As aging and growing populations across the U.S. lead to increased demand for health care services, qualified professionals are being called upon to help. The great need for more health care professionals, such as highly trained nurse practitioners (NPs), is undeniable.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 46% increase in the employment of nurse practitioners between 2021 and 2031. To put that statistic in perspective, the average anticipated career growth for all jobs is just 5%. As more NP positions become available, it’s important to know the differences between NP specializations, which may impact one’s career opportunities and earning potential.
Family nurse practitioner (FNP) and acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) are two positions within the NP designation. NPs may choose to specialize in one of six categories of patient populations, two of which are family and acute care. FNPs and ACNPs must earn an advanced nursing degree, usually a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and pass a certification exam before they can begin practicing as nurse practitioners.
Because ACNPs and FNPs often both possess an MSN, the two specializations share a foundational science background and experience-based application of skills pertaining to the nursing profession and current best practices. However, despite their similar foundation, the ACNP and FNP roles are quite different. An exploration of each profession will help prospective NPs analyze their similarities and differences to determine which role may be right for them.
ACNP vs. FNP: Overview
Comparing ACNPs vs. FNPs quickly reveals that they share the same goal: to provide high-quality care that can potentially improve patient outcomes. How they achieve this goal differs. Understanding their respective approaches is key for those deciding which role best aligns with their interests.
What Is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?
An acute care nurse practitioner applies their skills to assess and treat patients of all ages dealing with sudden, brief, or critical illnesses or injuries. They generally care for patients on a short-term basis. They may also assist patients in recovery from surgery.
While advanced nursing theories and practice lay the foundation of an ACNP’s role, they can concentrate their skills on a further specialization, such as cardiology or intensive care. These specializations can shape the precise responsibilities of an ACNP.
What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
The role of a family nurse practitioner is to provide primary care for patients of all ages, through various stages of a patient’s life. The care they administer is more of the long-term variety, as they may see the same patients on a recurring basis. This allows FNPs to treat chronic conditions and help patients develop long-term wellness strategies.
Like an ACNP, an FNP can focus on a specific aspect of care delivery, such as pharmacology or women’s health. Also, their specific duties may depend on their work environment. This can include whether they’re allowed to start their own practice in the state where they work.
ACNP vs. FNP: Career Opportunities
The phenomenal job growth for nurse practitioners translates to plenty of potential opportunities for prospective ACNPs and FNPs alike. While they may differ, each role can lead to a satisfying career helping patients improve their health in some capacity.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Career Opportunities
The nature of an ACNP’s work enables them to pursue careers in a wide range of dynamic work environments. This can be particularly intriguing for nurses who want to deliver care to patients in urgent need of treatment.
ACNP Duties and Responsibilities
ACNPs navigate patient cases with a high risk of immediate change, such as those with critical illness, physiological instability, dependency on technology, or vulnerability to complications. ACNPs examine, diagnose, and treat patients who have acute care needs. In addition, they may educate patients and loved ones about health options, prescribe treatment and medication, or retain responsibility for other patient-support activities. For example, ACNPs may work with patients who are immunocompromised or those with unique disease processes. ACNPs have been trained to provide the attention and nursing skill that these patients require.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary and Job Outlook
ACNP job growth is part of the BLS’ projected NP job growth of 46%, which equates to more than 112,000 new jobs. ACNPs are one of the less common NP specialties, constituting just 2.9% of all NPs in the U.S., according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). ACNPs specializing in adult gerontology accounted for 6.1% of all NPs, while those in pediatric acute care represented 0.6% of the NP workforce.
The median annual salary for an acute care nurse practitioner was approximately $108,400 as of February 2023, according to Payscale.
Family Nurse Practitioner Career Opportunities
Family nurse practitioners, who make up the largest segment of the NP workforce, have a slightly broader role in patient care than ACNPs. As such, FNPs can consider a wide range of potential career paths.
FNP Duties and Responsibilities
Family NPs always focus on primary care. They concentrate on the medical histories of entire families, usually over a long period of time, to provide long-term care and health advice. They may work with patients of any age and in various health care settings, such as hospitals, private practices, and urgent care clinics. Because of this, the role offers a great deal of variety. For example, one day, an FNP may see over 20 patients, go through lab results, and form patient care recommendations. On another day, they may be in charge of assessing inbound patients and prioritizing them for care within the facility, all while spending just a few minutes with each patient.
Family Nurse Practitioner Salary and Job Outlook
As mentioned, the BLS projects a 46% increase in employment opportunities for NPs this decade. Family NPs constitute roughly 70% of all NPs across the U.S., according to AANP. Given the tremendous employment growth for NPs and the fact that FNPs are the largest group of NPs, job opportunities for FNPs should be strong in the coming years.
The median annual family nurse practitioner salary was around $101,000 as of February 2023, according to Payscale.
ACNP vs. FNP: Skills
ACNPs and FNPs have different skills suited to their particular roles. The fast-paced nature of acute care requires ACNPs to possess a specific set of core competencies to deliver the best care possible in urgent and sometimes unexpected situations. For FNPs, interpersonal as well as clinical skills are crucial in building long-term relationships with their patients.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Skills
ACNPs need to have a core of well-developed critical care and trauma skills. This skill set consists of the ability to perform invasive and noninvasive procedures depending on what the patient may need. For instance, they may need to know how to intubate a patient to help them breathe or insert and remove a chest tube to help drain fluid. They may also need to suture patients to prevent bleeding from an open wound.
In addition to these clinical skills, ACNPs should possess certain soft skills to help augment their ability to provide optimal patient care. These can include communication, organization, and critical-thinking skills.
Family Nurse Practitioner Skills
Because FNPs have a broader role than that of ACNPs and work with patients over a longer period of time, they should possess a well-rounded skill set that allows them to administer care, develop trust, and collaborate with other health care professionals.
A key competency for an FNP involves leadership. Patients tend to view FNPs as having a high level of authority due to their many responsibilities. As advanced practice nurses, they may also manage other nursing staff. For this reason, they need to lead in a manner that inspires others to deliver the best care possible.
FNPs should also have well-developed communication skills, as they interact with numerous stakeholders, including patients, families, and other health care professionals. It’s crucial that they calibrate their communication strategies depending on their audience.
Additionally, FNPs must be able to show compassion to patients. This can help them develop a strong sense of trust within the patient/caregiver dynamic, which can ultimately make it easier for them to provide care and build effective long-term care strategies that patients may be more willing to follow.
Choosing the Right MSN Program
An MSN degree prepares students for the entry-level NP focus of their choice, including specialties such as ACNP and FNP. With multiple specializations, the online Master of Science in Nursing program at Regis College can help students prepare for a career in the NP role of their choosing, including a family nurse practitioner or an adult gerontology – acute care nurse practitioner.
Learn how Regis can help you pursue a career in one of the fastest-growing fields in health care.
Recommended Readings
How Nurse Practitioners Can Close the Gap in Healthcare
6 Reasons to Pursue Nursing Certifications
What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?
Sources:
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, “Family Nurse Practitioner or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department?”
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NP Fact Sheet
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, State Practice Environment
Incredible Health, “How to Become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner”
Indeed, “Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Skills: Definition and Examples”
Johnson & Johnson Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) at a Glance
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, “Developing the Next Generation of Health Care Leaders Through an Internship Program”
Payscale, Average Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Salary
Payscale, Salary for Certification: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners