What do you think?

[Calibean]

I will be finishing up my FNP this summer and have had many wonderful clinical experiences. Yesterday, as I was leaving my Peds clinical site, I was asked by another Dr. in the building to come and see him. This family MD worked with me for 75 hours last year and has arranged for me to do hours with him in the office and also set up many specialties (Derm, Endo, Rheum, Cardio etc...) over the next two months. Two of the preceptors I have worked with are with the same group and all of the specialists that I will be spending time with are also a part of this group. I did not ask the Dr. to set up these specialties, he offered. Well, yesterday when I went to see him, he said that he heard that I do not want to work in the Urgent Care (associated with this group). I explained to him that while I have not made any decisions about where I will go (or been offered or accepted any job offers) that I was not sure that I wanted to go to Urgent Care as a new grad because although I know the experience is terrific, the volume of patients you have to see is extremely high as is the burnout rate and I am not sure that it would be the best move for me or my family. I reiterated that I am still open to all oppurtunities and do not plan on interviewing anywhere until I have passed my boards and the fact that he has gone out of his way to set up these great experiences will be taken into consideration. He mumbled (jokingly, I hope - but am not certain) something about putting all this time and effort into training me.

So I guess my question is this - Just what do I owe him? Certainly, I have had many preceptors (5 in fact) some who are also quite vocal about wanting to join their organizations as well, but none who seem to expect something in return. I of course will give him a wonderful thank you note and gift card as I do all my preceptors. Maybe I am just overthinking this, but it really rubbed me wrong and I start clinicals with him on Monday. Just interested in your feedback.

[froggg123]

I really want to leave a nice, helpful comment but all I can think is, I HATE you!! just kidding but I would love to have a job where the MD knows what a FNP is and what they are capable of, and in Urgent Care ARGHHHHH

On the sort of helpful side though....It would be better if you do know what you want to do or where you want to start to get some experience in that area and make some connections.

[Calibean]

Ftoggg123,

Point taken, thanks. I am extremely lucky to have good opportunities and I am very thankful. Your post made me put things in perspective. I also have opportunities with a Womens Health clinic and a Peds clinic. Urgent care would probably a great start as a FNP, but it scares me a little, I am not sure how much support you actually have and I know that no one has lasted over 3 years in this Urgent care. Thanks for another point of view.

[nitasarn]

You really dont owe him anything, just do your hours with him and if you do decide to work with him then that is the time he can set those experiences up for you and as a new NP that is working urgent care now. Youll need it:)

[TennesseeNP123]

You owe him nothing....the thank you note and gift card are nice....focus for now on getting your hours, enjoy the extra opportunites he has set up and get as much as you can out of it....but I'd keep the focus on clinical experience for now, graduate, pass boards, and then revisit what you really want to do....you shouldn't feel pressured to make any kind of decision based on your clinical rotations.....

That being said, I accepted a job as an FNP after finishing my clinical hours before I graduated and was able to work and orient to the office for about 2 months before taking boards, and it's been a great way to transition as a new FNP...if that's something you're interested in, you may want to look seriously at this place when you're done w/your hours...

[Calibean]

Thanks so much for your responses. I had a great day with him and decided I just need to lighten up a little. He is hard to read, but I do think he is just giving me a hard time (with humor). He did tell a patient that I was remaining noncommittal about where I was going to work when I finished my program, which was completely accurate. I am still weighing my options. Hard to say what the future holds today, but whatever it is, I know it will be challenging and rewarding.