Hi!I am a healthcare worker/non-nurse. I am researching/considering direct entry nurse practitioner programs. All of the options are a little overwhelming! I am very interested in medical mission work and also, separately, mental health. From what I have read FNP would be the best option....that I would be very marketable to employers and could work in general medicine with various age groups and/or mental health as well.Are there options that I should consider?Thank you in advance for allowing me to benefit from your knowledge/experience!
sailornurse 1,231 Posts Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care. Has 39 years experience. Jun 5, 2016 As a family nurse practitioner you are not qualified to do mental health but then there is psychiatric nurse practitioner which is very different. You could possibly do both psych NP and Family NP but they are separate certifications which you have to maintain both. I'm family NP and I work at a psychiatric acute-care inpatient hospital part time. I only do the medical history and physical's. I also know 2 family NPs that are also psych NP's. They both say it's tricky to keep up the required hours of practice specialty to maintain the certifications.
fluffi77 4 Posts Jun 5, 2016 Thanks sailornurse! Good/important information to have. Do you have any recommendations for me if I am interested in working abroad (atleast part-time)? I have an interest in mental health, but I don't know how much demand there would be for that in a third world setting.
sailornurse 1,231 Posts Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care. Has 39 years experience. Jun 5, 2016 Sorry I do not know about nurse practitioners in other parts the world there is a forum for it I think.
