FNP vs. ACNP – guest post from a student who switched specialties in nursing graduate school

Today’s post is written by Michael Ward who is currently in Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Texas at Arlington. We know many of you have the dilemma of choosing the right NP program, so we thought it’d be valuable to hear his experience! Take it away, Mike!

10 years. That’s how long it took to make the decision to take my nursing career to the next level. I remember once, right after graduating with my BSN, my plan was to work in the ICU for a year or two, then dive into NP school. Funny thing is, once you’re out and start working, you start making some great money! It seems like you could easily work every day if you wanted, because there’s always needs. Why would you want to put yourself through the gut-wrenching, stressful morass that is nurse practitioner school? Why would I finally decide, after 10 years at the bedside, choose NP school? Well, one day last July, a Wednesday I think, while I was driving to the grocery store, I received this phone call.

RING RING RING

“Hello, this is Michael.” I responded.

“Hi! My name is Roger from University of Texas. Is this Michael Ward?”

“It sure is. What can I do for you?” I replied.

“Have you given any thought to Nurse Practitioner school?”

“Not really. Not in a long time. I really don’t have a lot of time to take a bunch of classes.”

“Our FNP program is online and you can take one class at a time. It’ll take 2 1/2 years total.”

“Well, I don’t really have the money to throw into a Master’s Level college course right this second.”

“We offer financial aid that will cover the cost of the whole program. Furthermore, there’s some programs out there that could recoup half the costs of your program after you graduate.”

SILENCE…

“Well damn…what the hell…sign me up.”

That was it! The next day I was enrolled and registered for my first course in NP school. What happened? Why, after 10 years, would I decide at the drop of the hat to advance my career as a nurse practitioner? One word…OPPORTUNITY.

Opportunity – looking towards my next step

I know what you might be thinking, “Wait, there’s LOTS of opportunity for undergrad nurses!” You’re right. There are many opportunities for undergrad nurses. However, after 10 years, none of them really pump me up anymore. Don’t mistake what I’m saying. I LOVE being a nurse. Honestly though, critical care has been my thing for a long time. I don’t get too excited about the formerly exciting stuff.

I can run a code, manage a ventilator, handle a chest tube, titrate drips, all with ease. It’s become mundane and monotonous. I now find myself, looking for new opportunities to challenge myself. I’m starting IVs with my left hand for God’s sake (I’m a righty, btw)! Nurse Practitioner school was the logical next step.

My first year in the ICU as a nurse, I met a fellow nurse, Paul. He had worked in the ICU for a few years and then decided to go to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) school. Starting pay $150k per year. He told me that he had remembered meeting a CRNA while he was in clinicals and that as soon as he could, he was going to do that! I remember thinking, “work five days a week, standing over patients and looking at a monitor all day? No way!” For some, it sounds like a dream job, but for me, it sounded like torture. Now all you CRNA’s don’t hate-tweet me now that I’ve said that. I’m sure it’s more than I’ve described, but it’s just not for ME. I need action and excitement! I need to feel the adrenalin coursing through my veins! This brings me to a very important topic for those considering NP school.

How to choose a program

Did you know that in the U.S. there are 10 different routes you can choose as an NP? They are as follows:

• Acute Care NP
• Adult NP
• Adult-gerontology acute care NP
• Adult gerontology primary care NP
• Adult Psychiatric-mental health NP
• Family NP
• Gerontological NP
• Pediatric Primary Care NP
• Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
• School NP

So how do you decide which one to choose? I, for one, had no idea either…at first. When I enrolled into my NP program, I chose the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. It seemed, at first, the right thing to do, until I figured out that this is more like a 5 day per week, go to a practice and see patients in an office setting all day type situation. Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of FNPs who work in the ER. However, the landscape is changing. The NP role is evolving. Did you see the list? Why hire an FNP for your emergency room when you can hire an ACNP, that has more critical care training?

It actually wasn’t until I had a heart to heart with my good friend Mr. Sean P Dent that I decided the FNP program just wasn’t going to cut it for me. As a matter of fact, that conversation transpired on FB in a live broadcast where he and I spoke at length on the subject of NP school. I think you might be able to view it right HERE.

Validation of my decision came briefly after that FB life broadcast while talking to a good friend of mine, who’s a neurologist that runs the neurology program at a local hospital here in Dallas. “I’d never hire an FNP for my ICU. Maybe a headache clinic or something like that, but never for neuro ICU. I would ONLY hire ACNPs.”

That was it. I called University of Texas the next day and told them of my desire to transfer out of the FNP program to the ACNP program. Fortunately, it was JUST the right time. “Michael, if you would have waited to request this change after completing your next class, we would’ve had to deny your request.” I was told by my faculty advisor. Whew! That was close!

Now in the ACNP world

So now I’m just wrapping up Advanced Pharmacology in 2 weeks. I’ve got a 96% at this time and I’m ready for my winter vacay! Clinicals will start next September and then graduation will proceed in August of 2019. I’m ready. I’m so excited for this new challenge. The cool thing is, I’m still a nurse, but it’s a whole new frontier of nursing. It’s more complex, it’s new, it’s fresh, it’s exciting! With it will bring a whole new spectrum of opportunities that I’m ready to tackle.

Are you at a place in your life, like I was, where you’re ready to take your nursing career to the next level? CRNA? NP perhaps? Decisions decisions decisions. Maybe I can lend you a little insight that may give you just the right amount of guidance to help you make a decision. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself:

1. What patient population do I prefer to care for? Adults? Kids? Doesn’t matter?
2. What would I enjoy waking up to? 8-5, 5 days/wk? 3 Day work week?
3. Do I want to be on call?
4. Do I like to get your hands dirty? Love the action?
5. Do I want to make a lot of money? Money’s not THAT important?
6. What would I like to see myself doing in 10 years?

There are also those that carry a dual-certification. The only caveat is that you have to maintain CEUs and patient hours for each certification you hold. If you’re just getting started, you have plenty of time to decide. And like me, you can always change course while in school if you have a change of heart. The best is yet to come folks!

I wish you the very best friends. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog. I’d love to connect with you!

Michael Ward, the creator of the blog Have Mursey, currently resides in Dallas, TX. He works as an ER nurse, and is currently enrolled in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Texas at Arlington. A self-proclaimed Renaissance Man, Michael’s approach to life is simply this “Never take ONE SECOND for granted. Never stop learning. Never stop growing.” Michael is also a Regional Chair for The American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN). Connect with Michael on Twitter at @MichaelWardRN, on Facebook at @OfficialNurseMike, or subscribe to his blog at www.HaveMursey.com