Need some encouragement

[Scarlet33]

Hi everyone,

I am feeling quite down down after my 3rd clinical day today. I am currently in an FNP program and doing my second rotation which is supposed to be a Women's Health Clinical. I am in an online school so I have had to find my own rotations. The one I am in currently is supposed to be women's health rotation. The setting is not women's health at all; rather they do alternative health infusions. The doc said that he will arrange for me to do well women exams and since my school does not require the site to be an ob/gyn office, I went ahead and started with him which was approved by my school. I am currently regretting this decision. I feel that one of the expectations is that I would come in and be ready to draw blood and start IVs which is mainly what is done at this practice. I do have nursing experience, but I worked at a very large hospital (peds) and we had phlebotomy and IV access team. All we had to do was run the IV meds/fluids, program the pumps, and check for infiltrates. So I never got the phlebotomy skills down, and this was true for alot of the nurses I have worked with. It's also been quite a while since I last worked in a hospital.

Today the doc made the comment that even though I am an RN, I lack the fundamental skills, and that I should be thinking of what I want to get out of working here. I get the sense that he is trying to say it might not be the right fit, and I am feeling that way more and more. I have been pleasant and have been helping with administrative tasks at the expense of actually learning anything.

I definitely want to take what was said as constructive criticism, and perhaps it was meant that way and I do appreciate him precepting me. And even though IV starts and all that might be a fundamental nursing skill true, and I was excited I might actually get some practice, it's not what I need as an NP. It's been extremely beyond difficult to find a preceptor for women's health, so I was ecstatic when he was approved. But now I am thinking that I should get out there again and keep praying that a rotation will come along. Another reason I am not feeling comfortable with him is that when I pointed out that a certain number of patients that I see have to be women's health patients and inquired if my requirement will be met at his practice, he told me that he will see to it but that I can always "make it up" for the sake of documentation.

I am discouraged. I know that I will make a really great NP and that despite of what he says, I do have the right foundation. It's not the right setting for me, but I also want to be making progress in pogram. Any words of wisdom or advice?

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

1) Your school has done you a horrible disservice here. But, people choose to go to these schools.

2) I would stop this nonsense of a "rotation" and contact your clinical coordinator (if you have one).

3) If you can't find an appropriate preceptor then you either wait until you can, switch to a program that verifies your clinical placements for you, or you don't become an NP.

There are hardly any clinical hours in FNP programs as it is, so you need experiences that train you to be a provider.

Crap like this gives me such a headache. This should have never been approved in the first place.

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. His comment about what you want out of "working there" is concerning, you are supposed to be learning there. It sounds like he is using you for free help.