Professional Advices Needed. ED or Med/Surg experience for FNP employment

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

I have been accepted to a FNP program which I will be attending full time starting January. I currently work in the ED, but am contemplating returning to the floor (med/surg) for a slightly more favorable work schedule to facilitate school (working straight eve/nights on med/surg floor vs day/night rotation in the ED). I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by leaving the ED, and wondered if extensive ED experience looks better on a resume than med/surg experience for FNP employment prospects?

Thanks for all replies

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think it depends on where you want to end up. I wanted to end up in the ER and cont to work in the ER during school. As it turned out, there were no jobs then so I ended up in a different area.

One of the qualities that they liked was my ability to think on my feet - which I got from the ER.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.
I think it depends on where you want to end up. I wanted to end up in the ER and cont to work in the ER during school. As it turned out, there were no jobs then so I ended up in a different area.

One of the qualities that they liked was my ability to think on my feet - which I got from the ER.

Thanks for the response! I do not want to work acute care, or in a hospital setting. I would prefer to work in a clinic or a medical practice. I must say that my 12 months in the ED had definitely sharpened my assessment skills and overall knowledge. What area do you now work? Also, what type of NP are you (I am assuming you are an NP, although I know it not good to assume).

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Actually, I have two post-MSN certificates: adult health CNS and peds CNS.

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I highly recommend staying in the ED. As an ED nurse, you see a lot of similar cases you would see in a family practice office, or many cases that are referred from the FP office for more extensive testing. It is nice to see the presenting symptoms, the workups ordered, the diagnoses made, and the treatments ordered/prescribed depending upon that info. I found my ED experience to be extremely valuable as an FNP student and now as an NP. I have seen numerous different ways patients can present for the same diagnosis - it is experience that you will never gain from a textbook, and will not gain from a med/surg floor. Nothing against med/surg experience, for it has its benefits, also, but once a patient makes it there, 9/10 times the initial testing is completed and the diagnosis is already made.

Good luck! :)

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.
I highly recommend staying in the ED. As an ED nurse, you see a lot of similar cases you would see in a family practice office, or many cases that are referred from the FP office for more extensive testing. It is nice to see the presenting symptoms, the workups ordered, the diagnoses made, and the treatments ordered/prescribed depending upon that info. I found my ED experience to be extremely valuable as an FNP student and now as an NP. I have seen numerous different ways patients can present for the same diagnosis - it is experience that you will never gain from a textbook, and will not gain from a med/surg floor. Nothing against med/surg experience, for it has its benefits, also, but once a patient makes it there, 9/10 times the initial testing is completed and the diagnosis is already made.

Good luck! :)

Thank you very much for your response! I really appreciate it!

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