Switching Nurse Practitioner Specialities

Published

Hi Everyone,

I am currently in a Doctorate of Nursing Practice program specializing in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care. However, I am considering changing to the Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty. The reason I want to switch programs is that I feel that with the FNP I will be able to gain more experience with a variety of patients from children to older adults vs the AGPC which is just adults and older adults. In addition, I feel that the FNP will make me more marketable as well after graduating. However, my only concern is that there is an oversaturation of FNPs in the Chicago land area and I am worried that I may have difficulty securing a job around that area. Are there any current FNP's who can offer me advice about this topic? Should I continue with the Adult gero primary care or choose the FNP. Your input would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How is the Adult/Gero market in that area? Are you in a position to move?

Yes, FNP has the broadest scope. A mile wide and an inch deep.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I'm not sure about your end career plans, but I've seen many people touting the broad marketability of a FNP degree, but citing career goals like acute care positions. Primary care degrees do not make you qualified for acute care positions, even if some people have taken them. It's partially the responsibility of the individual to know the limits of their education, so even if a hospital will hire a FNP, if you have not received appropriate training, you shouldn't be applying for the position. But, if you think you would prefer primary care with a wider age range of patients, then obviously the FNP degree appears to be your best fit. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

What is your end career goal? Where do you see yourself working? In-patient? Out-patient? Specialty clinic? What patient population do you want to work with? What was your motivation for originally applying to the AGPC program? What is the current job market like in your area? Are you able to move if the market is less than ideal? If you can't find your dream job - what other options appeal to you? What education/certification do you need for dream job and/or alternate pathways?

Hopefully you asked yourself these questions when you first applied to the AGPC program, but if not they are good questions to ask yourself as your move forward - the education pathway you chose should support your end goals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, Burn ICU.
I'm not sure about your end career plans, but I've seen many people touting the broad marketability of a FNP degree, but citing career goals like acute care positions. Primary care degrees do not make you qualified for acute care positions, even if some people have taken them. It's partially the responsibility of the individual to know the limits of their education, so even if a hospital will hire a FNP, if you have not received appropriate training, you shouldn't be applying for the position. But, if you think you would prefer primary care with a wider age range of patients, then obviously the FNP degree appears to be your best fit. Good luck.

This is why people think they should do FNP, the "marketability". There's even students quick to apply to these programs straight out of nursing school not knowing what NPs do with zero experience. I would think an acute care NP would be able to perform certain procedures through training vs an FNP correct?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion