Professional contacts

[Jules A, MSN]

I pound this drum nonstop but it never ceases to amaze me that there are people in NP programs who don't actually know any NPs, don't know what the job entails or the usual schedules. It makes me wonder how they decided they would be good at this profession with so little research? It might be helpful to have a thread with pointers on expanding your professional circle both to assist with your search for preceptors but also for jobs. In my experience it has been all about who I know and who knows me with regard to making top dollar, getting called for exciting opportunities and having friends to ring up when I have clinical questions.

The best advice I can offer is to look to the Physicians and NPs you know in your RN job. They are your very best resource, they know you, hopefully like you, and will embrace you coming on board as a peer. On the preceptor front you will be able to set up clinical experiences that are actually relevant to the area you want to practice, meet more people and be taught by those you know are competent. As we all know there is a huge spread of competency among providers of all disciplines and there was no way I wanted to be assigned a dope of a preceptor.

Definitely join and attend meetings with your state NP organization. They should be welcoming and again the contacts will be invaluable. This not negotiable.

Lastly stuff the excuse that you don't have the time to do any of the above. You will need to make time, imo, to be well connected and have the best opportunities.

Best wishes as you navigate this exciting and stressful journey.

[Jules A, MSN]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Being involved in your state's NP group is an excellent way to network.

I will never understand the heavy traffic some of these threads that are of little practical use like "NP 2017 in da house whoo hoo" when others that are, at least to me, actually useful get nothing. I thought this might actually save someone from adding the #10,000 post asking how to find a preceptor. :)

[deza, MSN, NP]

I always like what you have to say Jules. It gets old when people ask questions on here about NPs and want to go into the field, but they are too lazy to ask around or do any research themselves (I'm talking about the questions that are easily answered with a search of course). If they can't put that little bit of effort in I don't see how they could make it in or through NP school.

I'm a student in an ADN program and right now I am in the process of trying to shadow a Psych NP. Recently I applied to the local mental health services in my area. And as soon as my application goes through they will ask the director about letting me shadow. I figure this would be a good way to find out if I want to be a Psych NP and maybe make a couple of contacts.

[BiotoBSNtoFNP]

Another good point. I wonder often of these questions what type of effort went into seeking the answers themselves. Granted, my first post here in 2012 might be of that ilk, but I do try to find what I can before asking questions.

For example, I did a google search the other day (maybe yesterday) regarding obtaining my DEA and NPI because I am clueless about this process. My prospective employer (I have a soft job offer and I am seeking information as to what they will cover) has informed me that the organization will take care of those fees. But I still have little knowledge about applying and attaining them. However, my google search proved fruitful and the information is there for me to revisit when it's time.

I agree with the google search as my first source for quick information such as how to obtain a DEA number (which I am also navigating). If after i exhausted all of my resources and contacts, do I then ask questions on an anonymous board.

In regards to The OP, I recently finished my FNP program and I am still amazed at the number of people who struggled with finding NP preceptors yet did not utilize their local NP organization. I thought that by now, it would be obvious that nursing and healthcare is all about who you know (just as most fields) yet there are still those who dont/cant network to find preceptors or job placements. How do they know this is the field for them without shadowing or inquiring prior to starting school? Asking an online, anonymous forum if they like being an NP? Seems like a pretty big gamble to spend the money on schooling without actually speaking with/shadowing someone in the field.

My school found preceptors for me if needed (!) but I was able to secure my own based on my nursing reputation and recommendation from those I worked with. Networking is how I landed my first RN job a few years ago and how I recently found my new NP job, even after relocating to a new area! Network network network! Don't just stare at a computer all day :)

[Dranger]

I get what you are saying Jules but my state NP organization doesn't seem as robust with contacts/events so I have resorted to Linkedin which produced so-so results. Unfortunately or fortunately for my specialty, ACNP, the vast majority of my preceptors will be physicians. Now in my opinion having a physician as preceptor is excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge base but it would be nice to see the job from an actual NP perspective. It just seems physicians are more readily available to precept for inpatient rotations.

I agree there are a lot of common sense or shallow questions posted on here constantly and I think it's because of the rush of new RNs or ELM folks rushing to get into what they perceive as RN 2.0 jobs. Many many people post on here about wanting to be NPs since forever but have researched only the bare minimum or lack any ability to search out answers on their own. Comparatively when I was pre-med, the majority of serious students knew the process to becoming a physician backwards and forwards and needed little push to go forth and research answers they didn't know. On this forum the hand-holding knows no bounds and not just on the NP forums...

I venture of to SDN and PA forums from time to time and there are little know fluff threads. Everyone takes the process seriously and does their due diligence. Granted the community nature of SDN could use some work...