Realizations of a new NP

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

Reading these boards as long as I have you come to recognize the members who are in the same boat as you are career wise. I had a realization this week and wanted to share.

I have survived my first week as a FNP. This week was more like clinicals as in I'd see a patient and then go in with my MD for the day or we'd go in together and I'd take the lead on questioning and assessment. Thankfully all of the doctors around me are very supportive and knew I understood the new graduate nerves.

Did I know everything? No. Did I know every treatment? No. Did I at least ask the right questions and get in the same ball park? Yes.

Example: headache for almost 2 years. I asked the right questions, did my assessment, and figured the headache was somehow related to neck issues. MD figured occipital neuralgia. Did I know what that meant? No. But had I gone and done a little research (if the MD was not there) I'm sure I could have come to that diagnosis after researching it afterwards. I at least knew it didn't fit a migraine, cluster, or tension headache so more research or consultation was needed.

I'm trying to keep in mind that school does NOT teach us everything. It teaches us to be SAFE as new health care providers.

If many of you are like I am you want to be right. You want to know the answer and fix everybody on the first try. I have been told time and time again it won't happen every time and I'm finally starting to realize it (early on thankfully).

I'm looking forward to these next few weeks in becoming more independent!!

To others feeling the way I have: you are not alone!!!

[Jules A, MSN]

I had a solid background in the specialty I pursued as a NP but OMG the first 6 months were delightfully exciting, overwhelming and largely consisted of white knuckling it. You are fortunate to have MDs available for consult as I was basically handed keys to the unit and a prescription pad. :) For all you new NPs, hang in there it gets less nerve wracking each week and yet will remain exciting and satisfying.

[mss6721]

Thank you both so much for your words of encouragement. I start my first FNP job on Monday in Family Practice and I feel terrified and excited at the same time!

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thank you both so much for your words of encouragement. I start my first FNP job on Monday in Family Practice and I feel terrified and excited at the same time!

I'll only be on day 4 Monday lol. Even the PA who has been there a year asks questions and forgets things sometimes. The new MD in the building too (though he has been a doc for years). The MD's signing my agreements have only been out 3 years so they both keep reminding me they understand the feelings!

Family practice is very intimidating to me because you need to know about everything almost! I know it'll be great in a few months or years but I have to admit going into a specialty might have made me more comfortable (because you focus on a few specific things).

We will make it!!

[TammyG]

I also start my first adult NP practice in a few weeks. I purposely chose a practice that was supportive and that had experience with both NPs and with new grad NPs. I am so nervous that I am not even thinking about it, just trying to enjoy my last few weeks off.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

I also start my first adult NP practice in a few weeks. I purposely chose a practice that was supportive and that had experience with both NPs and with new grad NPs. I am so nervous that I am not even thinking about it, just trying to enjoy my last few weeks off.

Yes!! I am in a rural area so there are many small clinics with a single NP as the provider. While I would actually love a position like that for the small office and small bath of patients I did NOT want to start there since support would only be via phone!! I'm going to be split between a clinic with 5 MD's and the PA and a smaller clinic where (in a few weeks) I will be the only provider on my days. I think being alone will push me a bit but I have 2 MD's as backup who have known the group of patients for years...and office staff who have known them for years.

I think it'll be a fun combination and (like I said) push me a bit into thinking on my own and researching topics I'm unsure about.

Good luck to everybody! Like I said I've stalked these boards enough to feel a little connected with certain user names and stories lol.

[Jules A, MSN]

I also start my first adult NP practice in a few weeks. I purposely chose a practice that was supportive and that had experience with both NPs and with new grad NPs. I am so nervous that I am not even thinking about it, just trying to enjoy my last few weeks off.

Smart thinking. One of my biggest concerns about NPs who come into this will little or no experience is that at least in my experience there are minimal checks and balances. For a psych-NP if you are working outpatient, as most are, no one else's eyes are on your work. I also have found that Docs aren't like nurses who seem to be in everyone's business. NPs practice independently in my state so the physicians who were always open to my questions definitely had no interest in supervising my work which of course was both positive and negative.