BSN or Nurse Practitioner?

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 30, 2014

I think as you go through clinicals and start work as an RN you'll figure it out on your own really. Some people love working at the bedside and being a patient's primary nurse. Some people want more responsibility and to call the shots.

I went into nursing knowing I wanted to be a NP and have almost achieved it at this point. I will miss caring for my patients in the way the RN does but I'm looking forward to impacting their lives and health in a much bigger way in the NP role (even though I'm going back to novice as far as NP's go).

RNstudent15 · Nov 30, 2014

I think as you go through clinicals and start work as an RN you'll figure it out on your own really. Some people love working at the bedside and being a patient's primary nurse. Some people want more responsibility and to call the shots.
I went into nursing knowing I wanted to be a NP and have almost achieved it at this point. I will miss caring for my patients in the way the RN does but I'm looking forward to impacting their lives and health in a much bigger way in the NP role (even though I'm going back to novice as far as NP's go).

As far as NP's go, do they usually just work in a family practice office or do they also work in the hospital setting? Maybe in the long run the hours of working in an office would be nice, but currently the goal for me is to work in a hospital. Possibly the ER if I can keep up.

RunBabyRN · Nov 30, 2014

I would see how you feel once you're practicing as a nurse. Most APRN programs prefer you to have some time working under your belt before you start school, anyway.

I got into nursing because I want to be a CNM, so I already know my path, but I'm waiting a few years (and hopefully paying off, or close to it, my student loans in that time).

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 1, 2014

As far as NP's go, do they usually just work in a family practice office or do they also work in the hospital setting? Maybe in the long run the hours of working in an office would be nice, but currently the goal for me is to work in a hospital. Possibly the ER if I can keep up.

FNP's are often considered the most flexible of NP tracks. There are many who work with hospitalist groups and in the ER. I'm thinking of possibly applying for an ER job.

Being a FNP, though, you aren't TRAINED for acute care. You are trained for primary care so there are some arguments about if a FNP in acute care is out of their scope since they weren't trained for acute care.

I'm not sure FNP would get put in a CCU making calls for those patients. And if I work ER I don't expect to get a GSW. I expect to get UTI's, cough, rashes, etc.

I am considering going back for a post masters in adult acute care. From my logic it's quicker to do FNP first and go back for ANY post masters later than to do, say, adult acute care then go back for FNP. Reason I say this is in my Peds course in my program we had a ANP coming back for FNP. She was having to take the same amount of hours as us plus a whole other semester in peds. Why?? I dunno. Seems like if a semester is good enough for the FNP student one semester should be good enough for ANP to FNP.

Just my thoughts!! Others may totally disagree with me and I may be wrong on some stuff lol.

MissMeeks · Dec 2, 2014

As far as NP's go, do they usually just work in a family practice office or do they also work in the hospital setting? Maybe in the long run the hours of working in an office would be nice, but currently the goal for me is to work in a hospital. Possibly the ER if I can keep up.

I was treated by a NP in the ER several months ago. An RN took care of most everything, and then the NP was the one who did what a MD typically does in the ER. She misdiagnosed me :sarcastic: but nonetheless, she was the primary practitioner so I would think that working as a NP in the ER would be very attainable for you if that's what you want to do! Also, this was at a TriStar Hospital (which is a big group here in the Southeast) so it wasn't a little dinky ER either!

RNstudent15 · Dec 2, 2014

FNP's are often considered the most flexible of NP tracks. There are many who work with hospitalist groups and in the ER. I'm thinking of possibly applying for an ER job.
Being a FNP, though, you aren't TRAINED for acute care. You are trained for primary care so there are some arguments about if a FNP in acute care is out of their scope since they weren't trained for acute care.
I'm not sure FNP would get put in a CCU making calls for those patients. And if I work ER I don't expect to get a GSW. I expect to get UTI's, cough, rashes, etc.
I am considering going back for a post masters in adult acute care. From my logic it's quicker to do FNP first and go back for ANY post masters later than to do, say, adult acute care then go back for FNP. Reason I say this is in my Peds course in my program we had a ANP coming back for FNP. She was having to take the same amount of hours as us plus a whole other semester in peds. Why?? I dunno. Seems like if a semester is good enough for the FNP student one semester should be good enough for ANP to FNP.
Just my thoughts!! Others may totally disagree with me and I may be wrong on some stuff lol.

:) Well that definitely makes sense. Maybe like someone else said after I get a little experience under my belt I'll be in a better position to figure it all out.