[Kensington]

Hi everyone,

I'm very interested in switching careers to eventually become a NP. This will be a long road ahead for me, as I current hold only a non-nursing BA. I would really love the opportunity to shadow a current NP for anywhere from 1 hour to a few days. When I contacted our local hospital to inquire about such a possibility, they told me that due to privacy laws that I would not be able to do this. The irony is that I was currently volunteering for that hospital (which they knew), and regularly filed patient charts. I was endlessly amused (and frustrated) by this hypocritical policy.

So, having said all that, I was very much hoping that there is a current NP in the San Francisco bay area who would graciously allow me to shadow them. I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm hoping something will come through. I promise I'm a really nice person!

If anyone has further advice beyond this request, I would very much appreciate that as well!

Best wishes,
K

[traumaRUs]

You might not be able to shadow an NP for just that reason - privacy. Perhaps talking in depth with an NP would give you a general idea of what goes one.

Another option is to contact a school in your area that you might like to attend and ask them to put you in contact with someone.

[BSNtobe2009]

One of the schools I looked at offers this, but you have to be a currently enrolled student to set up this arrangement and enrolled in the pre-nursing major.

[romie]

When I wanted to shadow an NP, I simply went to npcentral.com to locate an NP in my area. I contacted one of them with my request and recieved a yes reply the next day. Don't go try to shadow someone by contacting some receptionist at a big hospital and expect that receptionist to even begin to know how to process your request.

You should narrow down your NP shadow request to a specialty and work setting that you are interested. The more specific you are and the personal you make your request, the more likely you will get a favorable reply.

And most of all, don't believe anyone who says that it will be impossible to shadow an NP for a day. NPs are professionals who are usually eager to spread the awareness of their work and to help out future colleges. Good luck.

[Kensington]

Thank you for your advice, that's a great idea. It's worth a shot!

Originally Posted by traumaRUs

You might not be able to shadow an NP for just that reason - privacy. Perhaps talking in depth with an NP would give you a general idea of what goes one.

Another option is to contact a school in your area that you might like to attend and ask them to put you in contact with someone.

[Kensington]

Also a wonderful idea and I'm going to do as you say, and make my request more personal to what I'm looking for. Thank you for the encouragement, I needed it!

Originally Posted by romie

When I wanted to shadow an NP, I simply went to npcentral.com to locate an NP in my area. I contacted one of them with my request and recieved a yes reply the next day. Don't go try to shadow someone by contacting some receptionist at a big hospital and expect that receptionist to even begin to know how to process your request.

You should narrow down your NP shadow request to a specialty and work setting that you are interested. The more specific you are and the personal you make your request, the more likely you will get a favorable reply.

And most of all, don't believe anyone who says that it will be impossible to shadow an NP for a day. NPs are professionals who are usually eager to spread the awareness of their work and to help out future colleges. Good luck.