Advise wanted. Considering 2nd career as NP

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 23, 2017

You do realize that you have to be a nurse before you can be a nurse practitioner, right? Most people think of nursing a stressful profession, with staffing issues, deadlines, charting to do (much of which isn't helpful to the patient but to some person who is doing a study and needs this exact bit of information that you're probably already charting somewhere else), families, physicians, ancillary services, etc. all clamoring for help/information/etc. Graduate credits are expensive. Are you in a position to pay for school, or will you be taking out loans that you'll have to pay back? If you're no spring chicken, are you going to be able to pay back those loans and comfortably pay for retirement?

delawaremalenurse · Mar 23, 2017

You will know nothing but constant stress ESPECIALLY if you go through a "Direct MSN" for your NP. I could not imagine trying to function as an NP without a baseline knowledge obtained through years of clinical experiences and application of knowledge.

elmtree · Mar 23, 2017

Thank you both for your reply. Ruby Vee, yes I understand that as a direct entry student I will be doing a significant amount of clinical nursing in a hospital setting. I am not too concerned about the money, but that definitely is something I am weighing into my decision. I am not a spring chicken, but I am not old either. I am 33. It sounds like nursing has it's own stressors for sure. Sounds similiar in the aspect where you are describing charting and being pulled in a million different directions. May I ask what type of setting you work in?

delawaremalenurse, I am aware that the program itself will be highly stressful. I am willing to study like crazy and deal with the stress of learning something new if I know it will be worth it in the end. May I ask what your path was to being an NP? Where do you currently work and do you like your job? Also, I have read on this forum that many skills a RN floor nurse utilizes are different than what an NP uses. I have also read that some people did not find their experience as a RN helpful to being an advanced practioner, although I am sure this varies significantly based on a number of things? I appreciate additional feedback... just trying to get as much info from as many different sources as possible in order to make an educated decision.

Any NP's reading this that may have gone through a direct entry program??

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 23, 2017

"For one, I feel my job is incredibly stressful and wish to get away from that. My current stress consists of deadlines that are impossible for me to meet (due to the amount of work I have been given), being pulled in a million directions by administrators, teachers, and parents, which prevent me from working with kids, endless amounts of paperwork, and meetings, which have no value. Do you think the stress of nursing is similar? "

All of the above plus the thought that you can and do deal with life and death situations on an almost hourly basis. Does anyone die if you make an error in your current job? They can in nursing.

Cococure · Mar 23, 2017

Hey mw73,

Have thought about shadowing NP's in different areas? Or spoken with someone who has done a direct entry program? Many nurses on this board seem to support the idea of doing nursing before pushing to be a NP, some people did some didn't ...in the end as long as you are a safe and capable provider that is all that matters. I am a post-partum nurse and a NP student and I feel like a fish out of water with all the information that I am learning...lol Also nursing = stress ...NP stress is different but is there nonetheless. Is the more job options with your current degree?

Good luck and all the best

elmtree · Mar 23, 2017

Cococure, yes I would like to shadow, and am going to start volunteering at a hospital to see how I like it. I haven't spoken to anyone who has done a direct entry program, was really hoping to hear from a few on this forum... What do you think is different about NP stress compared to bedside? I would be naive to think that there isn't some significant stress with nursing, especially since you are dealing with people's lives; however, at this point I am trying to quantify how that stress will be different and if I could handle it.

I got a very specialized degree and am not able to practice in the private sector without getting my doctorate. At this point I don't like my job well enough to do that. There are other districts I could work for, but long story short, the state which I live in does not practice the way I was trained, and what I was taught to be best practice. I am not willing to move back to where I was trained for a $20,000 pay decrease, especially when most of my family and boyfriend are here. Not to mention, most of the people I graduated with do not like their jobs, and most of the people that I know within this field are unhappy. I hate that I am not doing what I was trained to do and I am not helping kids. So, I am re-evaluating where I want to be and what other field would be a good fit for me.

How much longer until you're done with your program? Thanks for good luck wishes!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 24, 2017

Cococure, yes I would like to shadow, and am going to start volunteering at a hospital to see how I like it. I haven't spoken to anyone who has done a direct entry program, was really hoping to hear from a few on this forum... What do you think is different about NP stress compared to bedside? I would be naive to think that there isn't some significant stress with nursing, especially since you are dealing with people's lives; however, at this point I am trying to quantify how that stress will be different and if I could handle it.
I got a very specialized degree and am not able to practice in the private sector without getting my doctorate. At this point I don't like my job well enough to do that. There are other districts I could work for, but long story short, the state which I live in does not practice the way I was trained, and what I was taught to be best practice. I am not willing to move back to where I was trained for a $20,000 pay decrease, especially when most of my family and boyfriend are here. Not to mention, most of the people I graduated with do not like their jobs, and most of the people that I know within this field are unhappy. I hate that I am not doing what I was trained to do and I am not helping kids. So, I am re-evaluating where I want to be and what other field would be a good fit for me.
How much longer until you're done with your program? Thanks for good luck wishes!

This is not quantifiable and as strangers on the internet, we would have no way of knowing if you could handle it.Frankly, if meetings and paperwork stress you out-I would say nursing is not a career path you want to follow.

meaghann3 · Mar 24, 2017

I have a friend who is finishing up her NP who was a direct entry like you are speaking of. She did say the first 12 months were the hardest of her life, because it was a very rigorous curriculum to become an RN at an accelerated pace. Nursing is very stressful but there are specialties that are worse than others. I think women's health would be a less stressful specialty to get into. Also, it depends on what type of NP you would be. A family nurse practitioner can practice pretty much anywhere except in an ICU setting. An acute care NP can pretty much practice in the hospital. If you become a family NP, you can get certified in women's health but that doesn't limit you in the future to only doing that. Family NP is the broadest level that will afford you the most opportunities.

Is there an NP you could shadow, to see if you like it? It wouldn't hurt to reach out and see.

Check out this youtube video, explains really well the job demands of an NP

Cococure · Mar 24, 2017

Mw73 as a volunteer you will be limited so it will be hard too really see how it is, but it's a great introduction into healthcare. If you primary care Dr has NP's contact the office mgr and ask about shadowing or contact local health dept. that's where I shadowed and loved it. I was able to speak candidly about the profession with them and ask questions. From what I have gathered the stress varies depending on what field you practice in and it's just different from bedside because there is also more liability as a provider, others on the board can chime in about their work stress as NP's. I am only in my second semester so I have a ways to go!

elmtree · Mar 24, 2017

Thank you meaghann3! That video was super helpful and opened up a whole other avenue of useful info-- who knew there were so many videos about becoming an NP via direct entry! Cococure, thanks so much for that suggestion! That sounds like a great way to see firsthand what an primary NP does on a daily basis and pick their brain. Good luck to you in your MSN program and in future practice!

DeeAngel · Mar 24, 2017

If you think your job is stressful please, please do not consider nursing to be an easier way to make a living. Nursing school and work will be nothing but stress for you. Nursing is one of the most stressful careers on the planet IMHO.