Does everybody want to be a NP?

ixchel · Oct 31, 2015

I have never encountered this attitude, either. All (except one) of the NPs I've known and worked with have been wonderful and patient-centered. I've appreciated the very evident difference between NP and MD in practice, seeing how the NPs focus strongly not just on treatment of things gone wrong, but also on what is going on holistically. Not saying a good doctor skips this, mind you, but it's not as much a priority. They have case managers and floor nurses filling those gaps for them. I love NPs!

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

I do wonder whether the NP job bubble is going to burst? I have absolutely no hard numbers but it does seem like "everyone" is either in NP school or planning on it. In my last unit, 1/2 of the nurses were in school part-time to become NPs. I would get floated to higher acuity ICUs and the numbers would be worse when you threw in the folks leaving to start CRNA school.

At some point there ia going to be a glut of NPs, right?

ixchel · Oct 31, 2015

Yeah. I like working with patients but wanted to have a more normal schedule and get out of inpatient psych (love psych, hate the MH system). In my area I'll make more as an outpatient NP than as an inpatient nurse (since an outpatient nurse typically makes less, that seems like a good distinction), but not dramatically more, and it's not my primary motivator. Weekends and holidays off, working outpatient, and actually helping people is a win-win-win.
But, that's me. Apparently some people like night shift at the hospital enough to start threads about it. I've avoided whatever head trauma they've obviously suffered, but good for them, right? Do whatever you feel like. I'm a total team player. Everyone has a role, and I don't care if you're a house keeper, a receptionist, or an MD, we all play on the same team.

Night shift is amazeballs. More money, less annoying interruptions, and usually there is time for my derriÃ¨re to hit a chair at some point.

Carry on.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 31, 2015

I want to add to my first post that I know approximately 10 NPs, and I can only say 2 have the attitude. The rest are down to earth.

Dogen · Oct 31, 2015

Night shift is amazeballs. More money, less annoying interruptions, and usually there is time for my derriÃ¨re to hit a chair at some point.
Carry on.

So, show me on Mr. Teddy where in the head you were injured...

LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

Everyone one keeps saying that MSNs, CRNAs, and FNPs are going to flood the market, but does anyone have any hard numbers? To me, my BSN is a means to an end. I in no way want to be at the bedside for my whole career, so I am about 98% sure I will be going back. I'm 23 now and hope to be done with school completely by the age of 30.

ixchel · Oct 31, 2015

So, show me on Mr. Teddy where in the head you were injured...

Does psych have a different flow in shifts between nights and days? My unit is a nightmare on days. Absolute hell.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2015

I do wonder whether the NP job bubble is going to burst?

I predict the FNP bubble will burst sometime within the next decade. After all, it seems like everyone and their momma has enrolled in a FNP program. The barriers to entry are just too low to be sustainable.

I think the bubble will take much longer to burst for PNPs, ACNPs, NNPs, and PMHNPs. However, new entrants are flooding the FNP market in many places.

ixchel · Oct 31, 2015

I predict the FNP bubble will burst sometime within the next decade. After all, it seems like everyone and their momma has enrolled in a FNP program. The barriers to entry are just too low to be sustainable.
I think the bubble will take much longer to burst for PNPs, ACNPs, NNPs, and PMHNPs. However, new entrants are flooding the FNP market in many places.

I further predict that we'll then start seeing the degree wars like we do with ASN vs. BSN - MSN vs. DNP.

Dogen · Oct 31, 2015

Does psych have a different flow in shifts between nights and days? My unit is a nightmare on days. Absolute hell.

Yeah, our patients mostly sleep at night, which is awful. I struggle to stay awake unless we have someone with bad enough mania or psychosis that they've stopped sleeping, so I have someone to talk to. Day shift is when all the groups happen, and I like groups.

When I worked medical/cardiac nights were my favorite because everyone cool worked nights and they helped each other out more. Day shift were more likely to be martyrs, eat at the computer and spend an hour a day talking about how they didn't have time for breaks, or more likely to quote policy, none of which is something I look for in a co-worker. But I spent 18 months on nights and never got over the 4am wall. I'd hit it like a ton of bricks and be dragging the rest of the night.

Dogen · Oct 31, 2015

I think the bubble will take much longer to burst for PNPs, ACNPs, NNPs, and PMHNPs. However, new entrants are flooding the FNP market in many places.

From your lips to God's ears.

There are never enough psych providers at any level. I don't graduate for six months and I'm already getting scouted. Agencies in rural areas are paying parity or above what urban agencies pay just to get people to consider moving. So, psych is alright for now. We'll see what happens. :)

Nursetk4 · Oct 31, 2015

This is a response to post number 17. I think this is a great plan. I was a nurse for 12 years before I went back to school for my NP/MSN. I feel my years as a nurse has really helped me in my new role. Being a NP is a great job. However, grad school, clinicals and transitioning into the role is a lot of work. But totally worth it.