Burned out as a RN, but happy as a NP?

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Specializes in critical care.

I have been a ICU nurse for 7 years and I am applying for Spring admission to an Adult NP program. I have been on the boards debating different choices and it has been a difficult decision making process! I don't know any NPs personally IRL.

Anyway, are there any NPs out there that considered themselves burned out at the bedside, but enjoy their work now as a NP? I do not enjoy bedside nursing right now. I am only "hanging in there" to complete the MSN. I feel in some ways I have never found my niche in nursing. If something were to happen and I did not go to the MSN program I would definitely leave the bedside and never look back.

Any thoughts? Experience? Advice?

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Specializes in ICU.

While I'm not quite at the end of my FNP program, I can honestly say that bedside nursing has me discouraged and disappointed. Meanwhile, clinicals for FNP are interesting, educating, and satisfying. One could say that this is a case of "the grass is always greener" except that even during undergrad clinicals I was never happy. I never felt like I was "learning" anything. This isn't to put bedside nursing down. It's just a matter of finding my niche. I honestly believe I have found it. At this point in time it appears that my future is not far from reach.

I hope you find the same. :)

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Absolutely! Are becoming not only burned out but bored as an RN, I am still excited to come to my job as an NP 7 years after graduating. The job is very different, more challenging and I still love it!

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Great thread you guys - I'm so happy to hear your replies! :)

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Thank you for starting this thread! I'm too new to have "burnt out" from bedside nursing, but I did find it unsatisfying to say the least. I left the bedside after one year and I'm enrolled to start an FNP program in the fall. I have wavered many times in my decision to go through with it and I'm still not absolutely certain that it will be the answer to my career dilemma. However, these responses do make me feel a bit better.

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Hi..

I'm currently a staff nurse on a acute medical / oncology floor..I've been a nurse for about 5 years now, but I just finished my Adult NP program, while I don't consider myself "burned out" (yet!)..floor nursing on the acute / critical side can be totally draining..patients are so sick and families of patients can be very demanding (you can't blame them)..the flip side is is that NP practice is primarily on the oupatient side...which is a whole different world.

I'm interviewing for positions now..both inpatient and outpatient..and everyone mentions that outpatient environment is less stressful beacuse obviously the patients are generally healthier...So to me ..the ideal transition for you would be towards the outpatient role.

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Specializes in Critical Care: Cardiac, VAD, Transplant.

I plan to continue after receiving my BSN to become a FNP. Those of you that are at that point, do you recommend continuing on right away or spending time working first? I will probably take some time off of school (maybe a semester) and then start to take a class or two at a time thereafter.

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Specializes in ICU.
I plan to continue after receiving my BSN to become a FNP. Those of you that are at that point, do you recommend continuing on right away or spending time working first? I will probably take some time off of school (maybe a semester) and then start to take a class or two at a time thereafter.

There's often a big debate over the need for experience prior to starting an advanced degree program. Before my FNP program started I thought that it was really an individual decision whether you spend time at the bedside or not. However, as classes got underway, I noticed that the students who had never worked as RNs seemed to lack some basic concepts... asking questions such as "what's a BMP & CBC?" :uhoh21: Ummmm... I'd be ashamed to ask such a question in class. You don't only need to know what those labs are, but also the rationale behind why they're ordered, and what the results mean. Basic stuff like that.

Is there an option to work pt while attending school pt? I was able to work ft the first year while simultaneously taking a full load of courses. Once the lengthy clinicals started I dropped school back to pt. So a 2 year degree became a 3 year. Not too bad, IMO (despite my desperation to move on).

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

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Specializes in critical care.

FWIW the program I am applying to requires a minimum of 2 years acute care experience. Most of the programs in my area do.

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Specializes in Critical Care: Cardiac, VAD, Transplant.

My twins will be starting college about that time, so work is a necessity! :lol2: My other 3 will be following shortly after. I don't want to wait too long to start on the MSN (too old to put it off!) but I think that I want to get my feet wet first.

I am sure it will all balance out, but I am afraid of the burnout that other long-timers talk about and feel that continuing my education will be best.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I went the APN route and graduated when I had 12 years of RN experience. I actually still prefer the bedside to what I'm doing at the moment. However, that said, I'm unsure if I could keep the pace that I was doing either. And...I wanted to move while I was at the top of my game versus waiting until I was being pushed out by the pace.

I've been a CNS for one year now and definitely don't regret my decision to pursue further education. However, I was very happy in my staff nurse job and just haven't found my niche yet as an APN. I say this to ensure that everyone understands that yes, being an APN is more autonomous, more flexibility, more money (lol) but it may still take a job change or two to find your niche here too.

Good luck.

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I plan to continue after receiving my BSN to become a FNP. Those of you that are at that point, do you recommend continuing on right away or spending time working first? I will probably take some time off of school (maybe a semester) and then start to take a class or two at a time thereafter.

It is a tough decision and everyone has an opinion on if bedside experience is needed prior to beginning a graduate program. I do understand Yellow Finch's point about not understanding basic information, but one could also argue that would be dependent on the speciality you go into. If you choose to do psych nursing for two years, you may still not know fully understand a CBC when it comes time to start the FNP program (and I am not saying a psych nurse's skills or knowledge is less than any other speciality, just trying to give an example). One could also argue that most nurses should have at least a basic understanding of a CBC because of your undergraduate experience. In my program, we were required to interpret and know lab values.

I had the opportunity for a full-ride scholarship for an FNP program right after I graduated from my BSN program. I decided to decline the admission in order to gain experience. A year later, I am now about to begin an FNP program and I do regret not continuing right away. I started out in the ER and it was good nursing experience, but I left after 10 months because I was very unhappy. Now, I have a job outside of acute care. I work more as a rep and health educator for a company. By the time that I am practicing as an FNP, I doubt that I will have retained much knowledge from my ER experience.

My advice would be to work part-time as an RN and go to school part-time for FNP. Good luck!

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