I want to be a Nurse Practitioner. When I start school, what specialty should I choose?

Question

When I start school next year, I will have to choose a specialty. The options are:

* Holistic Adult Health (Clinical Nurse Specialist)

* Holistic Adult Health (Administration Track)

* Holistic Adult Health (Teaching Track)

* Nursing Administration and Heathcare Systems Management

* Public Health Nursing

* Child Health

* Maternity

Since I have to pick one, and since I know that my final goal is to become an NP (maybe a CRNA if I can find a program close to me), which one of these specialties is the most appropriate for me.

P.S. - Assume that I don't know enough to even know if this question makes sense. I mean, does it even matter what I start off with? Will I have to start school all over again to go from a CNS to an NP? Pretty much anything you can share about the process would be helpful. Thanks. :)

Answer 1

CRNA

http://www.nursinglink.com/careers/97

NP

http://www.nursinglink.com/careers/286

both fall into advanced practice nursing category

http://www.nursinglink.com/careers/566

talk with your teachers to see or you can ask on the message boards for each of these positions via the links that I have provided--these are actually both a couple of my goals as well as a psychiatric nurse practitioner--I really haven't decided where I want to go and am just taking one step at a time.

Answer 2

I'd recommend the Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Public health nursing.

If this is undergrad for your BSN, then  you will have to go to grad school for your MSN to become a NP or a CRNA, and most require you have at least a year of intensive/critical nursing care experience.

GOOD LUCK!