FNP vs ANP

[BeeGeeRN]

Just was wondering if anyone was battling the family NP vs Adult NP route?? I am currently applying to a few NP schools but having a difficult time deciding which one to choose.

I am interested in all ages however only currently have adult pt experiences. I believe that I would prefer in patient settings rather than clinic stuff. I would love to be a NP in the ICU or possibly some realm of women's health.

When I talk to ppl about my options, I always get told to do FNP bc it's broad base but I feel that bedsides my interest in women's health, I wouldn't really need the family route?! The more I read, I learn that adult NP would be more realistic for inpatient world (not to say I wouldn't see clinic Pts too if I worked for an internal med doc and I saw clinic Pts and rounded in the hospital)

Argh I just don't know... Any suggestions or insight?

Thanks!

B

[MommyandRN]

If you don't want to see peds at all, then just go with adult. I think if you want to see women's health type of pts, you would need family. I'm not sure though. Adult would be the way to go if you definitely only want adults in a hospital area or higher acuity specialty area.

[SlyFoxRN, BSN, RN]

If you want inpatient and don't want to see kids, do adult. Family NP is more general so you spend a lot of semesters doing general wwellness care for kids, geriatrics, etc. Since adult focuses on adults you cut out that stuff and do on depth adult classes such as emergency care.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

If you want inpatient and don't want to see kids do adult. Family NP is more general so you spend a lot of semesters doing general wwellness care for kids, geriatrics, etc. Since adult focuses on adults you cut out that stuff and do on depth adult classes such as emergency care.[/quote']

This is not completely true.

Ultimately, family will give you much greater flexibility regardless if the population you ultimately work with. If you don't want to every see a pedi patient and you know you will never have a desire to in the future, than adult or family is fine.

[guest538567]

I am an ANP. I have yet to be limited in my job options and I have not known of any ANP peers that have felt limited. That said, I wish that I had chosen the FNP route as if I ever move from this area or to a more rural region I feel that the FNP would provide a great deal more flexibility.

If you want to work in an ICU, have you considered ACNP (AGACNP)?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Please read the Consensus Model for accurate certifying info

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/CC-Letter-CNS-NP-Deans.pdf