Work setting for PNP's

These days the trend is that children's hospitals are turning to ACPNPs. The two children's hospitals near me are now requiring this certification for their PNPs. Many FNPs and Primary care PNPs going back for post master's certificates. You could look at openings in CA and see what they require.

As you have discovered, there are two types of PNP certifications (Acute Care and Primary Care). The training for each distinct certification as well as the scope of practice differs. The scope of practice for each certification will also vary from state to state (what either type of PNP can do in Florida will not be the same as they can do in Georgia). While I am not an accomplished Fortune Teller / Crystal Ball Gazer, I expect the different state Boards of Nursing to insist on changes to state Nurse Practice Acts to better reflect the particular trainings and national standards for each scope of practice.

So if you really want to work inpatient in Children's Hospitals, in PICUs, and with those in more acute care situations, I recommend that you pursue the Pediatric ACNP (or whatever its new moniker is). If you really like responding to children in the primary care setting (dealing with chronicity, teaching parents/kids about health and wellness, keeping kids OUT of hospitals) then definitely pursue the PNP - Primary Care. The two certifications are not the same, the academic programs are not the same, and you cannot get the same types of jobs.

I strongly recommend you do your research now.

The acute care specialty is relatively new and many older pnps don't have it. Some hospitals will hire pnp's with primary care cert and then pay for their education to get acute care. However, it is very hard (impossible?) to get hired into an acute care setting as an np without RN experience. Primary care will hire a new grad np without RN experience. Other practice settings are specialty clinics (neuro, GI, etc) which may include rounding on patients in hospital as part of your role. Pnps are also utilized a great deal in the ER and many of your patients will be more primary care types than acute.