Do I want to become a FNP?

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I have been a bedside nurse for almost three years and although I work in a great hospital I am already realizing this is not where I want to be the next 30 plus years. I am considering becoming an FNP and would love to hear from people who are already FNP's and if they are happy with their carrier choice. Also please any comments from FNP students would be great! My main reasons for FNP would be: a better work environment in an out patient setting, less busy work (turning patients, passing meds, dealing with ungrateful patients, running crazy for 12 hours, etc.), being able to help patients prevent illness by education and treatment, and higher pay. I see so many sick uneducated people who have surgeries or procedures that could possibly been prevented if they had better care early on. I just worry about the responsibility of diagnosis and prescribing meds. So does FNP school prepare you enough to feel confident and of course after gaining experience? Thanks for anyone's insight :)

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Specializes in ICU, Military.

I'm in the same situation, only i've been bedside for over 12 years now and really hate hospitals. I spoke with an FNP recently who hates her job and didn't recommend it lol. i plan on shadowing some NPs to get an idea of what day-to-day life is like

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I was thinking about shadowing a FNP too. Most that I have spoke with like it and are glad they did it. I think it really depends where you end up working but with any job if you hate it then find a new one. Plus if I hate bedside then I'd rather at least make more if I didn't like FNP.

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

Do you want the role of a provider? Do you want to be managing patients and focusing on diagnosing and treating? That's a whole different level of stress. Your reasons you listed MAY apply to some NP jobs, but in many, it's just a trade-off for something else you may also consider tedious and "busy work". There are a lot of headaches that come with being an NP too, just like being a bedside RN.

I am just in school so my opinion can't be the only thing considered, but I feel like it would be a better fit if you are mainly seeking what I mentioned before in your career. You can find better or outpatient hours, an education role, and better pay in nursing without getting an advanced practice degree.

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Are you in school for FNP? I get what you are saying, all jobs have their headaches but some tedious work is more tolerable than others. As a bedside nurse I'm starting to feel like a slave to patients who don't appreciate all I do for them. As a provider I would not be doing meaningless tasks and being walked all over, hopefully anyway. I think education would be interesting but I would also feel somewhat trapped because once you enter a field as that you can't go into other fields. A FNP can do all of it.

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

Not FNP, I'm in ACNP school and have been a bedside RN for over 6 years. I think shadowing(and/or interviewing some NPs) a few days in a variety of settings would be a great idea, like the others suggested!

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I think so too! And after my last day of work I think I've decided FNP is the way to go. Floor forever is not for me :)

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Id also like to hear other peoples reasoning for FNP. Honestly, I was ride or die floor nursing for the first 4 years of being at the bedside. One day I woke up, came to work, and just had a realization I cant take the disrespect and poor working conditions, for the next 30+ years. In one day my entire view changed. I knew I wanted to work directly with patients, so moving to a "behind the scenes" job wasn't for me. I'm now enrolled in an FNP program, but still hope I made the right choice. I was one of those people who knew from a very early age I wanted to be a nurse. That's why I think it took me a while to realize that maybe my dreams were changing.

Anyway, I would like to hear more reasoning, the biggest advantages or disadvantages, of FNP. I honestly can say the ONLY thing I will miss from bedside is the 12 hr shifts (and maybe a couple coworkers). Love me 3 days a week!

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Jut following... Cause I'm nosy. LOL!

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There are still 12 hour shifts available for FNP's, just gotta search for them. My friend is a FNP and she works 4 tens and another friend is a PA in a clinic and her and the FNP's she work with work three 12's and one weekend every few months. The friend who is an FNP made a great point: having the FNP degree opens all the doors to management, acute care, chronic care, education, etc. so personally I think you made the right choice. If you get tired of a clinic or family practice you could do inpatient or education. It really is a win win :)

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

This thread kind of makes me sad. I feel all your pain. I was a bedside nurse for 23 years and went back to do my BSN because I saw the tide turning. Now I'm in an acute track NP program and I'm just beginning to recognize the whole other headache I'm opening myself up to. I really love acute care but I'm getting older and more tired. I am hoping and praying I finally find somewhere that I can really immerse myself into, find respect and use my brain. I don't mind working hard, but if I get to clinicals and get eaten alive by condescending doctors I'm going to lose it. I pray to be treated as an equal and get some really great training. I sometimes wonder if I should just stay where I am in my cozy desk job but I just really want to work in a surgical ICU or trauma area. I only wish that the nursing profession would get a hold of itself. There are so many dissatisfied, tired and exhausted nurses who go to NP school to get away from the crazy. How wonderful nursing would be if we nurtured our RNs and made their work environment more respectful and gave them help and assistance to do their job. Nursing could be amazing but we waste so many dollars on training people who quit because they can't take the horrendous working conditions.

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I totally agree and understand where you are coming from. I feel like we keep raising patients expectations even if they are unrealistic to what the nursing staff can do. I feel like a slave to ungrateful patients sometimes at work and I even work on a great floor with amazing coworkers. I wouldn't worry about doctors being condescending to you, just don't allow them to. Even now as a nurse I demand respectful communication from the MDs and everyone and if I don't get it I kindly tell them not to be rude. You just stand up for yourself and you will be just fine :) plus as a FNP you can always go be a manager or teach and not even deal with *******s as much.

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