Those that completed a post master's FNP - please help, I have a few ???s

Jules A, MSN · May 8, 2015

My post masters took me just over a year. It was combination of online and classroom so a decent variety. I have plenty of contacts in my area and recommend anyone considering going to school to secure their own preceptors. You can control the quality as well as tailor your experience to the area you want to pursue. I easily worked full time and did a majority of my clinicals off hours in the ED which was helpful. My school did not really prepare us for boards like I remember from my undergraduate degrees which was a shame because I think they missed a good opportunity to use board practice questions for our exams. I tend to test well so I didn't get too jacked up over the board exam. I purchased an online review and passed first try. The program wasn't fun by any means but it went quickly.

mookyjoe, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · May 12, 2015

Hi MiahMSN,

I am starting at APSU this fall. I do have to secure my own preceptors which, I have my adult health covered, but still need to find peds and women's health preceptors. This would have been a snap had I not relocated at the beginning of my program. Need exact preceptors secured at least 3 months in advance. My program is strictly online, which I love, as I completed 98% of my MSN in this manner. Although, not licensed yet, the premise behind studying and reviewing for boards, there's a ton of recommendations on this site that are more than helpful. I can also completely agree to your commitment to pay cash for this program also! I agree with cash being best. My school also required pharm, advanced assessment, and advanced pathophys be completed prior to clinicals within last 5 years so is that why you would need to repeat...because been more than 5 yrs? Cheers to you in any regards and follow your heart! I know this is exactly where I want to be in life!

PG2018 · May 12, 2015

I've had interest in this as well. My psychiatry didactics were online, and it's not tough. Unfortunately, like all things nursing, for you to actually be knowledgeable about something you have to devote significant self-study to the matter. I routinely am reading about psychiatry, matters of pharmacology, neurology, and even endocrinology to remain educated on the topic of psych.

Here's the rub with me pursuing FNP studies. I'm joining a practice in three weeks that pays too much money which makes me feel ridiculous saying, but it's true. I don't want to work as a FNP so much as I merely want to know some things and have the privileges of handling refills for things that aren't tangentially related to psychiatry. If I devoted any time, during the work week, to FNP clinical training I'd be doing myself and my family a disservice.

Jules A, MSN · May 12, 2015

Here's the rub with me pursuing FNP studies. I'm joining a practice in three weeks that pays too much money which makes me feel ridiculous saying, but it's true. I don't want to work as a FNP so much as I merely want to know some things and have the privileges of handling refills for things that aren't tangentially related to psychiatry. If I devoted any time, during the work week, to FNP clinical training I'd be doing myself and my family a disservice.

You are correct and unfortunately there is no more money in having the FNP so it was one of the few things I have ever invested in knowing there would be no direct monetary return. For me because I work inpatient I found that I needed to be able to tweak the somatic meds in an effort to provide appropriate care and not look lame to the hospitalist I was calling to ask if it was ok for me to bump up someone's lisinopril. I also have grave concerns about the number of FNPs who will be getting their post masters in psych because of the money we are making now and wanted to ensure a bright eyed 20 something with dual certification doesn't unseat me. :)

PG2018 · May 12, 2015

You're very much right. With productivity bonuses over salary my exceeds many primary care docs and even many psychiatrists in my area. Granted, I seated a good position, and I am so grateful that we are ahead of the pack. Psychiatry is going to be the next boom. First it was CRNAs, and now it will be psych. If the bottom falls out, I plan to retreat to the VA (which I loved interning at) or academics so there can be at least one realistic NP faculty member out there.

I can't stand being in a hospital so I'll never work inpatient, but you're right about the FNP credential being a good tool for that environment. ANCC requires 500 clinical training hours in the specialty as I understand it so that amounts to 62.5 eight hour days or around 1500 psych patient visits. I don't want to look at crotches, buttholes, and diabetic feet in place of that, lol.

I wish I could just test out. I really think I'd pass...

ETA: FNP around here equates to a semester of adult/mostly geriatric training, a semester of coughing kiddies, and a semester of gyn and STDs. Diseased genitals frighten me (like I'd rather have a brown recluse crawling around on my face), and I don't like crying kids. Granted, my practice is about 60% kids so more training in gen peds could be useful. If not for that, I'd probably just pick adult primary care as my medical NP training of choice because it doesn't include repro health.