Clinic RN / Primary Care?

[fetchfelix]

After 25years nursing in critical care / transport / ER I have an interview coming up in a Peds Primary care clinic. Im thinking of going to NP school in future to work in such a place as an FNP.........I want to see if I would like it or if I would be totally bored. I know the roles are completely different. But also the hours are much better, although pay is terrible.

Trying to think of what to say when they ask why I want to do this without focusing on the hours? Why did you go into primary care? What are the joys of clinic / outpatient type stuff.........im having a hard time thinking how to answer that. Thanks

Felix

[marshmallowstar, BSN, RN]

Talk about your interest in FNP, why do you want to do that? Those should be similar reasons to transition to clinic. If you're doing it only for the hours, don't. I can tell you that anyone who has come to my clinic and stated that in their top two reasons have not worked out. At my clinic you have to be ok with telephone work and being at a desk for at least parts of the day. Most floor nurses have not been happy because while you'll have lots of things to do and prioritize it is a different flow than hanging meds and doing q2 hour assessments. The problem solving is different, coordination of care and interacting with insurance companies can be extremely frustrating. The biggest plus side for me is doing more in depth patient education on dx process and treatment. Definitely ask for a shadow day and make sure it's something you want.

[fetchfelix]

Thanks for this.......Im actually shadowing next week

[suitcase calling]

Sorry Felix, but if you can't envision the tasks & "rewards" of the job, that is not a good sign. Seems like your career path has been about high tech, acutely ill, lots of autonomy, one to one type very high skill positions demanding a different skill set. Primary care is about relationships. If that is what you truly crave, go for it, otherwise, let someone else have the convenient hours.