Need some expert advise from all you employed, certified, and specialized NPs. If you could speak to new grads, what advice would you give them about getting enhanced skills/experience/certs in areas of our scope? I am seeing that every ad for NPs is asking for special certs, skills, education. Not many for just an average NP. I know midlevels have to bring something to the table to benefit the employer and earn their salary. What skills/specialization have you found are valuable to have, almost assures employability, and seems to have a future to it???
My experience as an NP has consisted of retail health, VA disability exams, sports physicals and some primary care. I have a CRNI certification in infusion therapy from my RN work. Kept it, was too hard to get. I am planning to relocate and need some advice please. Tons of experience as an RN-ICU, dialysis, management, infusion therapy, acute care, ER, home health, cardiac, floor nursing, travel nursing..
I dont know how to suture, read x-rays, or do joint injections. Dont know how to do Botox or fillers. Couldn't really manage HTN or diabetes without lots of help from a more experienced provider. I'm just a NP with the limited skills you see above. I do have excellent diagnostic(gut feeling) skills, assessment skills, and communication skills. Love my patients!
I completed the level one AADE course for diabetic educators before realizing I would need years of working with DM before I could even consider taking the AADE exam. I completed the 24-hour Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Waiver training and then found my state will not allow midlevels to Rx this treatment. I have completed the DOT/CMV course to sit for the FMCSA CME exam and am studying for that now.
As you can see, I have been searching for something that would make me more employable. The state I live in could literally ask for a "33 year old blonde, green eyed, 126 #, childless, NP with her DNP, with a certification in "whatever plus additional certifications as a first assist, living 3.5 miles from the facility in a brownstone with a tin roof" and 45 NPs would apply. That is how saturated this area is with midlevels. One reason for my relocation.
I have thought about Botox training, not necessarily for wrinkles but migraines, CP in peds for spasticity treatment, incontinence treatment. I have thought about going further with my infusion certification for infusion clinics, teaching IV skills (I taught peripheral IV skills as an RN). I have considered learning how to suture, read x-rays and pursue Urgent Care. I even thought about going for my DNP and opening my own small clinic offering very limited services (that would entail more schooling, more student loans)
My needs are to be able to work part-time (disabled child)and still make enough to supplement the household. My thinking is if I develop my skills in an area of need, I could be more "hirable" and be able to work part time.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. My ideal job?? If I were skilled in procedures, teaching new grad NPs, at a reasonable price, all those skills, from glucometer to EKG reading to suturing like a pro, they are going to need out there. But gotta have an income til then..
I think you have a lot of experience you can bring to the table. You are selling yourself short. They have NPs in every specialty and I’m sure infusion therapy is one. Look on Indeed, put that in your search. I work with an NP who’s background is urgent care and she is not that great at managing chronic diseases like diabetes and then because she wasn’t doing that in her day to day practice. Managing DM and HTN is not always cut and dry.
I also think you have a lot of experience. Have you looked into corrections or local public health department? Think outside the box.
Also maybe take a crash course in DM and HTN management- like poster above said, not always cut and dry but doesn't always have to be complex either. In my opinion, play to your strengths- what would you like to do, research the market around you and go from there.
Don't cut yourself short. You have plenty of clinical experience. You just don't have experience in the things you are trying to pursue. It is time to buy some books and guidelines and dive deep into them. Follow the guidelines, it is not difficult.
Have you considered opening your own business? That is where the real money and freedom is!
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
It looks like you actually have a fair bit of both RN and NP experience that could make you desirable - you are focusing on the areas where you are weak! Rather than looking at what you don't know - look at what you do know and what experience you do bring to the table with you. You can use this to leverage getting a job - you may not know everything --- but you can sell the skill set you already have!
Additionally if you are really passionate about one area - then work on building skills that will get you a job in that area - or approach a clinic/organization in that area and ask if they have a job / would be willing to mentor / etc. The worse they can say is no, but it is also possible that they might say yes!
dncc, DNP, APRN
10 Posts
I think you have a lot of experience you can bring to the table. You are selling yourself short. They have NPs in every specialty and I’m sure infusion therapy is one. Look on Indeed, put that in your search. I work with an NP who’s background is urgent care and she is not that great at managing chronic diseases like diabetes and then because she wasn’t doing that in her day to day practice. Managing DM and HTN is not always cut and dry.