Does everybody want to be a NP?

Farawyn · Nov 7, 2015

I agree with what ixchel says for the most part. That's how I look at it as a rule. But yea, like Dranger said, I know one PA who is amazing. She can put most docs to shame. She is the total package. She has been a PA for years.

Unfortunately she is the only one I've met like that, so far. The rest are okay to good, but overall, my experience with NPs have been better. But, this PA, she gives me hope.

OwlNation · Nov 7, 2015

I want my NP because I want to be able to influence psych care and prescribe meds. At least at my hospital, the medical nurses are much more respected versus psych. I also do not want to floor nurse anymore and I need to be able to provide for a family of 3 on one income. I honestly have felt the way that you feel every time I have gone to school. I went from LPN-RN-BSN to now NP consecutively. "Well, why didn't you just go for your RN?" "Well, why didn't you just go for your BSN?" Because thats how things worked out and I would not trade the experience for anything in the world!

But I want nurses like you who want to be nurses! There are so many different roles, positions, etc. available. Do what you want! But I completely feel where you are coming from.

OwlNation · Nov 7, 2015

National Epilepsy Month!

Farawyn · Nov 7, 2015

National Epilepsy Month!

It is?

I guess I'll add it to my signature.

ixchel · Nov 7, 2015

I think direct entry can be a good option for a select few. By select few I don't mean that one nurse who just graduated and would be mediocre at her first RN job. I am talking about the gunners who could easily make it into med or PA school. The types of students who are smart and come from a hard science background, those are the types of NPs we need. Perhaps they didn't want to commit to 8 years plus of medical education so NP was the next best option, these kind of students are usually thoughtful, bright and go-getters.
I have seen people argue ad nasueum that nurses or NPs have this monopoly on two way communication or reflective listneing. It just simply isn't true. I have met tons of PAs or MDs who are just as good or better.

First, it's getting annoying that you keep stating the superiority of PAs, MDs and their programs. MDs have a higher level of education, so that comment is not regarding LEVEL of degree. I'm sorry you hate the NP program you chose/the PA program rejected you/you feel like you don't get enough clinical hours. Your experience is the experience you chose. There are plenty of schools with better curricula and far more clinical hours. You didn't choose one of those. Your rants are ANECDOTE. Not FACT.

In my opinion, an RN who skips time at the bedside is selling themselves short. That is my OPINION, so whether you agree is irrelevant. There are plenty of others, even in this thread, who agree. If an RN skips time at the bedside, they have no idea what they have missed, and hopefully you realize they missed a lot.

I have seen people who argue ad nauseum that they have this monopoly on reading posts as absolutes. I never said we have the monopoly on "two way communication or reflective listening". In fact, I said MDs gain experience with this during residency.

Dranger · Nov 7, 2015

First, it's getting annoying that you keep stating the superiority of PAs, MDs and their programs. MDs have a higher level of education, so that comment is not regarding LEVEL of degree. I'm sorry you hate the NP program you chose/the PA program rejected you/you feel like you don't get enough clinical hours. Your experience is the experience you chose. There are plenty of schools with better curricula and far more clinical hours. You didn't choose one of those. Your rants are ANECDOTE. Not FACT.
In my opinion, an RN who skips time at the bedside is selling themselves short. That is my OPINION, so whether you agree is irrelevant. There are plenty of others, even in this thread, who agree. If an RN skips time at the bedside, they have no idea what they have missed, and hopefully you realize they missed a lot.
I have seen people who argue ad nauseum that they have this monopoly on reading posts as absolutes. I never said we have the monopoly on "two way communication or reflective listening". In fact, I said MDs gain experience with this during residency.

1. I didn't get rejected from PA school

2. I don't "hate" my NP program. I am going to a well-known/large state university with some of the largest clinical hours and breadth of classes offered. I have issues with some administrative things but that's neither here nor there.

I chose NP because it fits my needs and flexible without making me move across the country. I think PA education is superior. I don't think that means they are better providers, but if you compare class to class, clinical to clinical, its an objective comparison really. I am not going to get into the NP vs MD debate, people can draw their own conclusions. Also I would hope MDs get some bedside experience in residency considering its 4-6 years with fellowship and thousands of clinical hours.

Moving on....

First thing you need to realize is everything on this site is opinion or ANECDOTE. So you met a PA who lacked proper bedside manner. Okay got it. Just the other day I met an NP who didn't know the basic pharmokinetics of anti-hypertensives. Another anecdote people can relate to or vehemently oppose.

Aside from someone quoting a peer reviewed journal every post here is someones opinion and you can agree or disagree. I disagreed with your notion that NPs have a leg up PAs in any sense. PAs come from a variety of background including RNs. Considering ANECDOTALLY, a large amount of new RNs are going to NP school it further discredits the leg-up bedside notion. Just shoot over to their PA forum and you will see quite a few former RNs posting.

It is your choice to get upset over a post and since your words and comments are public anyone is free to comment or throw their two cents in. This goes for me as well, I have been foruming for many years and I frequent much more hostile areas of the internet and it doesn't offend me.

I never disagreed that skipping bedside experience is in the best interest of an NP student I simply stated there are a select few who could survive and or thrive without it. For the vast majority of cases I feel it should be required.

allnurses Guide · Nov 7, 2015

The thing that saddens me about direct entry is the realization that a fresh BSN grad has absolutely no clue what they don't know. Those of you who didn't go direct entry knows exactly what I mean.

Absolutely true, but it extends past that, and in my experience teaching NP students didactically and clinically is that many experienced nurses don't realize what they don't know until they take advanced practice classes and start clinical rotations.

ixchel · Nov 7, 2015

Absolutely true, but it extends past that, and in my experience teaching NP students didactically and clinically is that many experienced nurses don't realize what they don't know until they take advanced practice classes and start clinical rotations.

Otherwise, there would be no need for school. :)

FNP2bMRL3 · Nov 7, 2015

often an RN can make more than an NP

Your statement is evidenced by..........? There are NO NP's making equal or less. NPs make $30k more on average than RNs do when their variables are similar!

Farawyn · Nov 8, 2015

Your statement is evidenced by..........? There are NO NP's making equal or less. NPs make $30k more on average than RNs do when their variables are similar!

When I left the clinic my pay was the same as our NP.

Then again, I had been with the hospital 20 years, she had been there 8.

ETA: I don't have my BSN yet. When I got hired in 1993, I got extra pay for my BA in Psych.

ixchel · Nov 8, 2015

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned the pay difference appears to be geographically related. There is typically a $30k difference in starting rates between RN and NP where I am. However, if an RN picked up one shift a week with bonus pay (skipping all differentials), on starting salary at my hospital, would increase yearly income by just under $32,000 per year. If the shifts picked up were always weekend nights, it would be increased by $34,400 per year. They'd make similar money at that point.

sosweetrn · Nov 8, 2015

The beauty of our profession is the vast opportunities! Everyone has a different niche and that's a great thing! In healthcare everyone from the physician to the CNA has the same goal of taking care of patients. Different responsibilities/titles but all necessary.