RN or NP: which role was more stressful?

[Pachinko]

For those who practiced bedside as RNs (especially for a few years or more) and then became NPs: which role did, or do, you find more stressful? And why?

(asking as one who's very burned out at bedside and hoping the change will do me good).

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I think it's hard to answer the question because there are as much variety in RN roles and settings as there are in NP roles and settings. I'm not sure personal experiences will apply to everyone...but since you asked:

RN - Started out in Med-Surg early in my career and was always overwhelmed with the patient load. I saw my personality change from relaxed and calm to easily angered. Part of it was the lack of support from the unit management, the revolving door nature of nurse turn-over in the units, and the manager's trigger happy approach to writing up nurses. I stayed for less than 2 years in the unit while I saw new grads leaving nursing altogether after working there for a few months. I transitioned to ICU and ED both of which I really liked and felt less stressed though manageable stress still existed. Stress was typically from making sure I finish tasks on time, walking to a patient room poorly stocked with supplies, dealing with unreliable ancillary staff.

NP - Stress is entirely different. Never really had problems with collaborating physicians and fellow NP's as everyone I've worked with have been very supportive and willing to lend a hand to ease the load, teach or explain things I'm unsure of. On the other hand, there is that "newbie" period in any NP job I've had when I felt that I'm being judged for what I know but once I've gained the respect of peers and other providers, it becomes easy. In my role, I still get jitters every time I'm doing risky procedures (i.e., placing a large french dialysis catheter on someone's neck who is on ECMO) but I don't think those will go away. I'm less concerned about litigation in my current role as I've never had so much support professionally as I do now but yes, that's always in the back of my mind.