FNP Clinical Settings

[CR27]

I am looking at an Online FNP program that requires you to find your own preceptors. My main goal is to work a dermatologist or at a plastic surgery center. I know the clinical courses are broken into maternal and child care, adult & older adult, & FNP in practice. Do you guys think a dermatology or plastics office will be acceptable for any of my clinical hours? Just trying to get some opinions on this. Thank you!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Do dermatologists or plastic surgeons hire FNPs?

I'm trying to think of situations in which FNPs would work at plastic surgery centers, and I really can't. They can't perform surgery, and other than the surgery and pre/post-op consults, everything else can be done by an RN or MA.

[Sour Lemon]

I am looking at an Online FNP program that requires you to find your own preceptors. My main goal is to work a dermatologist or at a plastic surgery center. I know the clinical courses are broken into maternal and child care, adult & older adult, & FNP in practice. Do you guys think a dermatology or plastics office will be acceptable for any of my clinical hours? Just trying to get some opinions on this. Thank you!

Beware of schools that "allow" you to find your own preceptor. It seems like people are constantly posting on this site about not being able to actually find one.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

More important than "will a plastics or dermatology practice be acceptable?" is the question "can I even find a plastics or dermatology practice that would precept me?"

Trust us: run like the wind from a "find your own preceptor" program.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Derm and plastics do hire NPs, but not right after school. You'll likely have to start in Primary practice office, where a fair number of small derm procedures (biopsies, excisions, sometimes even crio) can be learned.

It is important in derm office to have at least one provider well familiar with internal medicine, and your dermatologist won't take that place:)

The wast majority of all NP programs now require students to find preceptors. The difficulties of it are exaggerated quite a bit.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Do dermatologists or plastic surgeons hire FNPs?

I'm trying to think of situations in which FNPs would work at plastic surgery centers, and I really can't. They can't perform surgery, and other than the surgery and pre/post-op consults, everything else can be done by an RN or MA.

FNPs can do everything, including minor surgeries, and that includes derm and plastics small stuff. I could do as many warts' cuttings, biopsies, spider angioma burns, etc. as I would like in an ordinary primary care office with no dermatologist available within 50 miles around. Just not my cup of tea.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to student NP forum