Would you do it over again?

Specialties NP

Published

Hello everyone,

I hope I am posting this in the right forum. I have been an RN, BSN for a little over a year now. Started out in L&D, which was too overwhelming for me and now work part-time in the women's health and pediatrics unit. The reason I became a nurse in the first place was to become a nurse practitioner and that has always been my goal. I'd like to pursue a FNP with a strong focus in women's health such as what is offered at Frontier. But now that I have been nursing a little while, I have many doubts as to whether nursing is really what I want to do. Well, bedside nursing more specifically. And it's not really my job, I love the new mothers and kiddos..I just don't like the night shift and being away from my family and all the drama of working at a hospital. But I don't want to spend the time and money going to NP school if I'm going to hate it when I finish. Sometimes I think I should just use my BSN to find some other type of nursing career and leave it at that. I'm genuinely at a cross-roads with how to proceed and really hope some of you experienced NPs can help me out with my decision. What made you decide to become a NP? Do you love your job as a NP? Was it worth it to you to continue from being an RN and go on to be a NP? Is the burn out as high for NPs as RNs? Would you do it over again? I'm sure you get similar questions like this all the time but I sincerely appreciate all responses.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Blue devil, sounds like your practice brings in enough money to hire another APRN. People need vacations..and sick time.. Hope you feel better.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

BlueDevil - hope you feel better soon!Agree with your sentiments though....I currently have 320+ hours of PTO that I can't take because of the workload.

Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

I will confess, I did not like being a nurse. There I said it. I feel much better now thank you, can I have my medicine now please? To answer your question, abso-freaking-lutely. I really love what I do. Is it for everyone? No. Do I have days I wished I worked mowing lawns, you bet. But then someone comes in with a 5 yr Hx of belly pain that no one can help with and is miserable. You tell them to stop eating anything with wheat in it and on follow up, they have responded very well. Or you Dx cyclic vomiting syndrome, read uptodate as to criteria for Dx and Tx. On follow up Pt. has gone the longest they have ever gone without an episode in 7 yrs. You bet I love what I do and would do it again.

Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

If you are dead, money doesn't mean a whole lot. Aid yourself first, then you can give first aid, is what I was told early on. We as nurses need to get good at saying NO. I got practice working In a prison, and never got jumped once. It actually feels good to draw a line and set and keep a boundary. BD, take care of yourself for frack sake! Look if you were to stop, the world would still spin and the clinic would muddle on without you. You are important, just not that important that all hades would break loose without you. Sorry it may be hard to hear, but it is true. I fully understand the thought process though and am guilty of it to a lesser degree. Still working on it. Get that gold bladder yanked out, you'll feel much better. I just hope you're not out for 6wks like I was, big wimp, that's me.

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