Starting first NP position soon...advice?

Published

Specializes in acute care.

I have just finally found an NP position almost a year after finishing my program...it will be a few months before I can start, because of all the credentialing paperwork etc. that has to go through first. I will be on the hospitalist service in a small community hospital, working 3 16-hour shifts per week (really an evening shift followed by 8 hours of call overnight, which can be taken from home or from the hospital's on-call room), doing admissions and rounding on patients/dealing with issues that come up for patients on the floor. There will be a physician on with me at all times including call, and we will be working as a team seeing the same group of patients. Because this is my first position, I thought it would be good to see if any of the experienced NPs have any helpful tips/advice for a new one starting out--maybe things you wish you knew when you started.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have no advice but just wishing you good luck! Congrats on landing a job too!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Congrats Angie!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

Wow, sounds like a great job. I'd read up on labs and testing. Bone up (pardon the pun) on reading radiographs and get to know the surgeons. Hopefully you will have an orientation period, which should help you get going. Keep a post it note pad with you at all times, I found this to be so helpful in catching new words, diagnosis to read on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Seen your posts here through the years, Angie. But just learned of your NP status. Super congrats!

The job sounds great. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to say congrats as well!

And I second the idea about having some kind of little notepad, that way you can write things down so you don't have to ask for things to be repeated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats! I would see if you could spend a day or a few days with a radiologist- I was woefully unprepared for reading imaging -luckily the Doc I work with has been working with me on it....but a few days with a radiologist is kind of a dream for me -maybe on the next Staycation...? Also get Epocrates the full program or Lexi-complete something like that to look up off labs and see what your next step shopuld be or why the Doc is ordering a certain test -has been very helpful for me! Enjoy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion