Best Job to Have as a FNP Student

Jules A, MSN · Mar 26, 2015

What about a RN job in the type of office you want to work? If nothing else getting friendly with the staff, knowing the office routine and where the toilet paper is stored will be helpful if they hire you. :)

carachel2 · Mar 28, 2015

I forced myself to transfer to the ER during FNP school. I worked about 1 shift a week up until the last semester. I learned a lot, saw a lot and it was good to see urgent gyne/abdominal and ortho cases since I was previously on in CCU. At some point it is going to be all about what is most flexible with your schedule in school vs. how much you need to expand your horizons.

OBigdog26, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 28, 2015

I work ED and will be going to FNP school in August. Definitely more flexible in my schedule since I'm only going to be working weekend and going to school PT.

Sigh....the sacrifices we make for higher education.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses. Pardon for any misspelled words, I blame it on auto-correct.

SnowShoeRN · Apr 7, 2015

Honestly, and this is going to sound really weird, but the best job I've had to prepare me for primary care was working as a camp nurse. Just hear me out. Before I started my primary care/clinical component I worked as a camp nurse. I was the only nurse for a population of 85 campers and 30 adults. You wouldn't believe the fun and exciting things I had to do. I'm sure not every camp is like this, but I saw ear infections, a concussion, lots of nasty lacerations, panic attacks, colds, sinusitis, strep throat, burns, sprains, strains, and more and learned about a lot of different medications and chronic health problems. I never practiced outside of my scope and always sent people to urgent care or the hospital if I felt it warranted it, but because I had just finished my advanced health assessment class, and worked with people ages 7 to 55, I got to practice a lot of newly-learned assessment skills.

I had gone into this job with 7 years of nursing experience working in cardiac, med surg, ortho, and home care. I didn't expect it to be so interesting, but it really was. And I'm not sure how you're financing school, but I've done it through loans and summer jobs so this worked out well for me. I'm graduating this May and I still use my experience there to bring up examples of patients during lecture or clinical group meetings. After the OR, it might not be your cup of tea or what you're really looking for, but that's my two cents. Best of luck! :)