Which APN concentration?

allnurses Guide · Sep 17, 2008

You need to research your market and work out what type of providers get hired in the areas you want to work. Keep in mind that where you want to work may well change during the process of gaining your advanced practice degree. I chose ACNP because I know it's what I'm interested in, and I feel will give me the best experience and education for the type of in-patient work I'm planning on - but it's still general enough to give me room to move laterally if I discovered I had a liking for a specialty I'm not currently in.

CNM2B · Sep 17, 2008

I think you need to follow your heart on this one. Pick a specialty that makes you happy and will motivate you to keep studying. I'm in school to become a nurse midwife, and while I know that there aren't a ton of jobs where I l ive, it is where my passion lies. Good luck--this is a big decision for you!!

ivanh3 · Sep 20, 2008

i'm looking into a direct entry msn program. the school offers: clinical nurse specialist, neonatal nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, adult nurse practitioner, leadership, nurse midwifery, and nursing education. i am not sure which one to take! many people suggest anp and fnp because they allow so much flexibility. but i would prefer something highly specific, a specialization if you will. but i also want to continue working for my local hospital---and i never see any vacancies for advanced practice nurses. i am not interested in primary care which is why i don't think fnp or anp would be a good fit. i'm just afraid that i choose cns i won't acquire a job anywhere near where i am located!! does anyone have any perspective on this??

i do understand your dilemma, but something to consider is that much of advanced practice training and learning happens after school while on the job. i chose fnp because i really feel it has the most flexibility. i work at a children's hospital, and we have several fnps who work in critical care with neonates and children. they are every bit as knowledgeable about their patient population as any of the pediatric nurse practitioners who could not work with adults unless they went back for training and coursework. it could just be me, but i am seeing fewer and fewer cnss. in fact, i know of none at my current job, and all of the ones from my last job had been around for awhile, no new cns guys. another thing to consider is that once you get that first advanced practice degree it is not that much of a stretch to go back and get another, or to take additional classes to bulk up your résumé.

hope that helps,

ivan