New Grad in Urgent Care Working Alone?

[justhink]

I'm about to graduate (FNP) and I think I'm about to get in a job offer in urgent care. Ultimately, they'll want me able to work certain days as the sole provider for the clinic (with a physician always available for call). While they have promised not to leave me alone until I'm ready, neither the physicians nor I know how long this will be.

I have about 1,000 hours of experience as an RN in the ER and will have about 2,500 hours of experience in the ICU by graduation. My GPA has been very strong both in undergrad and grad, and I have always had very positive reviews from my FNP preceptors (most of which have been physicians). In fact, one of my preceptors recommended me for this job and he is part of the same practice (but two different clinics).

While neither I nor the physician know how long it will take me to get ready to be solo, I don't think they'd hire me if they thought it would take a year, certainly not more than that. If I were to guess, I think they have somewhere between 3-6 months in mind.

Anyone here gone solo in urgent care in that time frame after graduation? Is it completely unreasonable to think it could be done?

[BiotoBSNtoFNP]

I just started working in urgent care as an experienced RN and am also in an FNP program, so I cannot comment on timing of when you will be ready. However, the PAs/NPs that I now work with are newer and I often see them reaching out to other providers to discuss cases when they are unsure. There are multiple locations for the urgent care I work for so there is always someone to assist or give advice when needed and the others are glad to help and provide input. It sounds like you will have a good support system with this potential employer and have physicians or other providers available to you, even if you are the sole provider at that location?

My understanding is that the new grad providers are on their own as the only provider at that site after a few months of orientation.

[justhink]

I just started working in urgent care as an experienced RN and am also in an FNP program, so I cannot comment on timing of when you will be ready. However, the PAs/NPs that I now work with are newer and I often see them reaching out to other providers to discuss cases when they are unsure. There are multiple locations for the urgent care I work for so there is always someone to assist or give advice when needed and the others are glad to help and provide input. It sounds like you will have a good support system with this potential employer and have physicians or other providers available to you, even if you are the sole provider at that location?

My understanding is that the new grad providers are on their own as the only provider at that site after a few months of orientation.

Thanks for the input. Yes, the "sister" clinic is where my preceptor is at and it's about 10 minutes away, and will always have someone there I could reach out too. I like urgent care, and like the group that runs the clinic, and like the idea of 3 12-hour days per week. But, I know how I perform at my first job out of school is extremely important for my career.

[allennp]

As bio said collaboration is the key. You are much as I was when I started, i had been a airlift/ED/icu RN, then became a FNP and soon was in my neighborhood UC, I could ID sick folks but it was those in between and I soon found that it was a bit of a confidence issue as well as sitting back and refining my medical decision making process. Also a healthy phone resource to bounce off those odd patients and such, thankfully which I had. The 12 hr shifts 3 a week were nice but hammering thru 20-40 pts a shift even in a well resourced designed uc wore on me after a few years. Especially when as understandable 60% were URI type stuff.

I left due to having to work to many holidays/weekends and evenings, but still sort of miss the work in some way, but love what I do now as well.

Wishnyou luck, I think uc work is a good way to start.

[justhink]

As bio said collaboration is the key. You are much as I was when I started, i had been a airlift/ED/icu RN, then became a FNP and soon was in my neighborhood UC, I could ID sick folks but it was those in between and I soon found that it was a bit of a confidence issue as well as sitting back and refining my medical decision making process. Also a healthy phone resource to bounce off those odd patients and such, thankfully which I had. The 12 hr shifts 3 a week were nice but hammering thru 20-40 pts a shift even in a well resourced designed uc wore on me after a few years. Especially when as understandable 60% were URI type stuff.

I left due to having to work to many holidays/weekends and evenings, but still sort of miss the work in some way, but love what I do now as well.

Wishnyou luck, I think uc work is a good way to start.

Did you have any NP experience when you started in UC? How long did you train in the clinic before going it alone?

[BostonFNP, APRN]

In complete honesty it doesn't sound like a good first job for a novice NP.

Your first year of practice is a time when you learn a ton; you will see a lot of things you have never seen before and the more support you have the more you will like your job and the better you will be. Building a strong foundation and avoiding burnout are the two most important goals of your first year.

Often that "we won't leave you alone until you are ready" turns into "I won't be here next week. Don't worry you're ready".

Will you need to read images at your UC? There is a learning curve with that as well as a lot of risk.

[justhink]

Yes, I will read images. There is a second clinic not far away where there will always a physician I can call, and he can also access the x-rays that I shoot. Nonetheless, I share the same concerns you mention.