I am a RN (ADN) with 5 years of experience, and I am almost finished with my BSN. I am thrilled because I finally know what I want to do with my life. I want to become a geriatric NP!! I love working with geriatrics and I am driven to make their lives better. Also, I want to have the knowledge of a Gero NP, so I can take care of my folks when they are old!! I am lucky to have a school less than an hour away that has a Gero and Family NP option. I am lucky that I don't have kids right now, that I don't have a car payment (thanks to my grandma), that I don't have a mortgage. If I do decide to go through the NP program, I can live with my parents and work minimally. I am sick of bedside nursing, and I want out.
The pits of this? everyone I talk to about gero NP tells me not to do it. That instead, I should go through the Family NP option in order to make myself more maketable. I understand this concept, and I apprecitate their advice, but I don't want to go thru family NP. I want to go thru the Gero! The baby boomers are going to be at "that" age soon, so I don't understand why everyone tells me that finding work may be a challenge? Also, there is a long practicum in palliative care within this program. Palliative care is huge, no? I think that the doors will be wide open in the Gero NP field.
My goals with this degree? I would love to work with a doctor, with me resuming care over the geriatric patients. I will gladly go to nursing homes, hospitals, or even their homes to make rounds on them, and I will be fine with being "on-call" for these patients. And/Or, I would like to open up a homecare practice. Or, i would like to be a palliative care nurse, or, I would also love to work with Gero/Psych.
I would like to add one concern. The school that I am speaking of with the family and gero NP program offers a "certificate" option for nurses who went through their family NP program. It is not offered for the gero NP students. What are the benefits of getting certified? Is it a red-flag that it isn't offered for the gero NP?
Please don't tell me what you think I want to hear. Give me your honest opinion of this specialty. If all goes as planned, I will be a NP in 3-4 years. I am not sure how I feel about the family NP program, mainly because I have no nursing interest in learning about kids/babies. I think I will do poorly when it's time to study/work that group, but I know I will make it. Otherwise, I am OK with becoming a family NP as long as I learn a lot about geriatric and psychiatric care. However, with geriatrics, I know that my brain will be wide open throughout the entire school sequence. That is important! But I hate to think that jobs will be limited after graduation. What should I do??
I agree with the others. Do what you want. I'm in the FNP program because to be honest I wasn't sure exactly where I wanted to end up and I wanted to keep my options open. That said, I've worked mostly with adults my entire career and am developing an interest in oncology/hospice nursing.
Gosh, if your passion is geriatrics then I would say go for it! I can't tell you how many docs I've done rotations with who are constantly searching for a Geri NP to take over at least part of their nursing home care. All of the geri NPs I know who do go to nursing homes have amazing flexible schedules and make great $$. Go for it and don't look back!
Just out of curiosity, what is "great $$" these days? I got a call from a recruiter about an ER locum tenans temp assignment for a laughable $40/hour. I remember years ago when I got that as a RN working agency/temp stuff. I told them about it too... and I think we all need to stand up together and take the 85% of the docs salary that we're reimbursed by medicare, or at least 70-75%. I think our average at this time is about 50% of the average family practice doc. It makes me ******* sick.
As a geriatric NP, I believe you will be very marketable. I did an ANP program and those are frowned upon as well because again, they say, "FNP is more marketable". Well, I have to say, I am SO glad I did the ANP program, got the cardiac specialization I wanted and now I have the job of my dreams. When I was searching for NP jobs, I actually came across quite a number of geriatric NP positions, some where even close to my home. Nursing homes will always need help so I say, if you want to be a geriatric NP, then go for it! I know you will do very well and the job will come, with patience and time, not to worry, and then you will be ever so glad you did what you really had a passion for. Good luck!
jlcole45
474 Posts
I agree with the others. Do what you want. I'm in the FNP program because to be honest I wasn't sure exactly where I wanted to end up and I wanted to keep my options open. That said, I've worked mostly with adults my entire career and am developing an interest in oncology/hospice nursing.