FNP working with Peds?

Thank you! You all have given me some great directions to explore.

I can see myself working in an office setting. I have worked in a hospital since 1997 and would love to be in a smaller setting like a physician office, but as a nurse I could never afford it. At this point I am not in a position to take such a paycut just to try out an office setting. I have looked into other very flexible career moves (David I recognize you from other forums...good to see you.) but they are not possible given my current family situation. Thanks Jolie for the tip...I am going to check out my states regulations and see if I can find any info. I am not at all opposed to working with adults, it is just with so much peds in my background it seems like a good fit.

Anyway....thanks again!

Thanks, those are good points.....the school I am currently looking into states 100 hours of peds clinical time. Does anyone know (generally speaking of course) how much flexibility exists in clinical experiences? Could I do some time in a PICU/NICU or maybe as an elective? Although 100 hours really isn't that much. Unfortunately the above mentioned school is currently revamping their program and website so there is not much information available. I emailed the advisor but haven't heard anything yet.

I imagine proving it would be tricky for sure unless I worked with a doc that would back me up with the training. As a nurse I have acutally been able to get some extra training...intubations, umbillical lines, needle aspirations/chest tubes and PICCs, so maybe if I had a doc that knew me it would be a little easier. Skills are one thing though and relatively easy to learn.

I really love NICU, but I see working in an office setting as potentially a better use of my Master's degree. Why does it seem so hard to pick a direction?!? LOL Seriously I am not usually like this. It is just such a big committment to go back to school and put my family though all that and not like it or not be able to get a job. I just want to be marketable and I really want to go to a state school to save some money, so that limits my choices some.

Oh well, thanks everyone for all the info. I appreciate it! I look forward to learning a lot more on the boards.

This is what the website currently says. Ok, It does mention the total of 660 hours which sounds right with what you said.....but with the other minimums being 100 hours, maybe there is a bit of flexibility in the other hours. I certainly don't want to short change myself by not getting a well rounded clinical education...it is a lot to learn in just 660 hours....but I hope that it might work out to slant it towards peds. I hear ya about opting out of the "specialty" hours....I am getting geared up for the work involved with going back to school and working full time (oh yeah and two kids! LOL), but I am not out to make extra work for myself either.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

<DIV id=block>Introduction to the Family Nurse Practitioner Track
<DIV id=text><DIV align=justify>
<SPAN style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><EM><FONT color=royalblue>This concentration provides graduates with advanced practice role preparation, knowledge and skills in the care of children and adults across all ages within a family framework. Health promotion, disease prevention and management of common acute and chronic long-term health alterations in primary care settings are the foci of this concentration. Minimally, 100 clinical hours must be in a pediatric setting, 100 hours in women's health (50 hours