What to specialize in??

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Hello everyone! I'm a new RN that is definitely planning to go on to graduate school to get my masters to become a practitioner very soon. I want to eventually specialize in HIV/AIDS related-illnesses and care for patients affected by HIV/AIDS. I was researching some schools and wasn't sure which speciality I should get into. The choices that I ended up with were acute care, primary care, or family (because I may want to work with children affected by HIV/AIDS too). If anyone knows other specialities that are better for HIV/AIDS, please let me know. I would just like some advice on which speciality I should get into in order to end up caring for HIV/AIDS patients as a practitioner. Any response would be appreciated! Thanks!

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Specializes in CTICU.

Depends what setting you want to work in, really. Inpatient? Hospice? Hospital? Outpatient clinic?

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I guess I'm looking more towards outpatient. But I also want to use my speciality to go overseas to other countries to care for HIV/AIDS patients there. Not sure which I should specialize in in order to be able to do that.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Maybe FNP, then get a job in your area of interest. It would cover outpatient, all ages, useful for mission work etc.

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I would recommend pursuing an ACNP, and focusing on ID.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ER, Trauma ICU.

At vandy both the ACNP and Adult NP programs have HIV subspecialty routes (however they recommend that you do the adult NP program so you are treating out in the community). If you want to do peds right off the bat too, you should prob go the FNP route and let the program know you would like to do clincal time in HIV/AIDS.

GOOD LUCK :)

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