I'm a new NP who recently landed a job in pediatric clinic. My first week of work I felt like I knew nothing and had very little confidence in myself. I feel very out if place. Was wondering what if anyone would share their experiences in their first job as an NP.

I now have a year in practice in a busy community health center. I still have days where I don't feel I know all the answers. Thankfully those days are much fewer than when I started a year ago. I remember comparing myself at 3 then 6 then 9 month intervals. I could and can still see my progress. I had to tell myself that I'm doing my best and I know what my resources are if I am unsure of something. Don't give up. I would guess that nearly every new NP has felt the way you do.

It's seems like a very natural thing to feel out of place. Remember what you felt like when you were a new grad RN?? One day at a time..

I have been working as an NP for about a year and a half. What you feel is completely normal. For a good six months I felt like I was play-acting. I checked everything with the MD. Now I check maybe 1 in 10 patients with the MD.

I work in a specialty so most of my patients have a pretty well-defined set of problems. Sometimes, though, they'll come in with something that is completely out of my depth and I have no idea how to begin assessing them. But the MD I work with is very accessible so I can always ask him when I'm in doubt.

In time things will become more routine. There are certain problems you will see over and over and you'll be able to diagnose and treat with your eyes closed. Then there are some that come up less frequently but once you've seen 2-3 cases you'll know the routine. Then there are things that only come up once in a while that you may still need help with. Then there are the cases that will stump the MD's too!

While I am not yet an NP and willl be graduating in early December, just about all my NP friends and NP preceptors have told me that I will feel like a clueless chicken with my head cut off for the first 6 months to 1 year. What you're feeling sounds entirely normal. Hang in there! I'm sure you're doing great.

Thank all of you for your encouraging words and comments. I will take it a day at a time and just do the best I can.