If FNP is my goal, what is a good RN specialty?

[jkmk]

Ideally I would love to be an FNP / Primary Care Provider. Is it best to have my RN experience in a primary care/office setting or would other hospital specialties provide a better foundation for that role? Thanks!

[MissDoodaw]

ER - you see everything!

[Dixiecup]

This is just my personal opinion buy I don't think working in an office setting will be of much help with experience for FNP. As a nurse, you just fill rooms then leave. You are not in the exam room when the physician is seeing the patient.

I worked for the department of corrections for 13 years. There was Dr. clinic daily and the set up was entirely different. The nurse was with the physician every minute so I spent a LOT of time experiencing the Dr assessing, evaluating and treating the patient and I learned soooo much doing this. I honestly think I could have did a lot of the Dr clinic by myself just from all that experience at the side of the physician and he taught me a lot.

I'm not saying you should go to work in a prison! But a clinic in the real world isn't going to help you much as far as learning.

Med surg floor or ER would probably be your best bet.

[jkmk]

thanks for the suggestions. i honestly don't think i'd be the best fit as an er or med/surg hospital nurse, although i keep considering it to gain the experience. i'm not someone who's drawn to intensely high-risk, life or death trauma and i don't want the bulk of my job to be passing meds.

i can picture myself in an urgent care clinic, l/d/woman/baby care, outpatient, or home care. i love the preventative/educating side of things and natal stuff. would urgent care give me a chance to be involved as dixiecup had mentioned? i'm also not opposed to working in the lock-up here, but i am concerned for my safety being a woman in that environment...though it's just a local jail and not a 'prison'. at my local hospital they also have an option to rotate between the birthing center, women's care, neonatal intensive care, and pediatrics plus... i think that would be a great fit for me and i imagine that would be good prep for primary care. it's a hard hospital to get into though.

[ArizonaMark]

I too work in a correctional setting as a RN. Like Dixiecup described, we too have a clinic-like setting where I have opportunities to work side-by-side with MDs, NPs, and PAs.

As well, on the weekends, I am responsible for the nurse sick call. My NP really pushes me to come to him with everything done and ready. I assess, diagnose, and choose a tx plan. I must be able to support my plan and defend it. If he agrees, he simply signs off on the orders, and we are on our way.

This arrangement has really forced me(in a good way) to stretch my assessment skills and helped refine my medical knowledge without stepping outside of my scope of practice.

My co-workers know I am in a FNP program, so they are taking the extra steps to help stretch my skills and knowledge base. I am very lucky to be in an environment such as this and recommend it highly.

Kindly,

Mark

[jkmk]

I too work in a correctional setting as a RN. Like Dixiecup described, we too have a clinic-like setting where I have opportunities to work side-by-side with MDs, NPs, and PAs.

As well, on the weekends, I am responsible for the nurse sick call. My NP really pushes me to come to him with everything done and ready. I assess, diagnose, and choose a tx plan. I must be able to support my plan and defend it. If he agrees, he simply signs off on the orders, and we are on our way.

This arrangement has really forced me(in a good way) to stretch my assessment skills and helped refine my medical knowledge without stepping outside of my scope of practice.

My co-workers know I am in a FNP program, so they are taking the extra steps to help stretch my skills and knowledge base. I am very lucky to be in an environment such as this and recommend it highly.

Kindly,

Mark

Thanks Mark - That sounds like a great opportunity to learn and grow!

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I know you don't like the idea, but I also suggest the ED. A smaller community ED that is not trauma designated could provide great experiences for you. The majority of patients seen in the ED setting are not trauma patients (if the hospital is not a trauma facility). After working over 10 years in various EDs, I can tell you that a great deal of stuff I saw could managed in a primary care office - and if it couldn't, it's also a great experience because you will learn what needs to be sent out of the office.

Also, urgent care centers would provide a great experience to become an FNP.

[Dixiecup]

Thanks Mark - That sounds like a great opportunity to learn and grow!

You woudn't think you would bet a lot of different experience in a prison setting, but it is like a community of approx 3000 inmates with a variety of healthcare problems, just like on the street.

everything from cardiac, hypertension, TB, HIV, and other chronic illnesses, plus a lot of things you see that you probably would not see in a normal setting. It is very interesting.