Where is the best place to work as a new FNP

[JenA27]

I will be a new FNP next year and am unsure where the best place to work is. I had many different types of clinial experiences and unsure as a new FNP if it is to early to work in a specility office. Will I be limiting my learning skills, learning experiences as a new FNP going into a specility office? Is it best to work in a family practice office for a few years before I go into a speciality office so I am able to have more work experience?

[Christen, ANP]

One thing to keep in mind is that at this level of practice, it's not quite as easy to switch jobs as it is as a RN. In general, it is good for a provider to give several months worth of notice vs a few weeks to allow for a new hire to be found and to figure out who is going to take over your patients for you. If you are really interested in a specialty, then that's where you probably should focus your energies when you graduate. If you aren't really sure what you want to do, being a generalist will help you keep up to par and allow you to be exposed to more professions.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm a relatively new FNP (2009) and I do a combination of primary care and urgent care (adults only). I am definitely a generalist, and I'm I glad I chose this setting for my first job, as I've been able to hone my assessment skills and find out what I like and don't like. I'm thinking about moving to a specialty practice when my contract is up in the Fall, but that could change. I would recommend going the primary care/internal medicine route at first. However, the most important thing for your first job is to find a setting where you will be supported and mentored. I am fortunate to be in such an environment and it has made a tremendous difference in my confidence and knowledge.

[carachel2]

Did you ever get to do clinicals in a specialty setting ? I only ask because the whole time I was in school I thought I would want to work in outpatient cardiology...loved the CHFers, managing hypertension, etc.

I got to do a 60 hr clinical rotation with a cardiologist and while I learned SO much, loved the cardiologist and the office I HATED being in a specialty setting. Same thing every.single.day. I realized while I did love managing chronic diseases, I really had a passion for primary prevention and family practice. I love it when I get to talk to the 16 year old girls about birth control and I love it when every now and then I get a cutie 6 year old with an ear infection.