Hospital experiences and ANP

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Dec 16, 2006

Hi NP 2006! Before posting my response, I went ahead and checked your profile and your previous posts just to get a better idea of your situation (I hope that didn't freak you out). I found out that you're in Michigan too!

It seems apparent that you picked the ANP/GNP route because you have an interest in caring for older adults and the LTC setting is most comfortable for you to practice in. There are jobs for NP's in LTC in our state. I know of a few people who worked in nursing and rehab facilities as RN's and have moved on to become NP's either through employment by a long term care facility chain or with a physician group that provides MD and NP/PA staffing in nursing homes. I have even gotten mail from a large national nursing home chain announcing openings for NP's in their facilities in Michigan even though this is not my specialty.

Nursing homes in our state need nurses with advanced degrees. I think that you can make a tremendous impact in improving the care seniors receive in nursing homes as an NP. You will be a great resource to the nurses on staff in these places and they will surely appreciate your expertise.

My advice to you is to start networking with people that can get you a job in that setting. I would let the medical director in the facilities you work in know about your being an NP student and go from there. I would join MICNP, our state's NP organization so you can start meeting NP's in your field who can offer you assistance in finding a job when you graduate and get certified. Unfortunately, NP jobs in Michigan are usually never seen in classified ads. A lot of job hunting is done by word of mouth and networking.

NPRoseMona · Dec 18, 2006

Hi Pinoy NP!

Thank you for your reply to my question. I am on an online ANP program so I don't see almost any of my classmate or my professors. This is so sad. I love to start networking. I went to MICNP website. I hope this organization will help me to connect with other ANP in Michigan.

Do you think that hospital experience is necessary to be considered for ANP employment? Or my employment will be based on my educational experiences?

NP2006

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Dec 18, 2006

Hello again NP2006! To be honest with you, I think hospital experience will strengthen your chances of getting a job. The reason why I say this is because the current NP job market in the Metro Detroit area (which I am assuming this is where you live) are heavy on the specialty fields. There's a lot of hiring going on in Cardiology, Neurology, all branches of surgery and so forth. Check out hospital websites in Southeast Michigan and you'll see that they are hiring NP's for specialty fields. If you work in a hospital, you'll get a chance to network with NP's and physicians in these roles. You should also know that there are only 2 ACNP programs in the state vs a ton of ANP and FNP so a lot of ANP's are getting hired into these acute care positions.

Give yourself a chance to think about it. Would you be able to handle hospital orientation and be in school at the same time?

NPRoseMona · Dec 21, 2006

thank you so much. i really appreciate it. i have applied for a part time nursing position in neuro-surgery unit. i hope i can handle my school work with my new job. thank you again.

np 2006