For new Family Nurse Practitioners facing the transition from academic excellence to clinical practice, it’s normal to have some doubts. Passing any Nurse Practitioner Board certification is no easy feat, and you should be proud of passing the exam! Still, applying your book smarts to hands-on, real-world skills in clinical practice can be challenging for any beginning Nurse Practitioner.
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What are some common challenges for new Nurse Practitioners?
When you start in a clinical setting as a new Family Nurse Practitioner, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed in those early days of practice. There is a big leap between studying to be a Nurse Practitioner in a classroom and applying your newfound skills in a clinical setting.
As a new graduate Nurse Practitioner, you may struggle with the intricacies of your new role including medical administration, time-management, developing your leadership skills, or communicating effectively with colleagues and patients. This is when those feelings of self-doubt and worries of falling behind may start to creep into your mind.
Time management techniques for new NPs
When is there time to treat patients between staff meetings, supervisor check-ins, and paperwork? Family Nurse Practitioners commonly express feeling overwhelmed, compassion fatigue or feeling disengaged (AKA burned out) from not having enough time in the day to complete their charting, lab results, refills and patient calls.
As a seasoned student, you have plenty of experience budgeting your time efficiently to study for your courses and board certification. This transferable skill will suit you well in your career as a Nurse Practitioner. Set aside time for paperwork, buffer extra time in case of patient emergencies, and keep personal distractions to a minimum.
Finally, give yourself some grace, as time management is a lifelong learning process. It takes a while to adjust to any new job before finding your groove. It may also benefit you to ask your employer if they may grant administrative time to help clinicians complete these tasks during the workday. This way, it’s not being done after hours.
Related: Practice Ready Package
How can new Nurse Practitioners overcome the challenge of medical administration?
One of the hardest parts of starting a clinical practice, Nurse Practitioner often mention, is understanding or learning something that is new, difficult or different than what they are used to doing in terms of the administrative elements of the job. From patient documentation and medical coding to insurance billing and reimbursements, a Nurse Practitioner’s day-to-day job includes a myriad of administrative tasks.
When you start your new Nurse Practitioner job, give yourself extra time to complete these tasks. You may need to get used to a new computer system or get up to speed on new insurance requirements. Another way to help yourself in this transition is to ask for help! Time management is a learned skill. Take advantage of any computer or staff support that may be available to new clinicians. You may be able to be paired with a mentor at your job or meet regularly with a supervisor to help on-board you. If you’re afraid to ask for help, it will only take you longer to get acclimated to a new environment and documentation system causing added stress and misused time in the interim.
How can new NPs develop patient and colleague communication skills?
Communication skills are essential in any inter-professional field. As a Nurse Practitioner, you will find these skills especially important. Nurse Practitioners should be able to communicate effectively with colleagues as well as patients to inspire trust, teamwork, and respect. You may need to present a patient case at a staff meeting or write up a formal report for leadership. You will also need to communicate with your patients with compassion, clarity, and sensitivity.
For some of these skills, your employer may potentially practice cultural sensitivity in annual staff meetings. As a new employee, you should dedicate some of your continuing education requirements on these topics. For growth in other communication skills, consider free online resources or look into both state as well as national professional Nurse Practitioner associations that hold annual conferences, networking events, and other educational opportunities that will assist you in your career growth. You can also request specific training or resources from your company that will make an impression on them due to your initiative and motivation.
How can Nurse Practitioners build leadership skills at work?
As a certified Nurse Practitioner, you may find yourself in charge of a patient care team or in a supervisory position. Leadership training, either through a professional association or an online program, can help you boost confidence and learn proper management techniques. You may also talk to your supervisor to see if there are opportunities through your company to grow in the role and take on this leadership responsibility.
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What are some tips for beginning Nurse Practitioners to get ahead in the field?
As a new Nurse Practitioner, you may be considering how to establish yourself in the field. The best advice is for you to gain experience in the field to become an expert. The medical profession values years of experience. There is no greater way to learn and improve your skills than continuing in clinical practice.
There are other ways you can consider exposing yourself to new opportunities. If you want to be recognized for your hard work, consider connecting with a professional association for Nurse Practitioners or volunteering with a non-profit or local government. It is important to stay current in practice by attending continuing education events, reading journal articles and staying abreast of new information and changes in practice.
How can Nurse Practitioners get more involved in the profession?
Joining a professional association is a great way to network, obtain continuing education and grow as a Nurse Practitioner. It is a wonderful way to discover new opportunities for jobs, conferences, or events in the industry. You can consider joining an Advisory Board or running for a local government position in which you can use your Nurse Practitioner knowledge for the greater good.
How can Nurse Practitioners stay on top of the latest evidence-based practice recommendations?
One final tip is to find ways to stay informed. Being in-the-know about medical research, policies, and treatment guidelines will help you feel confident in your work and current in clinical practice.
How to use your Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education Requirements wisely
Nurse Practitioners must complete Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and recertify with their certification board regularly. Try to complete your CEUs in topics that you have less familiarity with so you can work on rounding out your knowledge and do not forget about the mandatory topics that many states require for re-licensure.
You can also look for CEU courses that cover the latest treatment recommendations or prescribing updates so you can use your CEUs to learn what is new since you graduated. CEs are a wonderful way to educate yourself on topics that you are not familiar with, learn a new skill or reinforce what you already know.
It’s normal to feel some stress or have some self-doubt when starting any new job, especially as a new Nurse Practitioner or one who is starting a new job in a specialty. Asking for help, dedicating time to continued education, and connecting with others in the field are important ways to build your confidence in your skills and set yourself up for success in your new profession as a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner.
Earn CE hours and gain clinical confidence with our Practice Ready Package (free with Passport Membership)!
