Family NP-What route did you take to get there?

[WannaBCRNA]

Those of you who are/will be family practice NP's, where did you get your nursing experience? Are these type's of NPs expected to have more experience in family/peds/those types of nursing, or can ICU, ER, etc. etc. be of consideration too?

Also, does one have to specialize in an NP program, or can a someone just be a "general" NP and work in whatever area they choose?

Thanks!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

I worked in a variety of areas before specializing as FNP. Heavy areas in ED, CCU, peds, OB.

You seek an NP specialty that interests you and wherein your experience lies: FNP, NNP, PNP, WHNP, etc.

[WannaBCRNA]

Can you explain what these areas of NP work are:

FNP, NNP, PNP, WHNP?

And is ED another abbreviation for ER? Thanks for your reply, also!

[jer_sd]

Main NP roles/certifications

FNP- family nurse practitioner

ANP- adult nurse practitioner

PNP- pediatric nurse practitioner

GNP- geriatric nurse practitioner

ACNP- acute care nurse practitioner

WHNP- woman's health nurse practitioner

NNP- neonatal nurse practitioner

PMHNP- psychatric mental health nurse practitioner

and ED is the same as ER just emergency departmetn rather than emergency room

[VivaRN]

I knew I wanted to be an FNP after being inspired by my undergrad profs and NP's I knew in the community.

I did Burn ICU because it was an amazing opportunity and we also did peds. I worked in a large public hospital and gained more experience with the underserved, resource poor settings, advocacy and cultural diversity.

This experience has served me well throughout the NP program but there are many roads one could take. Some things carried over, some did not, but I worked hard to learn and get up to speed in the outpatient environment. My observation is that working hard to learn is more important than the type of experience per se.

We came into the program with a variety of experience types, or for some people, straight from BSN.

Good luck!

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I have worked as an RN in telemetry, urgent care, progressive cardiac and ER specialties. Currently, I am an FNP student and still work in the ER. I honestly feel that for me, my ER experience has been the most valuable with preparing me for my studies as an FNP student. As an ER nurse, you typically see all age ranges from newborn to elderly; and for many different ranges of complaints - ones that could be easily handled in a doctor's office to ones that are life-threatening.

Personally, I feel my ER background gives me a good knowledge base to pull from in addition to what I am currently learning in school while I am doing my clinical rotations.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think level one trauma center experience is what really helps in the APN role. I had never worked in an outpt environment prior to graduation from the APN program. (I'm an adult health CNS). My ER skills in assessment and ability to do the "across the room assessment" has never let me down.