COVID-19 on New Primary Care Nurse Practitioners: A Qualitative Exploration.

New nurse practitioners (NPs) struggle with the transition to practice and feelings of uncertainty concerning roles and responsibilities. COVID-19 has added a new layer of stress. This pilot study used a qualitative case study design featuring semistructured interviews of 10 newly graduated primary care NPs. Data analysis revealed 2 main themes: (1) emotional burden, and (2) coping and support. Emerging themes highlight the resiliency of NPs, who cope and seek support when faced with emotional burdens. This study informs educators and employers on the needs of new NPs during a global pandemic in order to better support the future workforce.

Lack of pediatric mental health clinical experiences among FNP students.

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders accounted for approximately 5% of outpatient child and adolescent visits between 2008 and 2011, and 34.8% of these children were seen by a primary care provider. As primary care providers, family nurse practitioners (FNP) are positioned to address mental health issues across the lifespan; however, they require appropriate training and experience. AIM: The study examined pediatric mental health assessment clinical experiences in a national survey of FNP students. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on a data set of FNP students (N = 3940). Frequencies and chi-square analyses were performed to examine pediatric mental health assessment clinical experiences. RESULTS: Nearly 30% (n = 1118) of FNP students reported experiencing two or fewer pediatric mental health assessments during their clinical rotations. More than half (53%) of these students were required to set up their own preceptors and clinical sites. CONCLUSION: Despite the growing need for mental health care in the U.S, students reported lacking pediatric mental health assessment clinical opportunities. Moreover, students who set up their own clinical sites and preceptors were even less likely to assess pediatric patients' mental health. FNP educators and programs are encouraged to provide students with the support and opportunity for adequate pediatric practice, including mental health assessment.