The Resources That Saved Me When NP School Wasn't Enough (And Why I'm Finally Sharing Them)

I need to be honest with you about something that took me years to say out loud:

NP school didn't fully prepare me. (There. I said it.)

And if you're reading this as an NP student or new NP feeling overwhelmed, drowning, or like you're missing something critical – you're not crazy. You're not alone. And it's not your fault.

I was you once. I could manage your lumbar drain, care for you post-craniotomy, and the like. But ask me to manage a simple sinus infection in primary care? I was lost.

The worlds are just different. And nobody was teaching me how to bridge that gap.

The Move That Changed Everything (And What I Learned)

Here's what I did that most people thought was crazy: I took a pay cut to work as an RN in an internal medicine practice while in NP school. I needed to learn the rhythm of outpatient care, the workflow, the patient expectations, the documentation – all of it.

That decision put me ahead of my entire class. Not because I was smarter, but because I recognized early on that school alone wasn't going to deliver what I truly needed to be fully prepared.

I supplemented relentlessly. Before YouTube was what it is now, I was burning through clinical CDs – listening while driving, while washing dishes, while folding laundry. Every spare moment was an opportunity to fill the gaps.

And here's what keeps me up at night: it's only gotten worse since I graduated 14 years ago.

Why Your Struggle Is Actually Bigger Than Mine Was

The demand on nurse practitioners to practice independently has exploded. We're filling critical gaps in healthcare – we're essential, we're necessary, and we make a tremendous difference for patients.

But the educational resources and training pathways? They haven't adapted nearly enough.

The DNP is on the scene now, but let's be real – it's not adding the clinical value that's truly needed. It's adding research and theory when what you desperately need is how to actually take care of patients in the real world.

Meanwhile, you're out here drowning, trying to find preceptors, questioning if you made the right career choice, feeling like an impostor, and wondering why nobody told you it would be this hard.

I see your comments on social media. I hear it from my own students who trust me enough to be vulnerable and honest. The message is consistent:

"I don't feel prepared. I don't feel like I'm getting what I need."

You're trying to be a humble sponge, soaking up everything you can. But sometimes you're just saturated. You can't take on anymore.

I get it. Because I've been there.

Why I'm Doing This Now (After 14 Years of Silence)

For years, I've tried speaking up about the inadequacy of NP education. I've tried to be the voice saying "we need to do better."

But here's the truth: nobody really wants to hear it. Speak too loudly about the gaps, and you risk being ostracized. Question the system, and you're seen as the problem.

So I made a different choice: Instead of just speaking out, I decided to be the support.

If the system isn't going to change fast enough, I'm going to help you bridge the gaps yourself. I'm going to give you the exact resources, strategies, and honest conversations that helped me survive – and eventually thrive – in this career.

That's why I'm launching the NP Student Series on my YouTube channel. Not just another clinical educator throwing information at you, but a fellow human who's been in the trenches and wants to share what actually worked.

The Clinical References That Never Left My Side - (Clickable Images)

Your Core Arsenal:

Clinical Guidelines For Primary Care (APEA) – Essential for primary care management and board prep

5 Minute Clinical Consult – Quick, evidence-based answers when you're standing in front of a patient - ⭐️ MUST HAVE

Learn to Think Diagnostically:

Lange Medical Diagnosis and Treatment – Teaches clinical decision-making, not just facts.

Lange Symptoms to Diagnosis – Chief complaint to treatment plan. This is how you actually practice.

Ferri's Clinical Advisor (5 in 1) – Comprehensive medical reference for clinical guidelines, algorithms and diagnostic information. Includes digital copy. *Great for preceptors to have available in clinic.

Pocket Guides (Get These for Clinicals):

Bates Pocket Guide To Physical Exam – Quick reference when you're in the moment - ⭐️ MUST HAVE

Full Text Available also...Which is VERY helpful for the physical exam portion of the infamous 3Ps exam 

EMRA Antibiotic Guide – Stop second-guessing every prescription  - ⭐️ MUST HAVE

EMRA Urgent Care Guide – Management and disposition decisions simplified - ⭐️ MUST HAVE 

Clinicians Guide to Laboratory Medicine – Interpret labs with actual confidence

Specialty Resources:

Peds: AAP Bright Futures Book, Bright Futures Spiral Pocket Guide (⭐️ MUST HAVE for peds rotation), AAP Red Book Quick Diagnosis Deck

Ortho: AAOS Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care - ⭐️ MUST HAVE

EMRA Ortho Guide 

Derm: Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas (because we all need help with rashes)

Emergency: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine Manual - ⭐️ MUST HAVE for ER

EMRA EKG Guide

The Apps Worth Paying For:

 UpToDate – Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's worth it. This is what most practicing clinicians actually use.

