Got my dream job!

[Dixiecup]

After the ordeal I went through to pass the exam I was hesitant to post. I kept thinking they were going to call and say it was a mistake and withdraw the offer!

I had an interview with a rural clinic the same week I took the exam (for the second time). They called the next week and offered me the job!

The pay is great. Four days a week 9-5. Nine paid holidays a year. Two days off for bad weather. Two weeks vacation. Five extra days off for CME's. $2000 a year for CME funding. And the very best part is it is a rural clinic and I will qualify for 100% student loan reimbursment. This was the clincher for me since I have about 80K in student loans.

I am walking on cloud nine! I will be floating to different rural clinics within the company. The only drawback is the commute will be approx. almost an hour to anywhere I go. But it is a small price to pay for this job. I have wanted to work for the company since I started NP school but was sure there would be no openings by the time I finished.

Everything just fell into place . I start June 22. Now my only problem is I am terrified to begin. I feel so stupid, like I still don't know anything. I am making a notebook of all the assessments and treatment options that I did in clinicals for a reference and I'm hoping this will help me not have to look absolutely everything up.

I am really paranoid about my assessment skills. During clinicals it seemed like my mind just went blank when I walked in the exam room. I was going through my clinical notes and found one where the pt was dizzy and had vision changes and I was sitting here reading it I totally didn't know what to do! What if that happens in the real world?

I just hope they schedule me easier pts for a little while but if not, I will just do my best.

I guess everything happens for a reason. If I had passed the test the first time, this position would not have been available so I would probably have taken a position I really didn't want but I had to have a job! Since I had to repeat the test, enough time passed and this position was available.

I know I am rambling, but I am so excited and scared at the same time. Thanks for everyone's support on this board.

I am lucky to live in an area where NP jobs are plentiful, but this is the one I really wanted!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Congrats!

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

Congratulations!! And don't worry about being scared....you're supposed to be!! Take your time, ask questions, look up what you don't remember. You'll be fine.

[rinasm]

Congradulations!

I'm so happy for you(though, you say, 'who are you?' @.@).

Hope I can get my dream job just like you!

Best luck on your first day~

[pedspnp]

where are you going to be working at I work rural health also and love it.

[TRR8021]

Hi,

I was curious, are you in a program to receive loan forgiveness like the one from HRSA or some other one? If so, which one do you have? And congrats on your dream job!

[mammac5]

You're so excited that just reading your post made ME excited for you!

Keep your enthusiam and enjoy your new job.

[VivaRN]

Congratulations! And don't forget the happy thing about working in outpatient: the patient walked in, they can always walk BACK in or you can call them if you forgot to do or tell them something. You will do great!

[carachel2]

YEAH AND CONGRATS FOR YOU!!!!!!!!

I'm a new grad too and often sit and puzzle over what to do. The physician I work with had some great tips on dealing with this.

-Eliminate disease processes out loud "Well, your breath sounds are nice and clear and full all over and I see that you aren't working hard to breathe, so that tells me that your cough is not coming from asthma, pnuemonia, etc." Often times, talking out loud like that helps ME focus in on things and it also goes a long way towards patient teaching because it teaches them what to look for as well.

-Grab a lab order form and say "I'll be back in just a minute, I have to look up the diagnosis code for the tests I'm going to order." Gives me a minute to go to my office, think about what I am suspecting, look up any tests and also to find the diagnosis code. Then when I go back into the room I can explain what I am thinking about doing.

-Finally, if I know I want to treat with antibiotics, blood pressure medicine, etc. but always don't know the exact dose I want to start with I will explain the general class of medicine, risks, benefits of treating or not treating and side effects and then will excuse myself and say "I will be back in a minute with your prescriptions."

[zenman]

I made a template to meet the requirements of the particular setting I was in. For both ROS or PE I'd just change or add/delete whatever was appropriate and used it for a "Cheat sheet" till I could do without it. For example, I could be doing the neuro exam portion and look at my cheat sheet like I was documenting something and make sure I wasn't missing anything. Never had to leave the room and the patient never had a clue what I was doing.

This was a military psych setting and patients were in good physical shape so yours might need to be more detailed.

Review of Systems:

Neurologic: The patient denied recent/current dizziness, syncope, seizures, weakness or paralysis, problems with sensation or coordination, tremors, speech or memory changes.

Physical Examination:

Neurological: Cranial nerves: III-XII grossly intact; visual fields full to confrontation. Motor: 5/5 upper and lower extremities with normal tone and no drift. Sensory: Normal to light touch and proprioception; (-) Romberg. Coordination: Normal RAM's. Gait: Normal native and stress. DTR's: 2/4 throughout with bilateral flexor plantar responses.

[bloviate]

Congratulations. I am very happy for you

[mom2cka]

Congrats! That sounds like something I'm hoping for when I graduate - I'm so happy to hear that things worked out so well for you!