Best Experience/Training for RN to FNP

[sarjasy]

Looking for advice/opinions from PA's, APN's and/or docs who work with them. I'm a 2nd career BSN student who went back to school for the sole purpose of becoming a FNP (thought about CRNA too, but I think I've ruled it out).

I plan to start my masters as soon as I graduate while working as an RN. Question is, what type of RN experience will be most helpful to being an FNP? Med-surg would give me wide exposure to meds and treatments, acute conditions, and the ability to hone assessment skills but it's obviously quite different than primary care. ER is a heck of a lot more acute than family medicine, but is probably closer than med-surg and would give me some experience with H & P's and assessments. I could learn a lot in ICU, but I don't think it'd be that applicable. Obviously, working in a family clinic puts me right there in it, but in most clinics I've been in, it's mostly just vitals and injections.

Thoughts?

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[bradt9881]

I always thought my time as a military medic in critical care prepared me the best for primary care....

 

[sarjasy]

I always thought my time as a military medic in critical care prepared me the best for primary care....

How so? When you say "critical care" as a medic, I assume that's more like emergency rather than intensive care?

 

[Cmaj7th]

in the military the medics do not always function like a civilian paramedic would, they're present in all phases of care. it isn't uncommon to find medics and corpsman working in wards, clinics, EDs, and ICUs. I'm only familiar with the Navy and I know they offer specialty schools for Corpsman such a Respiratory Care, Cardiovascular Tech, and Surgical technologist among others. I'd assume the other branches have a similar set up too.

my long winded answer that bradt could have been involved in critical care and not emergency like you were suggesting, however Im not sure so I'll let him weigh in.

 

[bradt9881]

How so? When you say "critical care" as a medic, I assume that's more like emergency rather than intensive care?

I worked both ICU and ED in a twenty year span. The ICU time at Landstuhl in Germany was probably the most intensive. You definitely get an idea of what some of the Zebras look like like guillian's barre syndrome working these type places.

 

[Denatured]

Floating between a micu and er I think would be best, but ER if you could only pick one

 

[chrish0204]

I am also considering studying to become an FNP and I asked my adviser the exact same question the other day. He recommended working in a rural hospital. He said that when you're the only game in town, people pretty much have to come to you so you end up seeing quite a variety of things. Obviously that isn't practical for everyone though.

 

[sarjasy]

Floating between a micu and er I think would be best, but ER if you could only pick one

I've got a level II (a county hospital), level III (private) and another that is somewhere in between (my state's designations are changing) in my area, but no level I's. I also have a couple of rural ED's in my area. Short of an option to float, would you still pick the level II over a MICU? What about a level III?

BTW, what is your background? You seem to have some insight on some of the current issues surrounding nursing, medicine and roles as far as education and scope of practice are concerned.

 

[Denatured]

I would go to the level II ED based on your choices and no option to float between ED and MICU.

Check your pm.