Does everybody want to be a NP?

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Or... should I say does every NP think all nurses want to be NPs?! In my experience, that's how they act. Even when I'm being seen as a patient, the NP is hurried, and seriously has an air like "yeah, bet you wish you were an NP". Even the nurses who are just in NP SCHOOL say things like 'yeah, I'm going to get my REAL education so that I can be a REAL professional/get a REAL job.' So rude!

Is being an NP really that much better than say having an MBA? Or being a PT? Or a registered dietician? I don't even think we should compare NP with floor nurse, because a typical floor nurse will not have an advanced degree. Am I wrong?

Like any good clinician - advanced or not - they will be supportive and encouraging, whatever your endeavors.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

The trend is down, yes, but the average new-grad NP still has 9 years of RN experience.

Granted it is n=1 but by the time I graduate I will have 16. My program (BSN to DNP, a whole other can of worms) doesn't take anyone with less than 3 years of bedside experience.

Most people I work with don't even know I'm in school because I don't go around shoving it in anyone's face. If NP students aren't answering their call bells at work because they're doing school work, that needs to be dealt with as a workplace disciplinary issue and not used to swipe NPs or NP students in general.

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I don't wish to become a NP for many reasons. The primary field many NPs enter is primary care. I know there is a desperate need for primary care providers, but it's just not worth it. Pay is not as good, running a clinic (if you are in a state where NPs can practice independently) costs a lot of money, reimbursement is low in general from all insurance providers, and all you are allotted for patients is 15 minutes. There is the option of specializing, and working in acute care. I know several acute care NPs who work with urologists, general surgeons, orthopedists, neuro surgeons, and the lone cardiothoracic surgeon. They are awesome and certainly more approachable than the physicians they work with. Some of the physicians they work with are a**holes. I don't want to spend a career as a physician's underling. If these same physicians are barely tolerable for me as a staff RN, it will be even worse working by their side. I guess I would rather be the one in charge of decision making.

Honestly, if I were re-doing my undergraduate degree, I would choose pre-med and then continue on towards medical school. But it's probably a good thing I didn't choose pre-med, because from what I've seen working as a RN, I want nothing to do with anything clinical anymore. Not because I am dumb. I can pass classes in advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced assessment. I would probably do well in clinical placements completing SOAP notes and practicing those advanced assessment skills. Not being cocky, but I love to learn, and I learn fast. I just have no desire to continue in anything clinical anymore. I am pursuing a degree in informatics, to get away from the messiness of clinical work and dealing with difficult people.

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What's a HIM?

Health Information Management. Medical Records.

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I had a summer class with several of the MS NP students @ my university. The school focuses on direct entry NP's - no RN or health care experience necessary and the majority of students were people that for one reason or another tried but didn't get into MD/DO school. The school saw a need it could fill, think of all the smart, capable people in pre-med, pre-vet, pre-pharm, pre-dental students around the country that, through no fault of their own, just don't get in.

Also, most of the students in my RN class were only using RN to get to NP school, and several did graduate and start right into NP school. The military recruiters that came also were pushing free NP (actually you get paid your officers salary) to sign on the dotted line. The military has its own NP school. I truly don't know how many NP school slots are around for everyone. I guess the online ones have no classrooms so they can probably take unlimited students

I'm thinking in 10-20 years that RN will be ADN and the BSN will add a year and become NP.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

All the younger nurses at my facility want to be NPs as their end goal. Most are in classes and have

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I had a very rude PA when my son was ill, but that was an isolated occurrence. In my area very few nurses want to become NPs because of the added responsibility, and income is typically less in addition to having to work more hours. I know many NP graduates who still work as floor nurses. I think many nurses like to get additional education and I think that is a great thing. I personally would like to get myclinicalnurse specialist someday, but more for the knowledge than anything.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I also have no interest in becoming an NP. The demand for NPs where I live is mainly small towns and rural areas, which I have no desire to work again.

Instead I plan to pursue an MPH with a leadership/ education focus.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

I've never encountered any standoffish behavior or superior attitude from NP's. If anything, they are more open and able to understand the holistic model of patient care than many physicians and nurse managers.

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Most NPs I've met have been great however recently I overheard one on my unit (ICU) telling the patient's relative that she's like the intensivist. I shook my head in disbelief. She generally does not identify with being a nurse at all.

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Most NPs I've met have been great however recently I overheard one on my unit (ICU) telling the patient's relative that she's like the intensivist. I shook my head in disbelief. She generally does not identify with being a nurse at all.

Or it just helps them understand what her job entails. Most families have no idea what an NP is, especially in a hospital setting. She can't say she is the staff RN because she isn't. She's more like the physician if anything.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Most NPs I've met have been great however recently I overheard one on my unit (ICU) telling the patient's relative that she's like the intensivist. I shook my head in disbelief. She generally does not identify with being a nurse at all.

I'm not sure what the intensivist's duties are but the truth is I operate in the same role as a psychiatrist. I absolutely identify with physicians as my peers now. Its my role, what I'm paid for, and I will not be one of these bleeding heart "nurse hybrid NPs" working for peanuts and still doing duties that would be better served by nurses or techs.

While I adore, respect and rely heavily on my RNs, techs and unit secretarys the bottom line is I am an attending.

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