Transitioning from RN to DNP
Transitioning from the RN role to the DNP role can be a challenging and stressful experience. Next, I will discuss a few points to make the transition much smoother.
Physical Assessment and Differential diagnosis
Use your knowledge right now
Physical Assessment and Differential diagnosis
As a practitioner, you are now going to be deciding the appropriate course of action to take to benefit your patients and provide them with the best possible outcome, that is why a thorough physical assessment and differential diagnosis are essential in achieving that purpose.
Building a large differential diagnosis list helps the practitioner ask the right questions and guides the plan of care. Additionally, a comprehensive focused assessment should result in a viable differential diagnosis (Reinoso, Bartlett, & Bennett; 2018).
Use your knowledge right now
- While going through clinical rotations try to use your physical examination skills, diagnostic strategies you have learned, and the treatment plans you read about in the books. The continued use of such skills will help you with the transition.
- Discuss treatment approaches, medications, and pertinent labs to order with your clinical preceptor
- If allowed by your preceptor, try to perform the initial interview, medication review, review of systems, assessment and chief complaint unassisted. Then discuss lab results together and go over the treatment plan for the patient.
Choose the right approach
Know when to use a complete head to toe approach vs a core + clusters approach.
The use of the head to toe approach is helpful in instances when symptoms are vague or unrelated to one another, while the core + clusters approach helps in situations that are symptom-driven (Uchida, T., Farnan, J. M., Schwartz, J. E., & Heiman, H. L; 2014).
The core + clusters approach I find is more convenient, takes a shorter amount of time and is specific to a given chief complaint.
Use your resources
Incorporating and alternating multiple resources such as Epocrates, 5 Minute Clinical Consult and the app Family Practice Guideline (FPG) can help you visualize the condition much better and come up with a more complete treatment approach.
Remember this
The development of self-confidence, patient safety, organizational support, professional satisfaction, and effective communication have all been linked with successful transition into the nurse practitioner role (Dillon, Dolansky, Casey & Kelley; 2016). Try to develop those skills as much as you can.
The use of the head to toe approach is helpful in instances when symptoms are vague or unrelated to one another, while the core + clusters approach helps in situations that are symptom-driven (Uchida, T., Farnan, J. M., Schwartz, J. E., & Heiman, H. L; 2014).
The core + clusters approach I find is more convenient, takes a shorter amount of time and is specific to a given chief complaint.
Use your resources
Incorporating and alternating multiple resources such as Epocrates, 5 Minute Clinical Consult and the app Family Practice Guideline (FPG) can help you visualize the condition much better and come up with a more complete treatment approach.
Remember this
The development of self-confidence, patient safety, organizational support, professional satisfaction, and effective communication have all been linked with successful transition into the nurse practitioner role (Dillon, Dolansky, Casey & Kelley; 2016). Try to develop those skills as much as you can.
Good Luck!
References
Dillon, D. L., Dolansky, M. A., Casey, K., & Kelley, C. (2016). Factors Related to Successful Transition to Practice for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 27(2), 173–182.
Reinoso, H., Bartlett, J. L., & Bennett, S. L. (2018). Teaching Differential Diagnosis to Nurse Practitioner Students. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 14(10), e207–e212.
Uchida, T., Farnan, J. M., Schwartz, J. E., & Heiman, H. L. (2014). Teaching the physical examination: a longitudinal strategy for tomorrow’s physicians. Academic Medicine: Journal Of The Association Of American Medical Colleges, 89(3), 373–375.
References
Dillon, D. L., Dolansky, M. A., Casey, K., & Kelley, C. (2016). Factors Related to Successful Transition to Practice for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 27(2), 173–182.
Reinoso, H., Bartlett, J. L., & Bennett, S. L. (2018). Teaching Differential Diagnosis to Nurse Practitioner Students. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 14(10), e207–e212.
Uchida, T., Farnan, J. M., Schwartz, J. E., & Heiman, H. L. (2014). Teaching the physical examination: a longitudinal strategy for tomorrow’s physicians. Academic Medicine: Journal Of The Association Of American Medical Colleges, 89(3), 373–375.
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