Career advice please?

[Casenurse]

Hi Everyone!

I am feeling very insecure these days, and confused about what to do with where I am. My background is this: I have a bachelor's degree in another field. I worked in a hospital for a couple of years in research, and then went to a pre-licensure accelerated program. I became an RN four years ago, and worked for two brief stints, for less than a year (in an ICU an on an Oncology inpt floor). I stopped because I received a scholarship that paid for a master's degree, as long as I stopped working, and all of my classes for a DNP (still working on the thesis though).

I have a lot of education. What I don't have, however, and would like to have is experience!

When I was working as a floor nurse, I never even came close to feeling competent. Obviously I did not have the time, and knew it, but could not pass up a free master's degree. However, I never was able to figure out whether I was having hard time because I was in the wrong field, OR if I just hadn't gotten through the essential first year or two. Now I am about to begin working part-time as either an NP or a floor nurse, but literally am terrified. I don't feel deserving of it. It has been a couple of years since I was actively working in a clinical setting, and I can hardly remember categories of antibiotics, let alone any other meds.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you!

Elizabeth

[SAHMnurse]

I just wanted to comment. I know how you are feeling out of the loop. That is how I feel. I had 2 years of critical care as a new grad, then 3 years of public health. I have been a stay at home mom for six years. I'll tell you, I did my 2 years of critical care and still was never feeling competent. I'll never forget when my preceptor told me it took her 10 years of critical care experience before she felt competent and confident. She didn't worry about each and every shift and had no anxiety coming into work. I'm sure some people feel more comfortable in less time.

You are definitely deserving. I'm curious to see how it goes for you. You'll probably need to start studying a lot in preparation. A return to nursing course might be helpful. Please let us know how it goes.

Hey, at least you were furthering your education. I have been staying at home with my kids losing brain cells. I no longer have current letters of recommendation. I'll have to start all over.

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

It is my opinion only that you really can't work as an NP until you establish competence as an RN. I know people will argue that point but I truly believe you'll have no confidence in yourself until you master some essential nursing skills.

If I was in your shoes, I'd take a nursing job that was in an area I liked and just work it until I felt I had mastery. I think then I'd be ok with advanced practice.

Best wishes to you...you seem to have a solid sense of yourself.

[Rodoon, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think you did the right thing by not passing up a free MSN, but I agree with Quickbeam. When you step into a teaching situation or a patient room, you never know when things will go bad. If you can't handle it, no one will listen to anything you suggest. NP is at the top, so you have to master the basics. Go to a teaching hospital where the pace is faster and the staff leaner to get those skills quick.

Ask yourself this. If you can't do a basic nurse skill who are you going to ask to do it? A time deprived and sassy nurse might ask, "why can't you do it?" Her expectation is you can do everything she can plus the NP duties.