Case manager to FNP

[CommunityOB]

I am interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner in a clinic based setting, but was wondering if I would be competitive as an applicant. Let me give you some background:

After I graduated nursing school, I knew that I did not want to work in a hospital. I worked as a CNA on a trauma floor for 2 years. I learn so much, but knew that it was not my passion. I wanted to work in the community. My first job as a nurse was in public health working primarily with STDs/Ims and case managing TB patients. I did that for about a year and then moved to a community/free clinic. There I worked as a case manager for at risk/low income pregnant women for about 2.5 years. I worked with a family practice doctor and with an OBGYN. I Loved my job. I worked with women both in the social aspect of their lives as a case manager, but also doubled as an OB clinic nurse doing NSTs, labs, and Ultrasounds.

My question is, I see a lot of nurses who work in the ICU and ER become FNPs in clinics. Do you think that my experience in clinic setting with underserved populations will be a competitive background to get in, or will it put me at a disadvantage not having that "med/surg" background. I want to work with underserved populations as a Nurse Practitioner, but i am just not sure of my chances of getting in. I had a 3.65GPA in my BSN, and was very involved in the homeless community with a lot of volunteer work.

any added opinions will be greatly appreciated! thanks

[TammyG]

I think your background is perfect. FNPs are not going to be working in ICUs, and you are not going to need to explain vents and continuous dialysis to family. I think a clinic or nursing home based experience is actually more valuable because you have a lot of experience talking to patients.

[CommunityOB]

thanks for the encouragement! I always loved the communication and education aspects of nursing. I plan on starting to applying this fall, and I recently got my graduate certificate in public health, so no GRE for me!

If anyone has any other tips for selling myself in an application, that would be most excellent! thanks!

[Cindy-20]

I say go for it if that's what you want to pursue...I myself had 5 yrs of L&D experience and 4 yrs working in Quality and Risk Management and took the plunge and applied to FNP school. I was weary of the same things as yourself. Anyway, I got in!!!! I will be deferring the yr as I was not pregnant when I applied and am now due any day. Best of luck!!

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

OP I have several classmates who have similar backgrounds to yours. I don't think any one particular background is ideal, each classmate of mine has had courses that meshed easily with their particular background and classes which they needed to work harder at because their background was lacking in that area. I say go for it!

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Go for it- a lot of schools' NP curriculum focuses on vulnerable and underserved populations. Your background is a strong point, not a weak one. Comfort with those populations, good communication skills, and a passion for work in the trenches of community- sounds like you have the makings of a great essay for your apps.

[CommunityOB]

Thanks for the encouragement. It's nice to know that other community health nurses and case managers go non to become nurse practitioners.

[NEMurse95]

Hey, OP. Did you end up starting your FNP program? Curious as to see how it went for you. I'm about to graduate with my RN and will be working two years prior to starting my FNP. I do not like the inpatient hospital setting, and I'm looking for alternative RN experience.