Peer response

 

As I get closer to finishing my MSN-FNP program at South University, I’ve started looking into job opportunities in primary care and urgent care settings. My goal is to work in a family practice where I can care for patients across the lifespan and really focus on prevention and chronic disease management. Right now, my job is not dependent on certification, but I have built strong connections during my clinical rotations that could potentially lead to a position once I pass boards.

If I don’t secure a job right away, I plan to apply to several local organizations including AdventHealth Medical Group, Orlando Health Physician Associates, and Community Health Centers. I like that these organizations serve a wide range of patients and emphasize evidence-based care, which is really important to me as a future provider.

There is a strong and growing need for nurse practitioners, especially in primary care. Research shows that nurse practitioners provide care that is comparable to physicians, even for patients with multiple chronic conditions, while also improving access to care (McMenamin et al. 2023.) This is something I’ve seen firsthand during my clinicals, and it’s one of the reasons I feel confident stepping into this role. Overall, I feel prepared for this next step and am excited to transition into practice after certification.

McMenamin, A., Turi, E., Schlak, A., & Poghosyan, L. 2023. A systematic review of outcomes related to nurse practitioner-delivered primary care for multiple chronic conditions. Medical Care Research and Review, 80, 563–581. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587231186720