First year as an FNP??!!

[TCUgirl15]

I recently accepted a Family NP position with a large teaching hospital here in the DFW area. This will be my first NP position, as I graduated from FNP school this past May. I will be starting in January 2015.

I was hoping to get some feedback from those of you that are practicing FNP's as to how your first year went as an NP? If there are things I can start doing now to prepare for my start date? If there are things I can anticipate happening as a new NP?

I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I've been a nurse for a little over 6 years and I remember that first year or so feeling inadequate all of the time. I'm not looking forward to going through that all over again, but I'm excited to learn and grow in my new role!

How did your first year or so pan out as an NP? Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

THANKS!!

[BritFNP]

You learn everyday. Get your basic processes down. You will see 'new' stuff all the time for a long time. There is no one way to prepare. Just have your resources close by (medscape, apocrates, etc). I just reached my 15 months mark and there are days where I still feel like an imposter and days where I totally feel like I nailed it!

[sfalumberjack007]

Which hospital and what setting? I am getting my FNP but I want to work in Interventional radiology at Baylor or Parkland.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Your first year in practice is an amazing or horrifying time, depending on how you look at it. You will see things you have never seen before, make decisions you have never made before, and likely make a few mistakes.

If you approach it as a learning experience, invest yourself in it, and use your resources you will (hopefully) enjoy it. At the end of a year you can look back and see how you have developed.

If you don't invest yourself in it, try and pretend/expect you know all the answers, or don't use your resources it can be a nightmare.

Keep a notebook and every day write down all the things you need to look up from the day; spend an hour or two each night researching those things.

Stay up to date on research and guidelines while also asking/watching experienced providers and try and mix EBP with current practice. Remember things in practice are not ever black and white as they are in school.

If you think about it, do it. Thinking of getting a radiograph? Order it. Don't worry about getting negative labs/images; with time you can start to cut down on orders.

Establish resources/support. Work collaboratively.

Trust in your education and experience, especially in differentiating normal from abnormal and treating the patient's response to disease not just disease.

Sent from my iPhone.