RN to FNP, is my OR experience enough to be considered?

[Chocolate39]

Hi everyone!

I graduated nursing school December 2016 and I've been working as an operating room RN in a level one trauma center for almost a year. When I first started nursing school, surgery is all I was interested in. I was so intrigued by the OR environment and knew I wanted to be an OR nurse. However, my interests and goals have changed since then. I see patients who end up getting surgeries for medical diagnosis that are preventable and addressed in primary care. I would love to be more involved in primary care and patient education. I do not find that I'm getting enough of that in the OR. I want to go back to school and become a nurse practitioner!

My concern is whether being an OR nurse will be sufficient experience for an FNP program? I know a lot of people think OR nursing is very different than all the other specialities (which it is), but I do have some of those nursing skills that apply to other floors. I work closely with a team everyday in surgery, I am an expert at doing foley catheters, I am a quick problem solver (time is crucial in the OR and the circulator helps resolve problems to keep surgery running smoothly.), and I am a quick learner. My nursing assessments involve looking up pt medical history and surgical history, labs, allergies, and pre-op checklist. Skin integrity is assessed after surgery to make sure positioning did no harm. I assess drains and incisions placed immediately after surgery. I am constantly learning! For example today I assisted in a lumbar drain placement and learned how to set up for one.

I would like some advice from those of you who are FNPs based on your experience do you think I should find a part time job on a floor to further my learning and have a better chance at getting accepted into a FNP program?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to student NP forum

[ArmaniX, MSN, APRN]

I think you're more than good to apply to FNP school. While those skills you highlighted are good for a nurse, personally, I don't foresee how many of them will be of any value as an FNP working primary care.