Minute Clinic Preceptorship vs Urgent Care

[RN-DC, BSN]

I have been accepted for a preceptorship at a Minute Clinic for my first FNP Family Practicum. I'm grateful that I have this, but am also considering holding out to see what my school can find in terms of an Urgent Care preceptorship (the school places students, but alerted us to applying for Minute Clinic preceptorships when it became available). I would prefer Urgent Care, and am worried that I will find the Minute Clinic not challenging enough. 

Do FNP students generally wait to see all of their opportunities prior to picking a  setting? If I tell my school that I have been accepted into the Minute Clinic preceptorship, will they not look for other possible clinic locations for me?

Has anyone done the Minute Clinic and found it to be interesting and challenging?

Any words of advice are greatly appreciated!

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I have and I liked it. A bird in one hand is worth more than two in the bush. Also, almost always guaranteed a job upon graduation. Pay is higher in retail clinic than in regular primary care and there is more scheduling flexibility (no M-F, 9-5).

[RN-DC, BSN]

On 2/9/2022 at 4:30 PM, ThePrincessBride said:

I have and I liked it. A bird in one hand is worth more than two in the bush. Also, almost always guaranteed a job upon graduation. Pay is higher in retail clinic than in regular primary care and there is more scheduling flexibility (no M-F, 9-5).

Thank you! I think I will take it ?

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

On 2/24/2022 at 5:51 AM, RN-DC said:

Thank you! I think I will take it ?

@RN-DCCould you please update here and let me know how you like it, if you did go to Minute Clinic?  I'll be starting my rotations in January of 2023, and have been debating whether to try applying for CVS or just letting my school place me in a regular non-retail primary clinic.

I'm in the same boat you were: would love Urgent Care, but those placements are far and few, if any.

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

On 2/9/2022 at 1:30 PM, ThePrincessBride said:

I have and I liked it. A bird in one hand is worth more than two in the bush. Also, almost always guaranteed a job upon graduation. Pay is higher in retail clinic than in regular primary care and there is more scheduling flexibility (no M-F, 9-5).

@The Princess BrideWhat types of cases or things were you mostly getting during your preceptorship?  Did you end up working at CVS after graduation?  I'm debating whether to do the CVS rotation, but I'm afraid it might prevent me from getting other jobs outside of CVS, due to possible lack of exposure to types of patients and illnesses seen.

I like the idea of doing the preceptorship at CVS because I often see they give preference to people who did the preceptorship there.  Due to CVS being across the US, it seems you can just pick up and apply to any state once you're licensed/certified FNP.  Great opportunity to have a job in hand if you move.