[susannrn]

Hi all, just have a few ?'s for you NP's. I am an ADN RN and am getting ready to go back and complete my BSN. I have 2 kids 6 & 9, I work 3 12's @ night in ICU and need to drop to 2 nights( nights are killing me). Anyway after I get my BSN I would like to get MSN FNP, my ? to you is, considering the loans I will need to take out to finish school and the time it will take, is it really worth it? Do you really enjoy being an NP and is the money better? This may sound bad but I really don't like bedside nsg in the hospital, mainly due to the hrs. Oh yeah and I am married. Thanks to anyone who has advice.

[7starbuck7]

Hello,

I am not a NP (yet) but I wanted to respond because we are in similar situations. I have two kids (3 and 6). I have worked ICU for 8 years. I have an ASN and finished my BSN through an employer sponsored program (didn't pay a dime). I am just starting a FNP program. I am going very part-time (will take me 4 years). So the first 2 years will be completely covered by tuition reimbursement. I will have to borrow some for the last two years (about 7K). I plan to work FT (three 12s) at least for the first 2 years. I may go to two 12s the last 2 years (clinical).

I have high student loan debt from my ASN (private school) of about 30K. I really can't take on more debt.

GL!

[sharrie]

Hi there susanrn, welcome to allnurses.com

I am a nurse practitioner for a surgical unit in the UK. I work with 2 consultants, and I am responsible with thier doctors for the management of the patients that are admitted under thier care. I am a nurse prescriber so have a wide scope of practice

I can't tell you about being a NP in the US but I love being a NP here in the UK, I did like ward nursing and loved critical care but I think the thing I love most about being a NP is the continuity I have with my patients, I see them where ever they are in the hospital and as an outpatient. So I get to see the duration of their treatment.

The most difficult part is the hours, again this is UK but there are some weeks when I may only need to work 35 hours and we are fairly quiet but if we take the emergency pateints which happens about every 2 weeks then I may well end up working 40 - 50 hours that week just to make sure the work is done.

Someone who knows a bit more about how it works in the US will be along in a bit but that's my perspective about it

[traumaRUs]

I'm an APN (adult health CNS) in central IL. I do like my job and love the autonomy and flexibility. I work mostly days and make my own hours for the most part. I do have weekend call every 4th weekend but it is not that bad either.

Good luck with your plan.