Experience for FNP?

Published

Specializes in pediatric neuroscience.

I am currently a RN with pediatric experience (hospital and homecare) and I am looking into going back to school in Fall 2011 for my FNP.

My dilemma is this: Is it better to stay in peds homecare so that I can do my work for my FNP while working nightshift (in the home there is ALOT of downtime), OR would I benefit more by going back to the hospital setting and working 3 12hr shifts a week in the Pediatric ED or regular Peds unit? I feel like I would get better exposure to different pediatric conditions in the ED and even on a med/surg peds unit, but at the same time I would be juggling school more. In homecare I feel like I'd have the downtime to do work during nightshifts but the work is much less challenging and rather boring.

I guess my dilemma is which would be best for both my career and time management for doing school and work at the same time? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Do you have other types of experience? I would vote that since you are planning to do an FNP, get some more varied experience: ER is perfect but you need to see both adults and kids.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I started my FNP program I had about 12 years total of CCU and cardiac rehab. I *forced* myself to change over to the ER to get a better variety of experience. Yes, I totally hated it but yes, I really did learn some good stuff. CCU had prepared me wonderfully for chest pain patients but did nothing to teach me about atypical appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and migraine management.

I switched over before my first semester and then worked 1-2 shifts per week during the first year of school. The first year is all about research, theory, and more research and theory with a patho and pharm thrown in. It was very manageable.

I totally quit after about 1.5 years when I started clinicals but I am still glad I did it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion