Hi, here's my scenario- tell me if you think FNP is the way to go:
I am currently working as an RN on a general med-surg-oncology floor and I'll have about 3 years of experience when I graduate with the MSN next December. I would like to work in primary care for adults, a some type of specialty or women's health. While I fully expect to work full time for a year or two, I have three kids at home and definitely want to move into something part time while they are growing.
I really can't see myself doing anything with peds though I have no particular aversion to it- I would just rather work with adults..
So, should I really bother with all the peds stuff required for the FNP? Isn't is better to focus on the ANP and have better job opps in hospitals? Or will I still find myself limited if I can't work with children?
Thanks for the input..I'm currently in the FNP track and if this is my last chance to switch- clinicals start in Jan.
If on the other hand is for the protection of the patient thats another whole story.
The Texas Board of Nursing is strict about NP's practicing within their specialty and the reason for this is to protect the public. I don't know of any FNP program that requires over 800 clinical hours maximum and they only have to require a minimum of 500. FNP's are supposed to train in pedes, adults, geriatrics and OB and they can barely cover the basics with so few clinical hours...that's really scary.
I will flip if I ever witness a FNP practicing in an inpatient setting. The day that happens is the day I'm reporting that FNP to the Board of Nursing.
The Texas Board of Nursing is strict about NP's practicing within their specialty and the reason for this is to protect the public. I don't know of any FNP program that requires over 800 clinical hours maximum and they only have to require a minimum of 500. FNP's are supposed to train in pedes, adults, geriatrics and OB and they can barely cover the basics with so few clinical hours...that's really scary.
I will flip if I ever witness a FNP practicing in an inpatient setting. The day that happens is the day I'm reporting that FNP to the Board of Nursing.
Well, not two days since I made my "i'm doing the ANP track" declaration I'm having doubts again. I found some old theads on the subject and it seems to be a somewhat common problem that the ANP can't find a job, especially if in the case of an unexpected move to a different part of the country. So, since will likely be moving elsewhere in a few years I guess the best thing to do is stay with the FNP track, even though it doesn't align perfectly with my career goals (that include only adults). This is not the first nor last thing in nursing that doesn't make sense, I guess.
JD- were you rounding/making decisions on inpatients while you were an RN? That I have not heard of.....
You're right about how the nomenclature keeps changing- that makes it hard to chose a grad program that will endure for the long haul.
I have not (was offered though)...it takes all the fingers both hands to count the practices where it was happening... It happened in every hospital I ever worked in.
I go way back well before Joint Commission we had fairly large standing order books on every floor I worked on. Even after Joint Commission we were still using them in the units.
Until "all" the states / programs / testing entities sit down any one of us may wake up one day with our career / life plans at stake because of a change in nomenclature...
I do not find what has been posted here at all by the original poster. The nurse practice act here does not support the statements your faculty has given you... Read it and interpret it yourself and see if you agree...
I am in school, and I had to make many of the choices you are faced with. If it comes to the issues you fear, then I will obtain a post master's certificate in Acute Care. My local hospitals advertise for FNP or ARNP. I chose FNP, because if I work in an ER, I need to be able to see kids. If I work in a walk in clinic, the same. I will most likely obtain a post master's as I have said. But then I also need to look at the doctorate.
So there are many choices... You do what's right for you. It will all work out in the end. If you have no desire to work with children ever, then go with what you desire... There isn't just one choice here. You go with what is best for you now and know that later, if things come push to shove, you have other options. Another year of education or less and you can be certified in both.
I love being a nurse. I look forward to being a practitioner. I honor every one that has gone before me. But when asked, I recommend people to do the PA program, because I feel that the ARNP is becoming too fractured... I truly think that we broke away from our original model as RNs and stopped the "float to the area of your expertise" mentality and may end up suffering for it...
I do not find what has been posted here at all by the original poster. The nurse practice act here does not support the statements your faculty has given you... Read it and interpret it yourself and see if you agree...
I am in school, and I had to make many of the choices you are faced with. If it comes to the issues you fear, then I will obtain a post master's certificate in Acute Care. My local hospitals advertise for FNP or ARNP. I chose FNP, because if I work in an ER, I need to be able to see kids. If I work in a walk in clinic, the same. I will most likely obtain a post master's as I have said. But then I also need to look at the doctorate.
