Should new FNP do 1 yr fam. practice before going into specialty?

allnurses Guide · Sep 13, 2013

I will graduating in December from an FNP program and I'm torn on whether I should stay in my RN specialty area of cardiology where I am sure to get a job, although details are currently unknown, or should I do a year of family practice for the experience. You know how they tell new RN's "you need at least a year med-surg".
Most of what I've learned in the FNP program is new, whereas cardiology is old hat. I've worked for a cardiologist for the past 9 years and the transition to cardiology NP would be seamless. Of course I love the idea of being in specialty, but am I hurting myself in the long run if I don't get the foundational family practice experience?

I had two cardiology RN colleagues that graduated with me that "knew" they would shoe-in to a job: one got one one didn't.

In my humble opinion it is easier to go from primary to speciality than vice versa. That may not matter to you though.

It is a learning curve either way, speciality or primary. I had several colleagues that assumed primary would be "easier" and really the consensus for my cohort a year out was that primary was actually a more difficult socialization.

GoodNP · Sep 13, 2013

Thanks for your reply. You are correct that there are no guarantees until an offer is on the table. I also fully recognize that the learning curve in primary care would be much steeper than my current specialty. I guess that's the crux of my question - if I choose to go straight into cardiology, will I regret not having family practice experience later in my career? Of course it's personal, but I'd love to hear perspectives from practitioners who are more experienced and wiser than myself. Thanks again!