Feeling a little out of place, and liking it....

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 12, 2008

Exciting, isn't it?

Yes, probably rather like many of us felt when we realized we were the in charge of making the decisions about how the patient was managed.

Interpreting X-rays and realizing you are accurate and follow through with the proper orders to manage the findings. The thrill of a successful resuscitation event when you are the one in charge of giving the orders that makes a critical difference. Taking part in differential dx as a fellow colleague whose opinion carries weight.

You are learning, changing, becoming...

Keep up the good work, SteveRN (NNP to be;)).

pedspnp · Oct 12, 2008

This is what is called the imposter syndrome, there has been research done on this phenomena and it does not only apply to nursing. I am in my second semester of PNP clinicals and still have the feeling from time to time.:smokin: Have fun.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 12, 2008

Steve - your excitement is palpable in your writing. Good luck and I'm so glad you are so happy!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Oct 12, 2008

So I just started my NNP clinicals this week, and boy is it different. I am at a different unit than the one I work in, and it's a much different pace. It felt EXTREMELY weird taking a medical sign-out on 10 patients instead of nursing report on 1-2pts.
It was weird NOT doing vs, nursing assessments, giving meds, answering IVs, feeds, playing secretary, etc.
It was weirder ordering TPN, running delivery room resuscitations, presenting on rounds and taking H&Ps.
It feels strange. I didn't feel like a nurse, and I didn't feel like an NNP just yet. I felt like I didn't quite belong. The nurses were friendly, but didn't treat me like a fellow nurse. I felt strange giving them orders.
Reading Xrays, ordering feeds, labs, meds, etc was an amazing new experience.
Is this how it was for all of you who were nurses long before starting as an NP?

That is so awesome you love what you are doing! :) I am a new NP and I feel the same way as you. It's great being an NP, even if it takes some getting used to regarding not being in the staff RN role anymore.

JDCitizen · Oct 12, 2008

Oh man do I know the feeling...

When I was in clinicals it was just about a 100% learned experience. No kids of my own to compare to. No family close by with children to compare to..

The door closes and it was me, baby and mom..... Keeping myself calm, the baby calm and the mom calm... The exam, the reaching for a diagnosis, the explaining the diagnosis and treatment plan to the mother and than explaining/presenting to the doctors...

Such a jumble of emotions and most unexplainable to people who have not gone through the same. I don't believe the doctors know what we are going through. Years of being told that we can't diagnose than there we are.....

Probably not as intense as in a hospital neonatal or pediatric unit but at the time more than intense enough...

emtneel · Oct 16, 2008

oooohhhh its nice to know other people feel the same.

In my role at my first job (which is ending soon) i only do pre-ops on pts so not to much ordering and such, but a few things feel wierd. The nurses think you are so much higher, and that you have cloat just because you are a NP.

It seems there is more respect there as well (which should be the same for RNs as well)

But i feel wierd asking RN's to do something for me, like get a BP, since i know how to do that myself, but then i have realized they don't like it if you overstep your boundaries and do it yourself, because that is their job and they like doing it.... its a fine line that i haven't yet figured out...

i have had other issues as well. Such as jealousy, I look REAL young and it didn't go over to well when the RN's found out that i wasn't the new volunteer but that I was the new NP.

i REALLY like working as a NP (and hope i find another job where i fit in better) soon, but it is odd trying to fit into that niche, and I only worked as a RN for 3 years and started FNP school before i started working as a RN.

Blessedx3 · Oct 22, 2008

OK...just curious...were you a Neonatal Nurse before/while going through NP school? Love your excitement...

emtneel · Oct 22, 2008

OK...just curious...were you a Neonatal Nurse before/while going through NP school? Love your excitement...

you need to mention "who" you are talking to?

Blessedx3 · Oct 22, 2008

Sorry--to Steve--who started the thread...I am new to the website...Thanks for the correction.

buterfly · Oct 23, 2008

SteveRN21, This is my first clinical and I know the feelings. I am thinking like a nurse and need to force myself to think like an NP, but I think we will get it soon. Just think positive.

psychonaut · Oct 27, 2008

So I just started my NNP clinicals this week, and boy is it different. I am at a different unit than the one I work in, and it's a much different pace. It felt EXTREMELY weird taking a medical sign-out on 10 patients instead of nursing report on 1-2pts.
It was weird NOT doing vs, nursing assessments, giving meds, answering IVs, feeds, playing secretary, etc.
It was weirder ordering TPN, running delivery room resuscitations, presenting on rounds and taking H&Ps.
It feels strange. I didn't feel like a nurse, and I didn't feel like an NNP just yet. I felt like I didn't quite belong. The nurses were friendly, but didn't treat me like a fellow nurse. I felt strange giving them orders.
Reading Xrays, ordering feeds, labs, meds, etc was an amazing new experience.
Is this how it was for all of you who were nurses long before starting as an NP?

Just wait for the day when you have one of us NICU RNs looking at you saying, "What do I do?", and you realize, you are the "decider"!

Or, when the grumpy nurses start saying, "He forgot where he came from." I see it happen to some NNPs I really respect, and feel bad for them (and to some NNPs who deserve it, unfortunately).