What specialties can I do as a FNP?

[3**835Y]

Hello. I was wondering what specialties FNP's are qualified for other than pedi and adult. Would I be able to find a job in geriatrics, psychiatry, surgery, ER, ICU, etc.... Should I be more specific when choosing my NP prgram or can I basically do any specialty I want with a FNP degree? Thanks!

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

The FNP is focused on primary care to all ages. That is what you are educated on. In my state some FNP's do work more with peds, some with gero (I was considering a job in a nursing home), and some do work in the ER with less emergent patients (sutures, UTI's, cough, etc.). Some FNP's (or other primary care focused NP's) may get hired into hospitals and such to work with hospitalist groups but it's not how we are EDUCATED. We are educated and certified to provide primary care as I said before.

Is it right that some work with hospitalist groups or in the ER? There are many threads I have read about this and the opinions differ. The fact of it is, again, we are not trained in school for acute care.

If you want to work in the ER there are ER FNP programs. If you want to work acute care with all ages perhaps do a double certification with adult and pedi acute care. If you want to do one program and be able to work in any capacity perhaps you should consider physicians assistant as they don't have all of the different paths like NP's do.

So there is no black and white answer. As a FNP, though, you are only trained and certified for a particular wedge of the healthcare system and your training is how you prove you're competent to provide your care.