Questions for ACNP and students

[LifesAJourney]

I am a nursing student who would like to become a nurse practitioner later on in my nursing career after gaining work experience. I have my eye on becoming an ACNP. I want to practice in the critical care enviroment.

My question to current ACNP and students:

1.) Are you happy choosing this route instead of FNP?

2.) What made you choose this route?

3.) What is the job market like? What setting do you practice in?

4.) How many years did you work as a nurse before going back to school? Is it difficult getting back into the school routine?

5.) What do you like/dislike about your career?

Also, any tips on choosing a good program and tips in general would be appreciated. I've read on this websites that FNP have a wider job market. Even with that notion, it isn't enough to stir me away from ACNP lol. As far as CC experience, I will be working as an NT in the MICU with previous CNA med/surg and float floor/icu experience. I am thinking about beginning grad school in my late 20s so I have a good foundation of experience to draw upon. Thanks!

[HikingEDRN, BSN, RN]

I'll throw my 2 cents in but I won't be as helpful as previous posters because I am still a student. To give some perspective, I've been a nurse for 5 years. I started my career in neonatal ICU and then switched to adult ED (we do see kids and have peds but anything serious is transferred out) 3 years ago. As you can see, I had a bit of a journey in figuring out what type of specialty and patient population I wanted :)

1. Are you happy you chose this route instead of fnp?

I am very happy I chose this route. As you can see, my previous experience would have been great for FNP and I love the kiddos but my main reason was that I have zero desire to do primary care. I understand that there are FNPs out there doing inpatient work but as ACNPs become more common, I think we'll see less and less opportunities for FNP new grads in the hospital at least in my area.

2. What made you choose this route?

I chose this route mainly because of the training. My program is primarily ICU-based and most of our hours are rotated through specialty ICU (surgical/trauma, neuro, cardio, medical) and ED. The program provides our preceptors except for 60 elective hours (huge selling point). We'll also have days in radiology, the OR for intubations, and time with the diabetes service, I believe.

3. What is the job market like? What setting do you practice in?

I do not practice yet so I can't answer the second question. I have been told that our graduates generally do not have trouble finding a job. There is one other program in my city and it is an online program. I don't know how many students they graduate every year but my ACNP cohort has 8 students (I think about 25 interviewed for a spot). I've done job searches to see what is out there and there are ICU positions, hospitalist positions, and ED. Most, if not all, of the hospitals in my city now have pediatricians that see the kids so not being able to see kids shouldn't hurt my chances of working in the ED.

4. How many years did you work as a nurse before going back to school? Is it difficult getting back into the school routine?

I was a second career nurse so I graduated from my BSN program in December 2008. I started this program in May and it's been fine. Everyone else in my cohort is an adult ICU nurse (the program actually requires experience in a critical care area - guess I cobbled that together with my ED and NICU - lol).

I was fortunate enough to back off to part-time (2 12s per week) so it's very manageable, especially with my two young boys. I will have been a nurse 6 1/2 years when I graduate.

5. What do you like/dislike about your career?

Ask me again in late 2015 :)

Good luck with your endeavors!

[PoweRNursing]

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Hey! I was reading through the posts since I eventually want to be an AGACNP, and saw that you posted:

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5. What do you like/dislike about your career?

Ask me again in late 2015 ?

Good luck with your endeavors!

So, how do you like your job now in 2019?