FNP vs. AGACNP: What’s the Difference?

October 18, 2021

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Nurse practitioner smiling at an elderly patient in a care facility.

As advanced nurses who are family-focused, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide health care services to patients of all ages. The majority of FNPs work in primary care, which means that they’ll be the first point of contact for preventive care and any health care concerns.

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNPs) focus on providing acute care for adults only. While FNPs treat everything from common childhood illnesses to chronic medical conditions, AGACNPs specialize in diseases, ailments, and illnesses that are life-threatening or that worsen during the aging process.

As clinical experts, both FNPs and AGACNPs focus on diagnosing and treating medical conditions, with an emphasis on health care management and disease prevention. FNPs usually work in private practice, either with or without physician oversight, as primary care providers. AGACNPs normally work in inpatient facilities, such as nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, emergency rooms, and intensive care units (ICUs).

All nurse practitioner (NP) specialties, including the FNP and AGACNP, require a master’s in nursing and offer a variety of options for career advancement. When making the FNP vs. AGACNP comparison, it’s important to consider the similarities and differences between these two roles.

FNPs and AGACNPs: Similarities

Although FNPs and AGACNPs specialize in different areas, they overlap in patient care. Both FNPs and AGACNPs regularly conduct physical evaluations of patients and maintain detailed records of each one. Both positions have the educational requirement of becoming a registered nurse (RN) and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Both positions also require strong communication skills and the ability to work and collaborate with other health care professionals. FNPs and AGACNPs need to be compassionate, highly observant, and able to solve problems using critical thinking. Leadership is also an important skill, since both FNPs and AGACNPs are expected to take charge in various situations.

FNP vs. AGACNP: Differences

To become an FNP or AGACNP, RNs must undergo rigorous training and meet high educational standards. Each program of study has coursework specific to the specialty. For example, FNP students take coursework that focuses on primary care medicine. On the other hand, AGACNP students take coursework that focuses on the care of adults in acute care settings.

Another differing factor of FNPs vs. AGACNPs is their work environment.

FNPs

Across the U.S., FNPs work as primary care providers in areas that need assistance the most, including rural and underserved communities. They most commonly work in community health clinics, outpatient centers, and private practices. They help individuals and families address wellness, episodic health issues, and chronic medical needs.

Due to the shortage of primary care providers, a growing number of patients are turning to FNPs. They can normally provide some of the same services as primary care doctors, but may be more accessible. Nurse practitioners are a vital part of health care teams and are trained to be both autonomous health care providers and strong collaborators with their physician colleagues to facilitate high-quality, integrated primary care.

AGACNPs

AGACNPs work with young adults (beginning at age 13) and older adults who are experiencing sudden or urgent health care needs. As the world population ages, AGACNPs are expected to be in higher demand since they work exclusively with adults.

AGACNPs work in specialty areas, including nephrology, cardiology, neurology, and surgery, and closely collaborate with physicians and other specialists. They help adults with new acute conditions or exacerbations of severe chronic diseases. AGACNPs manage care of their patients as well as collaborate with physician colleagues and other health care professionals to achieve positive patient outcomes.

Salaries and Career Growth

According to PayScale, FNPs have a median annual salary of around $97,000, with the top 10% earning $119,000 or more. AGACNPs, on the other hand, have a median annual salary of about $93,200, with the top 25% earning $97,000 or more. Salaries for FNPs and AGACNPs fluctuate depending on region, experience, and specialty.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NPs in all specialties are in high demand. The BLS also projects that the job outlook for NPs will grow by 52% through 2030, due to the aging population and longer life expectancies. The physician shortage also contributes to a greater demand for NPs, who serve many of the same functions as primary care physicians.

Education and Licensure Requirements for FNPs and AGACNPs

While there are many differences between FNP vs. AGACNP, both normally start as RNs and must also earn an MSN degree and licensure to practice in their state.

At Ohio University, FNP students take courses that’ll prepare them for family-focused practice. FNP students must complete 500 clinical practice hours. RNs on the AGACNP track take classes that encourage advanced clinical decision-making and diagnostic skills. They must complete 650 clinical hours.

RNs who graduate from Ohio University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program are eligible to sit for board certification exams by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), among others.

Become a Nurse Practitioner

After making the proper FNP vs. AGACNP comparison, students can decide which specialization is best for their career goals and skill sets. Ohio University’s Online MSN program offers advanced nursing degrees in four practice areas — FNP, AGACNP, nurse educator, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner –– so that students can tailor their education to their interests.

The Ohio University School of Nursing has been educating students for more than 40 years. The online nursing education programs are designed to meet the needs of busy health care professionals. Attending nursing school has never been more convenient. Visit Ohio University’s program page today for more information, and start working toward your professional goals.