Looking for Advice/Perspectives

Updated:   Published

  1. What would be the best approach to take?

    • 1
      Take the offer on the TCU position
    • 0
      Look into doing critical care, even if it’s nights
    • 1
      Stay on current floor

2 members have participated

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/Med Surg.

Hello everyone!! I am just looking for some advice…. I had some mixed views regarding this matter, and was looking for some different perspectives/advice! 

I am currently an RN working full time days on a cardiac Telemetry floor. I have 6 years under my belt, and I am hopefully going to start school for FNP this coming January. I was initially thinking to move to a floor where the pace is slower when I start school. Last week, it just so happened that I was offered a full time days position in my hospital’s transitional care unit. At first I was really happy, because I could work on a slower paced floor while being able to focus more on my studies and even do some schoolwork on days there I can. 

I mentioned this plan to one of the NPs I work with, and a couple of other people as well. The NP said that I would be taking a step backwards clinically by pursuing the TCU position, and it will make me less marketable after I graduate school. My cousin who is a nurse manager told me it would be nice to go there, but only for a year or so. Like they don’t see it as a long term position/position for growth while going to school. I plan on going to school full time and working full time as well. I have a girlfriend, and I will move out with her in about 1-1.5 years. 

Do you think this is a wise move to make? Or do you think I should move to another floor like critical care? My only issue with going to critical care is working nights until a day shift position opens up. That can take a while as there’s a waitlist for day shift positions for night shift CCU RNs. I hear it can take up to 1-1-5 years to get into days. I would prefer to stay in my current hospital because it’s so close to school, and the area I am looking to move to eventually. 

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Random thoughts:

29 minutes ago, thegreennurse said:

I mentioned this plan to one of the NPs I work with, and a couple of other people as well. The NP said that I would be taking a step backwards clinically by pursuing the TCU position, and it will make me less marketable after I graduate school.

Gotta say this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

30 minutes ago, thegreennurse said:

At first I was really happy, because I could work on a slower paced floor while being able to focus more on my studies and even do some schoolwork on days there I can. 

It would be unwise to count on this.

 

31 minutes ago, thegreennurse said:

My cousin who is a nurse manager told me it would be nice to go there, but only for a year or so. Like they don’t see it as a long term position/position for growth while going to school.

Again: ???

Isn't your growth endeavor your education that you will be pursuing?

All of these people sound like they're giving you their personal preferences, not information that is relevant to someone interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner.  Is there a reason that you're concerned about becoming involved in critical care given your future goals?

Lastly: I would plan on doing whatever you can do to be able to prioritize your studying (not while at work, but otherwise).

3
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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/Med Surg.
9 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

Random thoughts:

Gotta say this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

It would be unwise to count on this.

 

Again: ???

Isn't your growth endeavor your education that you will be pursuing?

All of these people sound like they're giving you their personal preferences, not information that is relevant to someone interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner.  Is there a reason that you're concerned about becoming involved in critical care given your future goals?

Lastly: I would plan on doing whatever you can do to be able to prioritize your studying (not while at work, but otherwise).

Thank you for replying to my post! 

Quote

Gotta say this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

That’s what I thought initially, but they way it was just talked down just made me overthink the whole thing. 

Quote

It would be unwise to count on this.

I won’t count on it, but I just thought I would mention that as a potential pro. I should’ve said the lighter flow nay be easier for me to handle on top of full time school. 
 

Quote

Again: ???

Isn't your growth endeavor your education that you will be pursuing?

All of these people sound like they're giving you their personal preferences, not information that is relevant to someone interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner.  Is there a reason that you're concerned about becoming involved in critical care given your future goals?

Lastly: I would plan on doing whatever you can do to be able to prioritize your studying (not while at work, but otherwise).


And it is my growth endeavor! 

I can see how it sounds like their personal perspectives. And in regards to critical care- a lot of people have told me that it would be beneficial in regards to FNP school. 

And thank you again for your input! Your thoughts are helpful. 

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What are your goals as a future NP?  If it’s family practice, critical care might not be very beneficial. Whereas a TCU might be an excellent learning ground. 
 

And if you think days on a transitional care unit is “slower pace,” you are likely very, very mistaken. 
 

3
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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/Med Surg.
40 minutes ago, beekee said:

What are your goals as a future NP?  If it’s family practice, critical care might not be very beneficial. Whereas a TCU might be an excellent learning ground. 
 

And if you think days on a transitional care unit is “slower pace,” you are likely very, very mistaken. 
 

I want to do family practice initially, and then maybe move onto urgent care. And that’s what I was thinking. Tbh, I don’t know why a lot of the people I talk to recommend critical care experience if FNP is primary care. 

And compared to the floor I’m currently on, I don’t think it’ll be as fast. I’m not saying it will be easier, but the floor I’m on is very rapidly paced. 

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10 hours ago, thegreennurse said:

I can see how it sounds like their personal perspectives. And in regards to critical care- a lot of people have told me that it would be beneficial in regards to FNP school. 

