New here: questions on starting out on the NP journey!

[np2012]

hello,

i have been lurking for many moons now and figured that with all the questions i needed to ask, it was high time i signed up and get on board.

moving on with a nursing career is confusing to say the least. i have an mba in healthcare admin, and have worked in the field almost 15 years,but last year i got my adn-rn....and am now working on the icu step down unit for the last few months.

i am still figuring out how to go about the np route: ( i want to do acute care np)

1st question:

i could potentially do the bsn-msn/np route ( and my employer pretty much covers costs for the bsn) which is a year long, i could potentially get in the bsn asap an start in june of this year...and the way time flies it will be an year before i know it .

or

try for a direct entry msn since i have a second degree bachelors and masters

not sure which is better or if it even matters to future employers?

2nd question: should i do fnp or acnp? i have looked at curricula and still not sure...what is the best way to find out what each does, or even if there is a defined role for each..i don't see myself working with women or children even i do fnp, i know i will tend to steer more towards adult care, which is why i am wondering

what is included in the training of an acnp that a fnp does not get to do, is probably the better question?

3rd question:

where do acnp typically do their preceptorships ? since i work in a icu step down, will it be any easier for me to find them in my unit ? are their clinical hours mostly inpatient or outpatient ? most np programs ( ia m looking at usa etc, want us to locate our own preceptors and this makes me wonder where i need to start looking for for them, even this early in the game..

i have only about a million other questions, but i think i will wait on these for a while..:)

thank you in advance! i think this forum is a priceless resource to have for new nurses like me..i dont know where else i could turn to for real world information like this

simran, rn