NP What should I do?

[nptraining]

I've been a nurse since 2004, have worked in several areas. Med surge,

acute care, telephonic nursing, hospice, home care. I took 2 years off

to stay home with my kids, and took another year to find another job. This put me out of the clinical setting for almost 4 years. In 2011, I decided I would go back to NP school and am now in my last semester. I decided to do an online program and found that with the online workload, having to do a thesis project, among numerous other school related obligations. I found myself feeling very inadequate when it comes to knowing and understanding content. I'm over 50, perimenopausal, feel I can't remember anything, I'm apprehensive and have very high levels of stress during clinical rotations. Everyone says you will get through this, and this I know, but just can't seem to shake this feeling of inadequacy. Being in an online program, I've found myself just studying exam-prep questions to pass the next test so I can move on. This is also due to the high level class demands, not to mention trying to have some sort of family life. I really feel sorry for my husband and kids, as I have no time to spend with them. Well, I will finish this program soon and wanted to know of any suggestions for 1st job. I was thinking of primary care, but am apprehensive because there again I feel so inadequate. I'm a type A personality and don't know how to handle this feeling. I really regret not taking the traditional route for the NP program. Ended up having to quit my job last year in order to travel for clinical, which has left me feeling even worse. I can continue to vent, but I will spare everyone the boring details of my life at this point. If anyone has any suggestions for passing the boards and looking for that 1st job, please feel free to comment.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Take a review course, Fitzgerald course is great and worth the money especially if you are concerned about content.

Look for a first job with lots of support; ideally a job that has trained a novice NP before you.

[BritFNP]

My goodness you are hard on yourself!

Whatever you do, do not rush to test. You will know when you are ready. I agree with BostonFNP in taking a review course. I did APEA, but obviously Fitzgerald is one of the top in the industry. It's worth the cost. It's also true, you will need a lot of support. So I do not recommend a minute clinic, redi-clinic, whatever. I believe you are held to strict protocols, which may be nice starting out, but you work as the only provider. I cannot tell you how great it is to 'bounce' ideas off other providers and have them there to say…hey….what do you think about…how would you…etc. Primary care may be a good start for you. It's a wide range of issues, as you know. You would not believe how much you learn on the job…every.single.day.