Which practitioner should I go for?

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  1. Which Practitioner should I do?

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      Family Nurse Practitioner
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      Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
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      Emergency Practitioner
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      Other Unlisted Practitioner (Please post what you think!)

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I am going to be finishing up my BSN degree soon and am going to be looking into my MSN degree very shortly but am at a loss for which practitioner I should get. I plan to work with pediatrics, ideally in an ER setting. I know the most logical one to get would be one in pediatrics but I remember someone telling me at some point that would be a bad route to take, especially if I want to work in an ER. I would love some opinions if you would all be so kind! Should I do peds? Should I do FNP? Or, something completely different? Any thoughts and reasons why would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum

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So why don't you go for the Primary Peds/Acute care Peds role? The school I attend offers a combined program. You can work at a children's hospital in the ED. Consider the area in which you live. In my neck of the woods, the only ER you will likely see many children in is downtown at the Children's hospital. Otherwise you're going to be mostly seeing geriatrics. If you want to work in peds do a PNP of some kind.

I really do not understand why so many people think they have to do FNP to "have more options" or because it's "more flexible". If you want to work with a certain population, you can.

Alternatively, if you are unsure of what type of NP you want to be, you should work as a nurse first. It's a great foundation for NP school (as this is the model NP was designed around) and you can discover what you actually enjoy.

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If you want to work with kids in an ER setting, wouldn't that be Pediatric NP - Acute Care? I don't know the acronym.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

It is really disheartening to see some nurses jump all over another nurse without even understanding the question.

I am going to be finishing up my BSN degree soon and am going to be looking into my MSN degree very shortly but am at a loss for which practitioner I should get. I plan to work with pediatrics, ideally in an ER setting. I know the most logical one to get would be one in pediatrics but I remember someone telling me at some point that would be a bad route to take, especially if I want to work in an ER. I would love some opinions if you would all be so kind! Should I do peds? Should I do FNP? Or, something completely different? Any thoughts and reasons why would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Really only you know the answer to this question, and if you aren't sure about the answer (or at least mostly sure) than keep researching and shadowing until you are. This is a big investment in the remainder of your career so make sure you know what you want before you lay out the time and the money for an NP program.

If you aren't sure then what's the rush to start a program? If we understand that it would help us give you some direction perhaps.

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Well not so much a rush as much as I'm ready to just finish up all my schooling. I know how hard it is to get back to it once you stop and I'm afraid if I do it'll be awhile. I have two kids and a pretty busy life and it'd be nice just to knock it all out now while my kids are young and be done with that portion of my life, you know?

And, I'm pretty positive as far as the area I want to work in it's just that I've always heard mixed reviews as to which letters to put behind my name. I've heard PNP limits me, especially in an ER setting and was even told at one point I wouldn't be able to see anyone over the age of 16. Whereas as FNP I feel like is so generalized I may be passed over for a pediatric position because maybe they want someone who specializes in Peds....i feel like it's a catch 22.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Well not so much a rush as much as I'm ready to just finish up all my schooling. I know how hard it is to get back to it once you stop and I'm afraid if I do it'll be awhile. I have two kids and a pretty busy life and it'd be nice just to knock it all out now while my kids are young and be done with that portion of my life, you know?

And, I'm pretty positive as far as the area I want to work in it's just that I've always heard mixed reviews as to which letters to put behind my name. I've heard PNP limits me, especially in an ER setting and was even told at one point I wouldn't be able to see anyone over the age of 16. Whereas as FNP I feel like is so generalized I may be passed over for a pediatric position because maybe they want someone who specializes in Peds....i feel like it's a catch 22.

That's understandable and it sounds like it is a good time for you to go for it.

In many ways you can't go horribly wrong with either option (PNP vs FNP) as things stand now. Have you spent time in a pediatric ED? Are you absolutely sure that's where you see yourself for the next 10-15 years or more? Its a very specialized goal and you should be aware that it may be very difficult to get a job in a niche market. If you don't have a local children's hospital then FNP would probably make you a better candidate for an ED job at a community hospital.

Another thing to consider is what program close to you has the best reputation? Do they offer both a PNP and FNP or just one or the other?

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