[NurseJi]

Hello everyone, I am my third semester of an FNP program. Right now, I am just taking the core classes, so I haven't reached the clinical portion yet. However, clinical time is approaching and I'm beginning to question whether or not FNP is the right choice. I have virtually no experience with children. I haven't touched a child since nursing school peds clinicals almost 4 years ago. I like kids but I am pretty much clueless when it comes to interacting with them. I am scared that my lack of experience will not be enough to effectively treat children. Is this something that I can pick up in clinicals? I would appreciate any words of wisdom.

[johnson0424]

i was like that too. 1/2 way through my program i felt as if i should have gone for ANP. But you get the hang of it especially if you have to do peds hours(i had to do 100) and by the end of my peds rotation i felt alot more comfortable. i still would say they are my weakness but overall more comfortable with them. hang in there!

[sirI]

I'm OB-GYN NP and FNP.

I do not like caring for children and never have. I do; do a good job, but rather not.

It is possible to take a position as FNP and not treat children in your practice. Just research job availabilities.

[yellow finch]

Yup. I'm the same! I don't have kids, don't work with kids, am a little terrified of kids, and only spent a couple of days with a Peds NP 1.5 yr ago. If I could turn back the clock I'd go for ACNP, but it's too late and I'm going to forge ahead and spend as much time with a pediatric office this summer for clinicals. The best way to get through the fear is to work with it.

Decide what's best for you and choose carefully. You may end up finding that peds will be a good experience. If not, you have choices.

Best of luck!

[core0]

Originally Posted by yellow finch

Yup. I'm the same! I don't have kids, don't work with kids, am a little terrified of kids, and only spent a couple of days with a Peds NP 1.5 yr ago. If I could turn back the clock I'd go for ACNP, but it's too late and I'm going to forge ahead and spend as much time with a pediatric office this summer for clinicals. The best way to get through the fear is to work with it.

Decide what's best for you and choose carefully. You may end up finding that peds will be a good experience. If not, you have choices.

Best of luck!

Kids are great.
They usually declare themselves right away. They don't linger like adults.
They are usually not responsible for what happened to them.
They are true innocents.

Now the parents on the other hand .....

David Carpenter, PA-C

[carachel2]

Originally Posted by core0

Kids are great.
They usually declare themselves right away. They don't linger like adults.
They are usually not responsible for what happened to them.
They are true innocents.

Now the parents on the other hand .....

David Carpenter, PA-C

And they usually have a very brief health history and the current medications usually includes only Tylenol or Motrin!

[7starbuck7]

Hi. I have been a RN for 8 years in adult ICU. I start a FNP program in 2 weeks. I have no peds experience except nursing school and my two kids My adviser says that is the norm for the program. She is also a FNP but says she will not see any children under the age of 2 unless she were to repeat a peds course.

I am not afraid of the kids, I am afraid of the PARENTS.

GL

[johnson0424]

AMEN on that one!!! the parents drove me batty! 8 hours of them I think I would go crazy!!!

[pedirn57]

Yes kids can be scary, I am in a PNP program and sometimes they scare me, on the other hand adults terify me , I started out in an FNP program because that seemed to be the way to go half way into my second clinical I realized it was not for me I was unhappy and it showed in my clinical so I quit took some time off to reflect and decided to go with my true passion. You will find that kids are pretty resiliant, some times they are uncooperative and yes the parents can be a pain in the keister, but rememeber it is only for a short time, and who knows your may actually have alot of fun with them.

[bayouchick02]

Originally Posted by pedirn57

Yes kids can be scary, I am in a PNP program and sometimes they scare me, on the other hand adults terify me , I started out in an FNP program because that seemed to be the way to go half way into my second clinical I realized it was not for me I was unhappy and it showed in my clinical so I quit took some time off to reflect and decided to go with my true passion. You will find that kids are pretty resiliant, some times they are uncooperative and yes the parents can be a pain in the keister, but rememeber it is only for a short time, and who knows your may actually have alot of fun with them.

Just curious, what background did u come from prior to starting the PNP program? (peds, adults, nicu, etc....) and are u liking the program so far? would u say it is as stressful as nursing school undergrad?