So there are many choices... You do what's right for you. It will all work out in the end. If you have no desire to work with children ever, then go with what you desire... There isn't just one choice here. You go with what is best for you now and know that later, if things come push to shove, you have other options. Another year of education or less and you can be certified in both.
I love being a nurse. I look forward to being a practitioner. I honor every one that has gone before me. But when asked, I recommend people to do the PA program, because I feel that the ARNP is becoming too fractured... I truly think that we broke away from our original model as RNs and stopped the "float to the area of your expertise" mentality and may end up suffering for it...
Good luck.
I personally like that NPs are specialized. Ironically, its makes them more trained in the MD/DO vein. Physicians are not "jack of all trades", they specialize in family health, peds, gyn/ob/, surgery, etc. If I have a problem, I want to see someone who was specifically trained for that and has a deep in-depth knowlege of the subject, not just on the job training. I don't want a pediatrician doing my heart surgery, or a radiologist treating my sinus infection. I think NPs should be proud we can be didactically and clinically trained experts in a field. I think it gives us a leg up in our chosen specialty, whether it be family med, pedes, neonates, womens health, psych, acute care, etc. And if we ever wanna switch, most post-masters are around 18 credits, or 3 semesters. We also have the ability to go into a plethora of other avenues besides direct patient contact. And soon, we can all be doctorally trained if we choose. Thats why I'm choosing NP over PA.
there are also more than a few hospitals that look the other way when the doctors' nurse is making rounds/decisions.
jd... as an rn first... i "thought" i was making decisions regarding my patients in the hospital too. sure, low bp... give some fluid. fever... give some tylenol. whatever. those are "protocols" most of the time, which give you permission to make those "decisions". as an acnp now, i realized those were not really medical decisions that are being discussed here. there is soooooo much more involved than just superficial orders or needs.
an rn is not capable nor legally able to make necessary medical decisions, as a general rule. i am not saying that an rn does not know what to expect to do for treating a certain illness. it comes back down to legalities. the bons would have a fit and revoke an rn license if they knew about a "doctors' nurse making rounds/decisions." that is not safe for the patient, nor is it within his or her scope.
why in the world would there be any nps if that were the case?
like others have said and we have all exhausted before, fnps and acnps have very different scopes... and just because there arent any acnps in georgia and just because your state does it that way, does not make it "right." in giving advice to others, you should consider what is legal and safest for the patients.
now... back to the original poster... :)
my suggestion to you is to call around to some of the places advertising for an fnp or whatever and see if they'd consider hiring you as an anp. most of the time places just say "fnp" because that's all they know. it's not that they are against other specialties... especially if it is in your scope of practice. best wishes to you!
And that's a lawsuit some patient is going to WIN!
I doubt it... As long as following the nurse practice act. Although anyone any time can have lawsuit. Its not just private practices here in GA using NPs in hospitals.. Hospitals are using NPs in hospitals.
I have done 3 NP programs; family, woman's health and primary care. In all three part of my clinical rotations were done in hospitals. Keep in mind that ACNP is a new kid on the block and many of us NPs have been working in that capacity for many years. And even some of us non-ACNP had hospital rotations as part of our training.
Each state has different rules, but my practice is founded in experience education and clinical training for everything I do. I am more than able to justify my presence in the hospital for any lawsuit.
each state has different rules, but my practice is founded in experience education and clinical training for everything i do. i am more than able to justify my presence in the hospital for any lawsuit.
jeremy
that is exactly my point... and i guess i forgot to mention it. *lol* if you can show you have had training in that particular setting (e.g. hospital) during your np program (rn experience does not count), then you are covered. some people will say that as an acnp, i should not be in the outpatient setting at all... well, i had a clinical rotation through adult internal med... so likewise, i can justify my outpt exposure.
I have done 3 NP programs; family, woman's health and primary care. In all three part of my clinical rotations were done in hospitals.
Jeremy
I'm confused...what is the difference between the FNP and primary care NP??? A FNP is a primary care NP. There is no such thing as a certification in primary care.
ANPFNPGNP
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The Texas Board of Nursing is strict about NP's practicing within their specialty and the reason for this is to protect the public. I don't know of any FNP program that requires over 800 clinical hours maximum and they only have to require a minimum of 500. FNP's are supposed to train in pedes, adults, geriatrics and OB and they can barely cover the basics with so few clinical hours...that's really scary.
I will flip if I ever witness a FNP practicing in an inpatient setting. The day that happens is the day I'm reporting that FNP to the Board of Nursing.