There are different types of nurse practitioners (NPs). Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) focus on primary care while treating patients across the lifespan — from infancy through older adulthood. In contrast, acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) treat patients suffering from acute conditions, such as traumatic injuries or respiratory infections.

If you’re thinking about going back to school to advance your nursing qualifications, it’s time to consider your options for specializing. There are many specialized positions in the nursing field. Your focus can be by patient population and care setting, for example. This article can offer some food for thought as you choose between becoming a family nurse practitioner vs. an acute care nurse practitioner. 

All nurse practitioners are highly qualified nursing professionals who work with autonomy and serve as leaders in their field. To choose an NP specialization that suits you best, learn more about the differences between FNP vs. ACNP. 

What Is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner?

An acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) cares for patients with acute or critical conditions and often works in hospital settings.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

In an acute care setting, patients typically receive short-term care for issues such as:

• Postsurgical recovery
• Illness
• Physical trauma
• Life-threatening conditions

Some day-to-day responsibilities that an ACNP may have include:

• Checking on patients and assessing their needs
• Delivering patient and family caregiver education
• Examining and updating patient records
• Performing exams and tests
• Watching for changes in a patient’s condition

An ACNP may choose to further subspecialize. For example, they may become an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), who works with young adults, older adults and geriatric patients.

Alternatively, an ACNP may specialize in treating children. A pediatric nurse practitioner–acute care (PNP-AC) delivers family-centered care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults. They treat serious and life-threatening problems, such as organ failure.

What Is a Family Nurse Practitioner?

A family nurse practitioner works with families in a primary care setting. FNPs often help patients manage chronic medical conditions. FNPs may work with patients across the lifespan — from infants and children to teens, adults and older adults.

An FNP is often the first point of contact for a patient with an acute condition who has opted for primary care rather than emergency care. In this situation, the FNP may provide diagnostic services and preliminary care and refer the patient to an acute care setting.

Some potential duties of an FNP include:

• Diagnosing and treating patients’ conditions
• Prescribing medications and developing care plans
• Ordering tests and assessing lab results
• Communicating and consulting with other healthcare professionals

To gain a better understanding of the main differences between these two nursing specialties, consider the following:

When looking into specialization options, it’s important to consider not only the main features of the ACNP and FNP paths but also the academic requirements for each specialization track.

How To Become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The pathway to becoming an ACNP begins with a bachelor’s degree — specifically a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Nurses then obtain RN licensure in their state and gain work experience at the bedside before pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or, after receiving a master’s, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Aspiring ACNPs should choose a graduate degree in their desired specialty area.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

After earning an MSN, the next step for aspiring ACNPs is to pass a national board certification exam and obtain an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license.^{(See disclaimer 2)} These exams are available through either the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).^{(See disclaimer 3)}

How To Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

Like an ACNP, an aspiring FNP must first earn a BSN in either a pre-licensure program or an RN to BSN program. After acquiring licensure, future FNPs must then earn an MSN designed for family nurse practitioners.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Graduates who have successfully completed an MSN degree program with an FNP specialization are prepared to tackle national board examinations. FNPs can become APRNs by passing certification exams.^{(See disclaimer 2)} These exams may be administered by either the ANCC or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANPCB).^{(See disclaimer 4,5)}

Regardless of which area of specialization you choose, you will need to earn a minimum of an MSN degree to become any type of APRN.^{(See disclaimer 2)} An MSN teaches advanced clinical skills, as well as leadership skills in acknowledgment of the leadership role that APRNs fulfill.

Because RNs typically work long shifts, the prospect of earning a graduate degree may seem challenging. However, MSN programs often offer flexible scheduling and a hybrid learning approach to accommodate their students’ professional commitments.

One of the first things you should do when preparing to go back to school is talk to your employer. Some healthcare organizations offer tuition reimbursement to staff members who wish to refine their skills. Keep in mind that if you accept tuition reimbursement, you may be required to work for your employer for a certain length of time after graduation.

Next, look at your schedule to figure out how you’ll fit in classes and study time and clinical time. Look for creative ways to carve out more time, such as taking public transportation to work so you can study on the bus or subway. If you plan out your schedule in advance, you’ll likely find it easier to juggle all of your responsibilities as a graduate nursing student.

When choosing a career path that fits your goals, you may wish to evaluate the FNP vs. ACNP salary expectations. Since nurse practitioners are advanced clinicians with extensive nursing qualifications, they are typically compensated more generously than RNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all types of nurse practitioners made a median annual salary of $129,210 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 6 )}

Regardless of whether you choose to become an FNP or an ACNP, you will be expected to pursue professional development and continuing education opportunities on an ongoing basis. All nurses are lifelong learners who must stay on top of the latest scientific research and developments in pharmacology. It’s good practice to set aside time each week to review the latest scientific findings in your subfield; this will enable you to deliver the best possible care to your patients.

All APRNs need to periodically renew both their APRN certification and their APRN license. APRN certifications are renewed through the professional organization that issues them, while licenses are renewed through the state board of nursing (BON). Typically, licenses are renewed every three years, subject to the requirements of each state’s BON.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

The requirements for renewing a nursing certification vary and are subject to change over time. It’s best to check these with the professional organization that administered your certification exam. The organization should provide detailed information on how often renewal is required and how nurses can meet the continuing education criteria for renewal.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

Whichever nursing path you choose to pursue, you can find the right degree program for you at Grand Canyon University. GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions offers a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, including the Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner and the Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with an Emphasis in Adult-Gerontology Certificate.