HELP: Future FNP

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Hey all,

I am currently in school to pursue my FNP. I am in my second semester, so literally just started and have a ways to go before getting a NP job. My eventual goal is to move away from the hospital, it isn't my favorite place to be! I currently work in a NICU but I am very tired of the night shift, 12 hour shifts, weekends, holidays and overall stress that seems to burn people out.

I was just offered a job in an orthopedic/sports medicine outpatient clinic making almost $30 an hour... And upgrade from my pay at the hospital with regular Monday-Friday hours. I absolutely cannot decide what to do. I feel so unhappy at the hospital but I'm terrified to leave and regret my decision to leave.

I think my main concern is that I will no longer feel like a nurse... I won't even be doing vitals at the clinic, mainly bringing the patient to the room, getting their history, paperwork and calling patients back.

Do you think this is a good opportunity to pursue? One that will set me up for success as a future FNP?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you intend to do clinic work as an FNP it could be a good opportunity. If you are wanting to stay in acute care in any capacity, it isn't ideal.

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Definitely not planning to stay in a acute care... my whole reasoning for going back was to transition away from the bedside. I find the hospital to be a very stressful environment, which is hard for me to function in at times. Do you think an orthopedic clinic is very limiting though? There are really no assessment skills the nurses do.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum

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Specializes in NICU.

I worked in the NICU for 7 years before moving to an internal medicine clinic for a year. It was a totally different experience. But I needed to know if FNP was a good decision for me instead of NNP. I too was so tired of nights and the constant stress. I decided to go back to school full time to finish my BSN and then move on to FNP. I think the clinic would give you many good contacts as well as learning experiences you could use in both school and as an NP. I learned so much in internal medicine. It really stinks working 5 days instead of 3. But not working nights made me feel human again. It wasn't until I changed jobs that I realized how worn out and burned out I had become. Good luck with your decision and your schooling. I am graduating in August with my BSN and deciding on what NP schools to apply to.

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Was it difficult fitting in clinical with working 5 days? I have had a lot of people mention that

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
Was it difficult fitting in clinical with working 5 days? I have had a lot of people mention that

Yes, if you are going to school full-time. I attended school full-time for my MSN NP program. Some of my classmates worked full-time for the first semester, when we only had didactic courses. Some of them also worked full-time during the first semester of clinicals, if they were working three 12s. However, everyone cut back to part time or just took time off for the last 2 semesters. The program was just too demanding.

I don't see how you can do clinicals if your full-time job is five days per week. The vast majority of FNP rotations take place in facilities with normal working hours of M-F 8 am to 5 pm or so. There might be some Saturday hours available, but I wouldn't count on it. Given that your clinical rotations will require an average of 2 days per week, I don't see how this would be doable if you are working full time M-F.

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