6 Important Questions To Ask When Choosing An NP Program

Each of these questions is meant to ask potential NP students to think deeply about the factors that are most important in their educational and professional journey.

Choosing the right specialty for your Nurse Practitioner (NP) career is critical, both for your long-term job satisfaction and for your success in the job market after graduation. Finding the balance between an area that suits your skills, interests, lifestyle, and personality and one where you can actually successfully land a job takes a lot of consideration and research. It’s a decision that you must take seriously, and there is much to consider. Here are a few thoughts to help you through the decision-making process:

• What areas of healthcare are you most passionate about? Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and how you interact with different patient groups. Maybe mental health is your passion, but you struggle to connect with addiction patients. That’s not a crime, and better to acknowledge that now than halfway through a psych mental health NP program!

 

• What skills and experience have you already accrued in your current role? If you’ve been practicing as an RN in a nursing home for fifteen years, at least take a look at whether an Adult/Geriatric Primary Care NP might be a good fit for you. Or you love ICU and want to stay hospital-based, then perhaps becoming an Adult/Geriatric Acute Care NP makes the most sense. That much experience can be a tremendous asset to you!

 

• What long-term career goals are most important to you? If you eventually want to own your own independent practice in your remote rural hometown, a generalized degree like FNP might be a better option than a CRNA. Along the independent practice question, if this is your goal, do you live in a state that allows (or is likely to allow) “full practice authority (FPA) for NPs? Something to consider.

 

• What is the job market like in your area? You really need to be sensible about this. Getting an advanced degree is costly- both in time and money! Make sure there are jobs where you want to live in your desired profession, and make sure the payoff is worth it! 

 

•  Do you have preceptors available to you? Let’s keep it real. If you are in a very rural area or don’t plan to go to the local school that has locked in all the preceptors, finding a preceptor can be extremely challenging. Even going to a school that says it will find your preceptors doesn’t always pan out. Never assume you’ll figure it out! This is the most commonly reported challenge reported by NP students in programs! 

 

• Other questions to consider: Do you have the support you need if you do pursue an advanced degree? It is stressful and time-consuming! Do you have the time? Is this the best time in your life? Do you have a job or willingness to change jobs or quit working in order to complete your NP (especially clinicals)? Are you the type of person that should become a “PROVIDER?” This is important to really think about. You will be making the medical decisions. It’s not the right role for everyone. 

Once you’ve answered those questions, it’s time to do some research. You can comb through LinkedIn and other job board postings, talk to mentors in the field, and reach out to current practitioners in your area to find out more about their experiences. Facebook groups for NPs can be a great way to connect with experienced practitioners and learn a little bit about their stories. Although this can be hard in today’s healthcare environment, see if you can shadow NPs in different specialties to get a firsthand experience of their day-to-day work. This can help you better understand the nature of their practice, patient interactions, and job responsibilities. It can also help you determine if a particular specialty is the right fit for you.

What you’re looking for is that “sweet spot” where location, job market, and your healthcare passions all intersect. This extra effort in the short run, before you commit to a program of study, can save you a lot of trouble and disappointment in the long run!