BDWilliams09

Cardiology will most often use ACNP. I have seen nephrology use FNP for outpatient dialysis but it all depends on where you want to work. If you want to see patients in primary care or work in a clinic you can do FNP or adult primary care. If you plan on working inside the hospital though you need your ACNP.

I guess it depends on which program your are at and the specialty you choose but I do not feel my program is focused on paper writing. Each semester there is 1-2 papers but none of them have been too difficult. And as far as concern for not learning I would not be too concerned. You are going to be presented with enough material to keep your head swimming for quite some time.

I am currently at Emory University in the acute care program and while it is true most of us train in the icu's you certainly do not have to. Basically if you want to work inpatient you have to be acute care certified. We are told the days of the FNP's working in acute care settings are coming to an end and many states have already past legislation addressing the issue. If you are going to spend time in both settings I would recommend switching to the acute care program and doing your clinical in internal medicine if you do not wish to be in the icu's.

It depends on your long term goals and where you would like to work. Most direct entry programs are designed to prepare you for primary care (FNP). I am told by the programs trying to get the money from students that studies show no difference in quality or care from experienced RN getting NP vs Direct entry. I find this very hard to believe. I know I worked at the bedside for 6 years before going to NP school and I have a hard time believing this experience does not give me a huge advantage. My specialty is AGACNP which requires acute care experience. If you wish to work in acute care setting most programs will require you to have a minimum of 1 year experience.

If your main objective is primary care I feel you would benefit by NP school. In 20 states and growing you would have the ability to work independently if you so choose. As a PA you are always going to work under a physician. NP has a masters degree and own license. PA only a Bachelors required (most programs) and you work under the license of a physician.

I think to be accepted to top rated NP programs name recognition does matter to a degree. I am currently at Emory University and I received my undergraduate from the University of Oklahoma. These schools receive 100's of applications and to set yourself from the rest you need every advantage you can get.

I'm not familiar with Texas but many states are passing legislation requiring FNP's to obtain post master certificates if they wish to continue in the acute care setting. Sounds like it may be to your advantage to seek an AGACNP or ENP program.

I researched CRNA and Acute Care NP programs quite extensively before I decided the tract I wished to pursue and I am not aware of any university offering both. I've tried to reason through your angle but I really do not understand why you would want both degrees?

Grad school is expensive and time consuming. Before I invested that kind of money I would recommend you do some soul searching and try to focus your long term goals. The two degrees you are mentioning are completely different tracts. A few courses may overlap but why waste your money on classes you may not use.