does using optimizer_mode=first_rows_n for application that using Oracle database is a best practice?
If you're not ready to make this a system-wide setting, you could try it in an isolated fashion by using a query hint:

SELECT /*+ FIRST_ROWS(10) */
       first_column,
       second_column
  FROM my_table_or_view


This is less risky, since you don't need to consider the effects on the entire system.