So you graduated from NP school, studied really hard, and passed your board exams. If you’re like most of us, then you likely have been enjoying a mental reset and have taken some time off to rest. If you took time off between studying for your board exams and starting your first job, you are not alone. This is what you’re supposed to do! After all, we worked really hard to get here. Now you have a job, so how should you begin preparing for your first nurse practitioner job?
Finishing NP school and passing your exam are huge accomplishments. However, once you’re 1-2 weeks away from starting your first job, it may be helpful to get your mind back in Nurse Practitioner mode to minimize the impact of transitioning from carefree relaxation to a new full-time, high stress job as a provider.
Preparing for your first Nurse Practitioner job – to get your head back in the game, there’s two things you should do:
- Gather any items and clinical resources you may need
- Review clinical materials as needed
Gather
#1 – Clinical reference binder
A binder full of any printed resources you like easy access to. If you have one from school and your clinical rotations, it may be helpful to go through and see if it’s missing anything.
# 2 – Notebook
Great for jotting down notes in your first few weeks as you meet with HR and go through your orientation.
#3 – Any textbooks or other references you’d like to potentially use
Think about books you commonly used during school or clinical rotations – often a health assessment and, assessment and diagnosis book, and/or a primary care pocketguide.
# 4 – Logins and passwords
Have you ever been in the situation where you’ve been away from work for a little bit and your first morning back, you cannot remember any of your passwords or logins? Yep, I’m sure we all have. To avoid that write down logins and password hints. Think about including your state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), your organization’s payroll website if you’ve already set your account up, and clinical references such as UpToDate, Epocrates, etc.
#5 – Stethoscope
Having your own stethoscope at the ready is a small confidence boost. You don’t want to have to search around for one or borrow one when you’re new!
Review
Since it’s likely been a while since you were in school or studying, here are some questions to ask yourself. Depending on your answers, you can make a list of topics you might like to review. This will help you get back in the swing of things and back in the provider mindset.
What kind of practice are you going to be working in?
What are common types of visits that you’ll be doing?
Were there any areas in school that you could use a refresher on or more practice with?
Is there a skill, an age group, or a clinical topic that you haven’t had experience with since your first clinical rotation?
Here’s some ideas for what you may like to review:
ECG interpretation
Consider taking a continuing education (CE) course or completing a training of your choice.
If you’re an AANP member, they have a great and free 2.5 hour CE 12 lead ECG interpretation course that you could consider. More information here.
Procedural skill review
- IUD insertion and removal
- Nexplanon insertion and removal
- Digital blocks
- Suturing
- Toenail removal
- Incision and drainage (I&D)
Common medication review
- Review first and second line treatments for common conditions you’ll see or for any conditions you need a refresher on
- Consider common chronic conditions
- Consider common prescriptions for sick visits
Clinical guideline and algorithm review
- Focus on re-familiarizing yourself with management guidelines/algorithms for common conditions you’ll see: think diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, asthma
- Diabetes – AACE Type 2 Diabetes Management Algorithm
- Hypertension – JNC 8 Hypertension Guideline Algorithm
- Dyslipidemia – ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
- Asthma – Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) – Pocket Guide for Health Care Professionals
Well child visits
- Review what type of questions should be asked at every visit
- Consider how familiar you are with the anticipatory guidance that should be provided for each age group
- Review normal growth and development
- Review your standard physical exam for different age groups (infant vs toddler vs child vs adolescent)
- These 2 resources are helpful for reviewing:
- Bright Futures Pocket Guide
- Handout from the University of Utah School of Medicine about taking a history and completing a physical exam for pediatric patients, complete with tips and tricks
Scope of practice and state specific laws
- Medical care of minor laws: specifically looking at age of consent for reproductive and psychiatric healthcare
- Nurse Practice Act – you can find this easily through your State Board of Nursing or googling “(your state) nurse practice act”
Summary – preparing for your first nurse practitioner job
Starting and preparing for your first Nurse Practitioner is an exciting and nerve-wracking time. It’s important that we all take some time off after graduating to refresh and celebrate. Once you’re 1-2 weeks away from starting your new job, reviewing some clinical material will get you in the right headspace. By doing some advance preparation, you’ll be ready to go and able jump right in to your new provider role. Make sure to check out the resource page for even more ideas on topics to review.
I’d love to know – what did you do to prepare for your first job? Comment below to share.
Make sure to check out other recent posts and visit the resource page:
- Interview Tips for New Nurse Practitioners
- FNP Certification Exam Study Tips
- Your NHSC Loan Repayment Program Guide
- Lessons Learned as a New Nurse Practitioner
- New Graduate Nurse Practitioner Checklist
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