Clinicals: FNP in pediatrics or OBGYN

[Urtania]

I'm a student at the University of South Alabama (USA) pursuing a dual FNP/ACNP through their online program. This fall 2014, we are to complete 120 hours in family practice, 60 hours in pediatrics, and 60 hours in OBGYN. All are to be done with an FNP or MD in an outpatient setting. I have not found a single FNP who specialized in pediatrics or OBGYN. However, I have found many PNPs, CPNPs, and WHNPs. Unfortunately, USA won't let us use those credentials for clinical preceptors.

Do FNPs work in outpatient pediatrics or OBGYN anymore? It sure seems like they don't.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to Student NP forum for more answers.

[futureeastcoastNP]

I'm sure there are some, but it's rare these days. Most in peds are PNPs and most in OBGYN offices are Midwives or WHNPs.

It's odd that your school won't let you learn from them - they are the experts in those fields, after all. That's like a medical school telling students they can ONLY learn from general physicians and no specialists - you learn the MOST from specialists.

The best advice I can give is to just start looking into MDs. Again, it's odd they will approve a gynecologist-MD but not a WHNP.

[newFNP2015]

I worked with an FNP at a community based maternal child clinic for OB. I see FNPs mostly in the community clinics and pedi clinics that are associated with hospital systems. If you are set on finding FNP, you might look in those types of facilities first. Otherwise, it might be easier for you to find MDs. I have had a mix of preceptors in my program (MD, PA, NP) and I find they can all give great experience based on personality and desire to teach.