ED experience would help for FNP

[amiable]

I got my BSN in 2010. I have been a part time FNP student since 2013. I have worked for Med-Surg:Neurology, Pulmonary, Infectious disease, and surgery floors for four years. I have strong backgrounds in Med/Surg. but other areas.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to have an ED experience before I finish my FNP degree.

I feel burned out with the program while working and going to school at the same time.

I am thinking about taking a semester break and working full time for ED department to be oriented. I may work as PRN in ED once I go back to school after a semester break.

Do you think it would be a good idea taking a break and have ED experience?

Would it be better to finish the program ASAP?

Thanks!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Finish your program ASAP is my advice, without knowing much about you. You are probably the best person to evaluate whether you need ED experience.

Sent from my iPhone.

[travelcrazyRN]

I have been a nurse for 12 years- started as floor nurse med/surg/tele (5 years), then moved to ER (3 years), changed to case management (3 years), and then went back to ER (mostly for the schedule flexibility) last year while I do the FNP program. While I think the ED experience will help me personally as I move into FNP, especially since I desire to do urgent care, I do not think ER experience is a necessity. I think more employers will care more about your FNP knowledge and education over prior RN experience. You already have a broad range of experience. The FNP aspect is so focused on primary care (none of which you will receive in the ER) that it will not help you in the long run especially if you have other nursing experience in acute care. Most EDs are hectic that you will have little time to learn much that will apply to FNP. Honestly, I would stay focused in the program and finish. I truly understand the burn out, and have tinkered with the idea of taking time off to change out of the ED due to the stress of managing work, family, and school. HOWEVER, I think it is more of the idea of reducing the stress than it is the need to change specialties. My advise is to stay focused on school. Reduce your work hours in your current position if possible. Good luck. If you do want to gain emergent or urgent episodic care experience for an advanced practice role then completing clinical hours in that setting would give you the most bang for your buck.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

I think you have a broad enough experience. If you just WANT some ED experience sure. If your ED employs APRN's and you want to get hired there, go ahead.

I don't think it will necessarily make you more marketable after graduation unless you're going into the ED. In my area they just care that you have the certification and credentials....and your RN experience to a lesser extent.

I have only been an RN for just shy of 5 years. My last 3.5 years have been in home health (something some don't value so much as "experience"). I just got hired as FNP.

As BostonFNP said I'd just finish my program. During my program I had many thoughts of trying this or this or this BUT I didn't because I wanted to get done ASAP and be FNP more than I wanted to try other areas as an RN.