Lost New NP

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Hi all I’m an new np. I went to an DNP family nurse Practitioner program and was assigned to an intensive inpatient provider role. I’ll be honest I feel like I’m drowning almost all of the time and don’t feel like I’ve had much mentorship in this role. I feel miscast. I didn’t pick this role but it was assigned as my employer paid for my education and I owe them time. I’ve asked for a new posting but I feel utterly defeated and often wish I never went back to school. I’m sorry for whining like an idiot but if anyone has advice I’m listening

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Could it be that you were set up for failure having attended an FNP program and made to work in an "intensive inpatient provider role" with inadequate mentoring? Did you have in-patient rotations in your program? If not, it's definitely not ideal to start learning the in-patient provider role as you go without a mentor. Can you be more upfront and emphasize your deficiencies to your superiors so that they could address it appropriately?

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I’m meeting with them next week. I’ve been honest with them all along. Thank you so much for responding to me

[Oldmahubbard]

I think they are expecting much too much from you as an FNP, considering your education and clinical experience, which was probably not inpatient.

I know you have been through a lot. Stick up for yourself.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Oh I will

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Oh i will. I really have no choice. I’ve met with my union folks. I’m meeting with the big bosses next week and then if necessary grieve arbitration then litigation. I’m old and have many years of service where I am with a pension on the line. Going quietly into the night is simply not an option

[egg122 NP, MSN, APRN]

I agree with above. Does the hospital have an outpatient primary care clinic, pre-op testing department, or urgent care section of the ER? That may be more suited for the FNP license.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

What you've described sounds very far outside of the FNP scope. I'd closely examine your Board of Nursing NP practice regulations, both to protect yourself and to show your supervisors. Perhaps if you confront your supervisors with information from your state BON (especially as it regards the Consensus Model) they might be more willing to listen.

Best of luck.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

It is just not your cup of tea at this point or at all. It happens.

They likely do not set you for a failure. They just have to place an NP student for an assignment and have little to no idea what to do with him or her otherwise, so they placed you in the first hole that opened. And you're not comfortable there, which is kind of normal human feeling. Most NP and, indeed, medical schools are operating this way. Medical students and residents have little to no control over their rotations. They are required X hours of surgery - so be it, nobody cares if it happens to be Plastics or Transplants while you'ge going to be a GP and have zero interest in either and would be better prepared doing Ambulatory instead.

Meet with whoever has the power over how things are run there and directly ask for reassignment ASAP. Glue into as many arguments as you can pull out. You're DNP student, therefore you probably already have a big research project, its goals are not aligned with inpatient, it is not your future role, you wanna be more productive/better prepared, you won't be able to practice inpatient as FNP (if it is the case in your state or your institution), etc.

Any big institution has an outpatient department. If they cannot fix something for you there, ask for Urgent care or, at the worst end, ER because that's where you'll send your patients when you have no freaking idea of what is going on with them ?

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I’m done with school. I graduated and took my boards. This is the job my employer placed me in. I’m in an inpatient role as a cardiology np. I deal with the very acutely sick with many underlying problems that are usually acting up. I really didn’t have a choice with this assignment I never would have picked this assignment and the folks in cardiology never would have picked me. I think it’s just a mismatch but I’ve been drowning for months and dread my life right now. I truly appreciate all you guys giving me advice and letting me vent. Sometimes it really does feel like a person is alone in the world with nobody who understands. I so appreciate this

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I work for a huge hospital system they have plenty of outpatient postings and trust me I’ve applied for them all

[Oldmahubbard]

I am just sorry to hear this. I am sorry that anybody thinks the DNP degree is meaningful. I am sorry that a new NP has been placed in the role you describe.

Fight it.