Wants to be FNP in Endocrinolgy

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,
I am an RN with 10+ years experience, currently working as a school nurse for the past few years. Very interested in going back to school for FNP program would want to work in endocrinology. What is your advice for this career path? I don’t know how hard it is to come across jobs in this field. I would have to leave my job (which I’m not crazy about but has great hours) to pursue this path. Any advice would he appreciated! Thank you!

Dear Wants Endocrinology,

You want to decide which population you'll be working with, pediatric or adult. If you want to work with the pediatric population you could get your Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or your Pediatric Nurse Practioner-Primary Care (PNP-PC) and obtain specialty training after graduation.

If you want to work with adults in either primary care or specialty clinics , there are now NP programs that specialize in endocrinology. One distance endocrinology program is Duke University. The benefit is you would graduate with specialty training.

Resource: Contact the Pediatric Endocrinology Nurses Society for more information about pediatric endocrinology.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!