Tools and Tips to Help You Survive Your First Years of NP Practice

Trauma Columnist · Jul 29, 2007

Excellent PPP! Other things to help you survive your first year:

1. Make sure you get a thorough orientation. I was lucky that mine was 4 months with a preceptor and then 2 months where I still had someone with me in the facility. Even now (with one year experience) I still ask questions - we are a cohesive group.

2. Don't try to be a lone wolf. Realize that you can get yourself and more importantly, your patients in trouble if you don't thoroughly research your treatment plan.

3. Negotiate and have in writing from the start the hours and work you are expected to do, the compensation package (including insurance and retitement) and who keeps track of your paycheck.

4. Realize that you will make mistakes. I made a horrible drug error that was then compounded by other mistakes by other personnel. Rarely is a poor patient outcome the result of one clinician's error but rather a series of errors.

5. Continue to learn. Don't be afraid to ask questions and more questions in order to clarify it in your mind.

6. Make sure you know your state's practice act for APNs. You can be asked to do more than you are allowed to and you must be aware of the restrictions placed by the state. Ignorance of the law will get you nowhere.

7. Have fun. If the first APN job you take isn't a good fit, stick it out for a year in order to get the experience, then look and look carefully.

yellow finch, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2007

THANK YOU for this thread! While I still have a year of school to go, I'm already anticipating the first year. The practice I'm considering applying for has historically hired PAs, but has a mentor program for new PA grads making it a very desirable group to work with. When I asked one of the MDs if they hired NPs he said, "Not yet" (with a smile). Seems to me it's time to break the PA trend!

Trauma Columnist · Aug 4, 2007

Yes indeed Yellow Finch. Our practice has 15 MDs, 3 PAs, 4 NPs and me (CNS).