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fhea.com Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
™
May 2016
base. Successful NPs are truly lifelong
students of their work
.
Q
How do skills acquired in my cur-
rent role translate to other prac-
tice areas?
A
Often, the NP approaches the job
search with significant experience in
healthcare and in other fields. While all
work experience contributes in some way,
the healthcare marketplace will probably
not be impressed simply by the number of
years you have been
in practice. However,
do not overlook the
expertise you have
gained from your cur-
rent position that
translates into NP
practice. Make a list of
the skills you now
have that are com-
mon to all areas of healthcare.
Be able to
verbalize these skills well, such as the
ability to deal with families in crisis, work
effectively with limited resources, super-
vise and direct professional and parapro-
fessional healthcare staff, assess rapidly
changing situations, set priorities, and
alter plans of care in a timely manner.
These are skills used daily in nursing and
other types of professional practice.
Q
What do I believe will be my per-
sonal contribution to NP practice?
A
Be able to verbalize what you can add
to NP practice. What will be your spe-
cial contribution? What skill, passion, and
experience do you carry from your educa-
tion and professional and personal experi-
ence? What opportunities do you plan to
seek out that will further enhance your role
as an NP?
Q
Where do I envision myself profes-
sionally and personally in 1, 5, and
10 years?
A
Long-term professional goals can be
hard to visualize. However, by think-
ing in terms of the future about your con-
tribution to NP practice, you can help set
the stage for your practice transition. Keep
in mind that interviewers often ask candi-
dates about their professional goals. Pro-
fessional and personal issues, of course,
intersect.
Think of how your personal
goals will have an impact on those you
set professionally
.
Q
How will holding a graduate degree
influence the salary I am offered?
A
You likely needed to earn a Master of
Science (MS), Doctor of Nursing Prac-
tice (DNP), or postgraduate certificate dur-
ing your NP education. You probably
assume that the salary offered should re-
flect your educational achievement; how-
ever, the marketplace often views graduate
studies simply as a vehicle for NP prepara-
tion. Identify the subset of valuable skills
that are acquired in graduate education.
These skills include the following:
Certification Q&A;
Continued on page 8
Think of how your
personal goals
will have an
impact on
those you set
professionally.