They don't know what they're talking about. I wouldn't say the two serve completely different populations, but the focus of the care is very, very different. My understanding is that critical care experience is definitely required for CRNA school and in some programs may be required or recommended if you wish to be an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP).

I have not worked in a transitional care unit. But I do know that family practice and the role of the FNP involves facilitating care transitions and caring for patients during care transitions, especially hospital to home.

9 hours ago, thegreennurse said:

Tbh, I don’t know why a lot of the people I talk to recommend critical care experience if FNP is primary care. 

I don't mean this to insult them but it seems like garden variety ignorance. And I do think it contains a smattering of their own ideas and prejudice, as in: advanced degree is a step up and anything besides critical care is "less than/not as good as...." so you're going in the wrong direction. It isn't accurate.

But you should plan to work hard on your studies regardless of anything else. Make choices that will make that more doable. Your future patients deserve your best efforts to learn all that you can, and becoming a provider will not be like any of the nursing education you've had so far.

Good luck! ~

1
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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

I've heard some of the nurses I work with say that all of their classmates in NP school have critical care experience. The NP market in my area is flooded so I think that gives people an edge. It pains me to say this as I normally recommend doing the job that you want instead of putting yourself through something you don't want. Can you ask more people in your school or profs? They may have a better idea of the market in your area. 

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

If you're planning on becoming an acute care NP or CRNA then you need critical care experience. Otherwise, it doesn't matter. 

As for planning on studying while at work...don't bet on it

1
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I would put to bed any hopes you have of doing school work while at any of those jobs. Even if TCU isn't as "fast paced" as your current job, it probably has just as much work, just with a different focus.

However, a job like TCU might help you get out of work on time more often, and not mentally bring your work home in the form of stress.  You might have more "headspace" leftover for school. 

I think transitioning to ICU, working nights, and doing graduate school would create a perfect storm of stress. In taking on two new intellectually demanding roles, while messing with your sleep cycle, you're setting yourself up for being neither a good ICU nurse nor a good grad student.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

If you're thinking primary care is your goal, critical care experience is not going to help you in school or in getting a job. Critical care experience is going to help for those pursuing acute care NP programs. 

I second the idea that planning on doing school work during any job, is a risk.

I worked full time nights and did clinical. I don't recommend it highly, but it's doable. 

Good luck with your future plans. 

1
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Specializes in Primary Care, Military.
On 8/26/2021 at 10:09 PM, thegreennurse said:

Hello everyone!! I am just looking for some advice…. I had some mixed views regarding this matter, and was looking for some different perspectives/advice! 

I am currently an RN working full time days on a cardiac Telemetry floor. I have 6 years under my belt, and I am hopefully going to start school for FNP this coming January. I was initially thinking to move to a floor where the pace is slower when I start school. Last week, it just so happened that I was offered a full time days position in my hospital’s transitional care unit. At first I was really happy, because I could work on a slower paced floor while being able to focus more on my studies and even do some schoolwork on days there I can. 

I mentioned this plan to one of the NPs I work with, and a couple of other people as well. The NP said that I would be taking a step backwards clinically by pursuing the TCU position, and it will make me less marketable after I graduate school. My cousin who is a nurse manager told me it would be nice to go there, but only for a year or so. Like they don’t see it as a long term position/position for growth while going to school. I plan on going to school full time and working full time as well. I have a girlfriend, and I will move out with her in about 1-1.5 years. 

Do you think this is a wise move to make? Or do you think I should move to another floor like critical care? My only issue with going to critical care is working nights until a day shift position opens up. That can take a while as there’s a waitlist for day shift positions for night shift CCU RNs. I hear it can take up to 1-1-5 years to get into days. I would prefer to stay in my current hospital because it’s so close to school, and the area I am looking to move to eventually. 

You don't need critical care experience to be an FNP. Sure, your experience as an RN can and will help you with understanding the advanced material you're learning and handling the clinic. Depending on what that experience is, it can even help if you want to work in a particular specialty clinic. Those with the maternal-child health experience wanting to be women's health NPs, for example, or those with pediatric experience wanting to focus more on pediatric care. 

Make sure you prioritize your learning in school. The "3 P" classes you take, advanced Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Physical exam, are vital. They are going to build off what you learned previously and you need to make sure you incorporate them into your practice when you begin your primary care, women's health, and pediatrics courses. Make the most of all of your clinical time. Study. Seek out additional study materials to help you understand concepts. Maria Leik has an FNP certification review (now 4th edition) that is excellent and even has access to online activities to help you. There is a website called pocket prep that utilizes information from the Fitzgerald review guide and gives you access to an 800 question study bank that is also super helpful at a decent price. There is also APEA, which is also an online question bank, and while more expensive, is also pretty good. They also offer live or video review courses. 

Trying to work nights and schedule clinic time nearly killed me. I had to switch to days and, when my manager wanted to throw a fit about it and refuse, I went PRN. Put your schooling first. This is going to be your new career. Many graduate programs have a different grade requirement in place - ours was you could not get less than a B in the core FNP courses, or less than C in the other MSN courses. If you want to work in a particular specialty clinic when you become an FNP, your best bet is to try and get experience there prior to graduating. 

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