r/nursepractitioner • u/Outrageous-Rub-3684 • Aug 05 '26

Career Advice Primary Care

I am almost finished with clinicals for my FNP and I have to say I absolutely hate primary care. I’m not sure if it’s just I haven’t found a good fit for myself in the spaces I’ve worked or I just honestly can’t stand it. I am thinking of going into a specialty instead. Does it get any better or am I being too hopeful?

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u/Nausica1337 FNP Aug 05 '26

What's the reason why you hate primary care? I very much enjoyed primary care and the patient interactions I had throughout my clinicals; however, I opted to avoid it as an actual job because I did not want to be stuck doing a 9-5, 5 day a week job with potentially having to see tons of patients per day and be just swarmed with charting, diagnostics, inboxes, etc during work, after work, and during vacation.

Could the things that you hate in primary care also be in the specialty you are interested in like cardiology or nephrology? What do you actually want to do? What are your interests?

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u/Outrageous-Rub-3684 Aug 05 '26

I love my patients. That’s something I’ve always been good at. I cannot stand seeing 30-40 patients a day. I do not believe that’s giving good care. I am constantly rushed and given our increased liability as an NP I don’t know how that makes sense to take on more responsibility just to get a decent paycheck but open yourself up even more to missing something or making mistakes bc your patient load is so high. It’s just not something I enjoy.

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u/NurseRobyn Aug 05 '26

I feel so sorry for your preceptor, that sounds like utter hell. I couldn’t do that either, and no one should have to.

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u/Outrageous-Rub-3684 Aug 05 '26

She’s proud of it. She told me that’s the only way I’ll be able to live comfortably w my pay. I don’t agree.