larry3373]

I am going part time, so shouldn't be a problem.