NP Competency After Graduation

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I just wanted to reach out and see how prepared current NPs were when they graduated their NP programs. Honestly I'm getting more and more worried about the lack of training that NPs seem to get. Especially from all these online programs. I am only in my 2nd semester and it is an ADN to MSN track so I know I have to take some of the transition courses since I did not get my BSN but geeze these classes are so extremely useless!! It has made me so angry how useless these courses have been and how much busy work we seem to get that won't prepare me to take care of patients in any way at all. I see how much training PAs get and am wishing that I went that route instead, but I did not have a bachelor's degree.

Is there anyone out there that was disappointed with their NP training and how did you go about making yourself be a competent provider?

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Actually this might do better in the NP section and not the student NP section. Can anyone move it there or tell me how to do it? Thanks!

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I feel like NP programs online or in-person are woefully lacking in preparation regardless of RN experience. Far too much time is spent in soft topics such as leadership/professionalism. There is simply no way you can be competent with 600-700 of clinical hours. I did a residency to get me up to speed which was 10x more beneficial than my entire program.

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I agree with Numenor. Unfortunately NP school did not prepare me well (I still laugh at the names "advanced pathophysiology" and "advanced pharmacology"--they were not that advanced, in my opinion). I was originally in a BSN to DNP program. I took a second look at the DNP curriculum and realized I was wasting my time and money on fluffy things that I was not interested in. Therefore, I dropped out of the DNP program.

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I totally agree that the DNP degree is completely useless at this time. Maybe years down the road when the curriculum is more standardized and less just whatever the university feels like putting in the degree it might be worth it then.

But yes I know im only in my 2nd semester of NP school but its just ridiculous and the thought that I am going to be responsible for patients lives with this kind of education terrifies me.

Is there anything you recommend to help me make sure I become a competent provider?

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Honestly, a lot of it is going to be on-the-job experience. It is a lot of baptism by fire, unless you are accepted into a fellowship program, I think. Finding a good mentor whom you respect and who has a lot of experience in your specialty of interest is also a good move.

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Thank you. It's just so difficult during the program because we are responsible for finding our own preceptor. I found one for when I do start clinicals but have not worked with her yet but I am hoping that she will be able to guide me. Also, I am in an FNP program right now but am interested in emergency medicine so that will be difficult for me too. I will be joining an ENP program that my university offers so we will so how that goes

I just honestly wish I had gone to PA school as I am way more interested in the science as opposed to nursing theory that these NP schools all seem so preoccupied with. I really wish there were more people concerned with the type of NP these schools produce rather than just the number of people that pass.

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I was also wondering if there are any good podcasts or playlists on Youtube or something that might be good to take a look at? I am in the FNP program but will eventually do their emergency NP track as well. So I would love resources for either. Thanks!

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I personally LOVE The Curbsiders. It is primary care but they also cover hospital medicine as well. https://thecurbsiders.com Their older episodes are great, and I used to listen to them in NP school. I learned a ton from them, more than in school, for sure.

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