new FNP - what would you recommend for a 1st time job?

emtneel · Oct 28, 2008

well regarding the training I doubt any job is going to give you a 3-4 month training program. My instructors said most places give you a week or two but basically expect you to start running. That being said you want to be in a environment where you can ask questions and one where you can start with fewer pts and work up to a certain number. You can say "okay i hope to see at least 15pts a day for 1st 3 months, then up to 25-30 pts/day by 6 mo. with evaluations at 3 and 6 months" Now this would be for primary care.

For a 1st job. There are several of us on here who are new grads and quit our 1st job after 2-3 months, for different reasons.

All i can really say is even if it seems like the perfect job, it may go wrong. And i know when i was looking I was like i want to find this perfect job with wanting to say at least 1 year and get good experience. I also think rarely is your 1st job the one you will stay with forever.

right now i have changed my attitude and my perspective and what i want. I think there are a lot of crappy jobs and a few good ones. So my goal now is to take a high paying job which i think/hope i can handle as a new grad, get my student loans paid off so then i can focus on what i want to do. (mission work)

Also i guess try to be truthful with yourself. I really don't know if i like adult primary care, but i keep trying to tell myself i need to do it so i don't forget all i learned, but truthfully i don't think its my think. I would love to do Peds only primary care, Urgent care, ER, fast track or inpatient. Those things excite me. Managing chronic illness doesn't really.

OH i graduated Dec.07, finally found a job i wanted and started July 21 08, last day was Oct 17th.

So don't get discouraged if you don't find something right away, there is a need, it took me that long to get certified and licensed and credentialled in another state as there aren't very many jobs in Colorado and being a new grad makes the selection practically non-existent.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 29, 2008

I did go into a specialty practice (nephrology) as a first job and have had mixed feelings about it. However, I did get a very solid 4 month orientation. It took that long to get credentialled anyway.

morganvibes · Feb 5, 2009

Hi, just wrote a long message and it got lost somehow, bummer.

boiled down to this: is it less stressful dealing with one thing in a specialty clinic and not having to know every drug ever made?

emtneel · Feb 5, 2009

Hi, just wrote a long message and it got lost somehow, bummer.
boiled down to this: is it less stressful dealing with one thing in a specialty clinic and not having to know every drug ever made?

I would say yes and no. Yes, it may be easier, once you get used to it. But unless you did that specialty i school it may be overwhelming to learn all the speciality stuff because it will be much more focused and detailed then what you learned in school.

I think the best thing is to think about what you like and try to get a job doing that. If you will be happy doing speciality then do that..

and you don't have to know every drug ever made, there are constantly new drugs coming out, you get used to using a certain thing for a certain condition.. then you remember, then you can add, but you will look up things forever anyways, you will never know everything by memory.

Ria21 · Feb 6, 2009

Hi all!! I'm sorry that I can't give an answer to the original question However, this thread caught my attention because I am considering being a FNP. I am really interested in women's health, but figured FNP would give me a broader range. Also, I am interested in stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something abroad to help those who probably don't have any/or very limited access to healthcare. Emtneel, you mentioned that you're interested in missionary work. I know it's a little off topic, but just curious, how would one go about doing that?

emtneel · Feb 6, 2009

Hi all!! I'm sorry that I can't give an answer to the original question However, this thread caught my attention because I am considering being a FNP. I am really interested in women's health, but figured FNP would give me a broader range. Also, I am interested in stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something abroad to help those who probably don't have any/or very limited access to healthcare. Emtneel, you mentioned that you're interested in missionary work. I know it's a little off topic, but just curious, how would one go about doing that?

good question, one i myself, haven't quite figured out yet.. my plan is to pay off most/all of my loans, so i am free from debt, then i can work a few months out of the year and spend several months in foreign countries.. I would like to do some short term 1-2 week mission trips in the meantime...but haven't found the right contacts yet..

I would like to gain enough experience that i would feel comfortable, buying and bringing my own supplies and just going and doing it myself...