 Epocrates – Free version is solid. Paid version is better. Drug reference at your fingertips.

 Audio Digest – Learn while living your life. Commuting, exercising, cooking – make it all count.

The Resources That Made the Difference

Let me share what helped me supplement and bridge the gaps – because you have to recognize your deficits and build the bridge for yourself. School won't do it all.

Free Learning That Actually Teaches (YouTube Channels):

When I was in school, YouTube wasn't the powerhouse it is now. I was burning CDs and listening to clinical lectures while doing laundry. Now? You have an incredible library of free learning at your fingertips. Here are the channels that would have saved me countless hours:

Osmosis From Elsevier – This is where I send students who say "I just don't get pathophysiology." The animated videos make complex disease processes visual and memorable. When you're trying to understand how heart failure actually develops (not just memorize the symptoms), this is where you go. I wish I'd had this for renal physiology alone.

Ninja Nerd – Fair warning: these are LONG lectures. But if you're the type who needs to deeply understand the "why" behind everything (like me), you'll love this channel. I've sat through his cardiovascular series twice because it's that good. When you're in clinical and an attending asks you to explain the pathophys behind something, Ninja Nerd is why you'll actually know it.

Armando Hasudungan – I'm a visual learner trapped in a world of dense textbooks. Armando's hand-drawn diagrams saved me during boards. His cardiac cycle video? Chef's kiss. If you're trying to understand hemodynamics, renal function, or respiratory mechanics, his drawings make it click in a way that paragraphs never will.

JJ Medicine – This is where textbook knowledge meets "okay but what do I actually DO with this patient?" Perfect for when you're trying to bridge school learning to clinical application. I use this to refresh before seeing patients with conditions I don't see often.

The Curbsiders Internal Medicine – This taught me how to think like a clinician, not just regurgitate facts for an exam. Their evidence-based discussions helped me understand how experienced providers actually make decisions. Listen to these while you're driving to clinical – it's like having attending-level teaching piped directly into your brain.

MedCram, Medgeeks Clinical Review, Dr. Najeeb – Each of these has their own style, but all break down complex topics in digestible ways. I rotate through them depending on what I'm trying to learn. Some concepts just click better with certain teaching styles.

And launching soon, my NP Student Series playlist at youtube.com/@thenursepractitioneraprn – where I'll cover the topics students are desperate for help with: finding preceptors without paying thousands, navigating imposter syndrome, studying efficiently (not just endlessly), and building clinical confidence when you feel like you're faking it. The stuff I desperately needed but couldn't find when I was where you are now. 

What You'll Find in the Student Series

This isn't just another study resource. This is about the real stuff:

✅ Finding preceptors – Real strategies, not just "pay this company thousands"
✅ Navigating imposter syndrome – Because we all feel like frauds sometimes
✅ Studying smarter – Not harder, not longer, but effectively
✅ Building clinical confidence – When everything feels uncertain
✅ The real talk about transitioning to practice – What nobody tells you

Be sure to go Subscribe now so you don't miss out: youtube.com/@thenursepractitioneraprn

Turn on notifications. Show up. Let's do this together.

Here's What I Know About You

You're questioning if you made the right decision to pursue this career. Some days you love it. Some days you wonder what you were thinking.

You feel embarrassed when you don't know the answer. You've had great interactions with healthcare providers and terrible ones that made you want to quit.

You feel alone.

But here's the truth: NPs are desperately needed. By the healthcare system. By patients. By communities that have no other access to care.

If you don't get the support you need, you'll either stop pursuing this career, or you'll end up in aesthetic clinics and hormone therapy practices (nothing wrong with that, but we need you in traditional healthcare).

So I'm here to supplement and support you. To create a community that does the same.

Because you're not supposed to have all the answers right now. You're supposed to be learning, growing, struggling, and becoming.

Your Turn Friend

What's the one thing you're struggling with most right now? What do you wish someone would just explain to you honestly?

Comment on the YouTube channel. Message me. Be real with me, and I'll be real with you.

You've got this. And I've got you.

— Mel, NP
14 years in primary care | Rural health advocate | Believer in the power of human connection

PS. Get Every Resource (Organized & Ready to Use)

I've compiled everything into a complete Advanced Practice Provider Resource Guide you can SAVE + SHARE with clickable links organized by category – exactly how I wish someone had handed it to me on day one of NP school.

Download Your Free Resource Guide Here

Full transparency: Some of these are affiliate links, which means if you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep creating free content for students and new NPs. I only recommend what I've personally used or genuinely believe will help you. Period.