2015’s Top Blog Posts for New Grad Nurse Practitioners
Happy New Year’s Eve! What are your plans for the evening? I am presently vacationing with family in Florida enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Pool time, a walk to the beach, a paddle board jaunt and, of course, some evening champagne-drinking are in store for the day. Still exhausted from Christmas, it’s entirely possible I won’t be awake at midnight. This week on ThriveAP, to say goodbye to 2015, we’re taking a look back at the year’s best blog posts. Today’s feature? 2015’s top posts for new grad nurse practitioners. Enjoy.
1. 5 Things You Shouldn’t Sweat as a New Grad Nurse Practitioner
Fortunately new grad NP friends, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Your first months working as a nurse practitioner will be full of ups, downs and bumps in the road. The temptation during this time is to feel as if you’ve failed, aren’t good enough, or will never make it as an NP. Don’t succumb to these thoughts. Rather, realize life gets better. In the interim, don’t sweat these things. Continue reading…
2. How Do You Overcome Lack of Experience in a Nurse Practitioner Job Interview?
If you’re on the hunt for your first nurse practitioner job, you may have run into some hurdles along the way. Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to get an interview, but things took a turn for the worse after meeting the prospective employer. Landing a nurse practitioner position without NP experience isn’t easy. But, if you approach an interview the right way you just may find yourself hearing the words “you’re hired!”. Continue reading…
3. How to Write Your First Nurse Practitioner Resume
After graduating from my NP program, I sat down to craft the perfect resume only to be met with the sinking feeling I had nothing to put on it. I became a nurse practitioner early in life through an accelerated program and had zero healthcare experience. Ice cream scooping expertise. Check. Research lab assistant know-how (i.e. caring for various lab animals and cooking up vats of drosophila food). Check. Working with actual human patients? I had nothing to offer. Continue reading…
4. Confessions of a Former New Grad Nurse Practitioner
These days, I think I may even take patients by surprise with my abilities in the emergency department. I look younger than my thirty (ugh) years, or so I am told. So, when I enter a patient’s room to suture a laceration or drain an abscess, I get that “Wait! you’re the one who’s going to be doing this?!” look. Then, when the patient sees the results of a perfectly placed set of sutures it becomes apparent I’ve done the same job everyday for five plus years. It wasn’t always this way. Continue reading…
5. The TED Talk Every New Grad NP Must Watch
I was first exposed to this idea that body language actually influences our lives by social scientist Amy Cuddy’s ultra inspirational TED talk. Her message? Tiny tweaks in how you carry yourself can lead to major life changes.
For new nurse practitioners looking for that elusive first job, internalizing Amy’s message is a must. I encourage less experienced NPs to apply for jobs, even those requiring experience and work to land the position regardless simply by interviewing confidently implementing these life-changing body language principles. I’ve seen it happen. Continue reading…
6. Detect New Grad Friendliness with These Job Interview Questions
Advertising your inexperience and need for continued learning in an interview isn’t advisable. After all, employers are looking to hire NPs who will be an asset to the practice, not a drain on resources and energy. Fortunately, there are a few questions new nurse practitioners can ask in a job interview to determine if the position on hand is likely to be new grad friendly. Continue reading…
7. 6 Things No One Tells You About Being a New Grad NP
The best way to tackle life’s transitions is to be prepared. A little practicality and foresight can help you brace for the challenges you might face. It helps you keep perspective when the $@^&#* hits the fan and you feel like giving up. Life as a new grad nurse practitioner won’t be easy. But, thinking through the coming months realistically will help you weather the storm. Here are a few truths to keep in mind. Continue reading…
8. 6 Reasons Employers Should Hire New Grad Nurse Practitioners
Many employers understandably shy away from hiring new grad nurse practitioners. The amount of teaching a fresh NP may need seems intimidating. Or, the employer may have had a negative experience with hiring new grads in the past. Regardless of the reason for the hesitation, employers may want to reconsider their position. Here are a few benefits of hiring a recently graduated nurse practitioner. Continue reading…
9. How to Find a Job as a New Nurse Practitioner Graduate
Fortunately, even though you may not be confident in your skills quite yet, or seem to be an unlikely candidate, some companies actually prefer to hire new NP grads. And, there are a few things you can do to help secure yourself a position in the nurse practitioner job market. Continue reading…
Happy New Year’s Eve!