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9 Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, Inc., May 2015 fhea.com Why did I become an NP? If you are a new NP graduate, you might now find yourself asking the question, "Why did I become a nurse practitioner?" You left the comfortable and re- spected role in your former nursing practice or other line of work. Now, as a newly gradu- ated NP, you are in the rather unfa- miliar, often uncomfortable, role of the novice. As you seek your first NP position, remember what motivated you to make this change. How do I view the contribution of NPs to healthcare practice? How does the NP role enhance the delivery of healthcare? How is it similar or different when compared to the physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, or other members of the healthcare team? The ability to clearly articulate the NP role, both for what it is and what it is not, is crucial. A well-developed frame of reference will help you communicate your vision for the NP role. This will help you develop per- sonally and as you interview for NP positions. What have I achieved professionally to date in my career? Most NPs have been professionally successful, whether they are relatively new to nursing or sea- soned nursing clinicians. Draw up an inventory of your professional history, highlighting the high and low points, successes and challenges. Identify what you have learned from both the good and the bad. Your responses will help answer the next question. What do I do well and enjoy in my current professional role? What do I not enjoy or need to work on in my current role? Answering these questions will help your personal and professional growth and will help you to set the stage for success and avoid difficulties in your NP practice. What are my clinical strengths? What are the diagnoses I handle the best? What areas of clinical expertise do I need to continue to develop? Generate a list of the clinical prob- lems that you can handle most profi- ciently; you should focus this on the skill set you have developed as an entry-level NP as well as the skills from your prior professional experi- ence. This can be a powerful market- ing tool as well as a reminder of the skills you have gained. You have probably developed expertise in the areas that interest you most. When you look at this list, do you see a common thread? Will this informa- tion help direct you to a certain type of practice? All clinicians have clini- cal weaknesses as well as strengths. However, you should have a plan to expand your knowledge and skill base. Successful NPs are truly life- long students of their work. How do skills acquired in my current role translate to other practice areas? Often, the NP approaches the job search with sig- nificant experience in healthcare and in other fields. While all work experience contributes in some way, the healthcare marketplace will proba- C ontinued from page 7 Certification Q&A; Continued on page 11 Be able to verbalize your skills well, such as the ability to deal with families in crisis, work effectively with limited resources, supervise and direct professional and paraprofessional healthcare staff, assess rapidly changing situations, set priorities, and alter plans of care in a timely manner.