PNP or FNP for increased job opportunities?

[rnmindy]

Ok, I have applied for the University of South Alabama for their PNP-PC program and I really have only ever done Peds. I absolutely know that I don't want to do adults. I keep being told that I really need to do the FNP program because by only doing PNP I am severly restricting my job opportunities after graduation. I was told the same thing when graduating nursing school, that I should work on a Medicine unit for at least a year then transfer to a more specialized area. I NEVER worked on a Medicine or Telemetry unit and don't have the desire to. My location is south Louisiana. What are your thoughts as far as finding a PNP position in this area pretty easily after graduation? Thanks in advance for your input.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

All those unique to the PNP program are included in the FNP program under different titles. Obviously FNP doesn't have a specific patho for kids only it is a patho across the lifespan, etc. PNPs get more experience in pediatrics (in general), no one is debating that. The truth is that a novice NP is a novice NP and both PNP and FNP are adequately prepared for entry to practice in this regard.[/quote']

Nobody was saying a novice NP wasn't a novice NP who was adequately prepared to practice.

That doesn't mean "basically the same" pediatric education though. FNPs don't have the same level of ped education and experience as PNPs. That is simple.

Of course it's the FNPs who keep demanding they have the same "basic education". Something to prove?

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Nobody was saying a novice NP wasn't a novice NP who was adequately prepared to practice. That doesn't mean "basically the same" pediatric education though. FNPs don't have the same level of ped education and experience as PNPs. That is simple. Of course it's the FNPs who keep demanding they have the same "basic education". Something to prove?

Basically the same = novice NP for entry to practice. That is simple.

Yes the graduated, practicing FNPs keep "demanding" we have the same education. The students and perspective students are the ones "demanding" we don't. I have nothing to prove. I am a board certified NP with years of experience; this is an academic debate and nothing more.

Perhaps it is the students, that have no perspective of APRN practice, waxing poetic, that have something to prove?

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Basically the same = novice NP for entry to practice. That is simple. Yes the graduated practicing FNPs keep "demanding" we have the same education. The students and perspective students are the ones "demanding" we don't. I have nothing to prove. I am a board certified NP with years of experience; this is an academic debate and nothing more. Perhaps it is the students, that have no perspective of APRN practice, waxing poetic, that have something to prove?[/quote']

" 3. FNPs get basically the same pediatric training and there is no difference in care vs PNPS."

Nobody said FNPs have less education...ever. But they do not have "basically the same pediatric training".

Both come out of school a novice...doesn't mean same training in the peds department.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

You will see when you finish school and start to transition into practice that novice does in fact mean novice.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

You will see when you finish school and start to transition into practice that novice does in fact mean novice.

Omg but it doesn't mean that the FNP and PNP have "get basically the same pediatric training".

You truly believe your education in peds specific stuff is the same as the PNP? What the heck are PNP students doing all their quarters? PNP students must be slow learners. Or...the FNP program is much longer.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Obviously you are having a very emotional response to what you think is some sort of slight against PNPs. Let me assure you it is not. I have several PNP colleagues and, like all APRNs, I respect the very much, they do great work with their patients. I also am fairly confident (as we have discussed it before) that they would agree a FNP could could do their job as well as they do, or they could do their job as well with an FNP.

This is because both are competent novice providers exiting school equipped with the tools to learn on the job.

I can remember back to my student days, and I know I would feel offended by my own comments. At the time I would have said that I had 600 hours of clinical experience and all my graduate education to validate my argument. In hindsight it is quite evident that is only the bare minimum to begin the journey as an APRN. Your first year of practice you with triple the number of clinical hours you had in school and you will be the personal making all the decisions. Students often feel like they are "really doing it" (as one preceptee told me); but the truth is you are doing maybe a third of it. Practice will change your perspective. That isn't a slight to anyone, it's how our education works.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Obviously you are having a very emotional response to what you think is some sort of slight against PNPs. Let me assure you it is not. I have several PNP colleagues and like all APRNs, I respect the very much, they do great work with their patients. I also am fairly confident (as we have discussed it before) that they would agree a FNP could could do their job as well as they do, or they could do their job as well with an FNP. This is because both are competent novice providers exiting school equipped with the tools to learn on the job. I can remember back to my student days, and I know I would feel offended by my own comments. At the time I would have said that I had 600 hours of clinical experience and all my graduate education to validate my argument. In hindsight it is quite evident that is only the bare minimum to begin the journey as an APRN. Your first year of practice you with triple the number of clinical hours you had in school and you will be the personal making all the decisions. Students often feel like they are "really doing it" (as one preceptee told me); but the truth is you are doing maybe a third of it. Practice will change your perspective. That isn't a slight to anyone, it's how our education works.[/quote']

This has nothing to do with it.

I don't see any slight against PNPs. I see an FNP who stated "FNPs get basically the same pediatric training" and that just doesn't even make sense. That's it. That's all.

I'm not slighted. I know the truth. I fear there's an FNP out there who believes the statement though. I would fear my family doc if he tried to tell me he was just as educated in pediatrics as the pediatrician.

To me I just see some chest pounding FNPs.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Family practice docs do get the same basic training as pediatricians, and they are adequately prepared for that age group. That's true as well.

As far as as the chest pounding FNPs, they are offset by the play-pretend student PNPs, if you want to look at it that way.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Family practice docs do get the same basic training as pediatricians and they are adequately prepared for that age group. That's true as well. As far as as the chest pounding FNPs, they are offset by the play-pretend student PNPs, if you want to look at it that way.[/quote']

If that's what you want to believe....

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

I was debating whether to even respond to this thread. I too was wondering the difference in training in PNP and FNP. But if what I've read on here is true there isn't a difference despite research to the contrary, so why bother specializing?

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I was debating whether to even respond to this thread. I too was wondering the difference in training in PNP and FNP. But if what I've read on here is true there isn't a difference despite research to the contrary so why bother specializing?[/quote']

Do yourself a favor and look at the curriculums for PNP and FNP and decide if you really think they are the same.

Also a reason to specialize as a PNP...to set yourself apart from an FNP if you are job hunting. If I want a job here in the peds hospital...I need PNP and not FNP.

[hubcaps]

Family practice docs do get the same basic training as pediatricians, and they are adequately prepared for that age group. That's true as well.

As far as as the chest pounding FNPs, they are offset by the play-pretend student PNPs, if you want to look at it that way.

Very wrong. What I am about to say is from my experience and observations. My sister is a ped rheumatologists. I was in nursing school when she was in med school and I was a new nurse when she was a resident. Her training and experience is completely different from a family practice doc. I have also worked with many peds residence so I know their experiences. Family practice docs do not go through all the peds specialties and if they do it is very brief. The depth of knowledge and experience of a pediatrician vs a family practice doc in peds is vastly different. I probably have more knowledge from being a PICU RN than a family practice doc in managing kids with chronic issues.

In my opinion, for a well child or simple illness, there's little to no difference. However, for complex illnesses a PNP or pediatrician would be better. There are exceptions, which are typically based on experience.