Don't like being a nurse...Will I like being an NP?

Specialties NP

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Hello! I'm still a new nurse (coming up on seven months) on a medical/surgical/hospice/EVERYTHING floor, and I'm not sure I like it. I went to nursing school with the intent of going on and becoming a nurse practitioner, but I am really unhappy in my job and I don't know if becoming an NP will make things better! I liked nursing school...learning about the diseases and treatments and everything, but I'm not sure the day-to-day, ins-and-outs of nursing are for me. I have much respect for floor nurses...it's a hard job! I think I might like to get more involved in health promotion or working at a clinic (I like the idea of preventative care vs. allll these patients with COPD!), and maybe even teach at a nursing school.

I know the role of an RN is very different from that of an NP, but are there any people out there who didn't like being an RN but like being an NP? I know it depends on the person and maybe a different unit or different hospital will make all the difference, but I just wanted to get a feel for what other people's experiences have been. Thanks!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Have you considered public health nursing? I also dislike hospital floor nursing and I am currently debating between a FNP and a joint MSN/MPH. Each has it's plusses and minuses. Maybe you can shadow an NP and a public health nurse and see which appeals to you. I left hospital nursing for school nursing and like it much better, but I want to advance my education. Since you are so close to that elusive one year med/surg, I would encourage you to stick it out for the full year if you possibly can stand it...I wish I would have!

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I think the key phrase here is you don't like med-surg nursing. You haven't tried any other types, so you don't know if you don't like pediatrics, rehab nursing, phone triage, ER, home health, etc.etc. I would highly encourage you to explore other types of nursing before you throw in the towel. One of the most amazing things about being an RN is you have wonderful career flexibility. Honestly, I would HATE med-surg too but I love the path I am on now.

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What kinds of things bother you about your current position?

I ask that because when you are looking for a position as an NP, you can search for a position that is unlikely to have the same issues. There are so many types of nursing, I'm sure you can find a niche. I'm like you--I've had days where I really question why I'm a nurse and what I'm doing working in med-surg. It's important to isolate the things that make you feel that way. For me, I always come to one important conclusion--working with patients is NOT one of the things that makes me miserable day to day. In fact, I quite like it. The relationships I develop are rewarding--my patients learn from me, and I from them. At the end of the day, that's the one part of nursing that is fundamental to any specialty, and if you're comfortable with it, you're on the right track.

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It would be good to try other areas of nursing as some of the other posters have mentioned. There are so many areas of nursing that are quite enjoyable and it's just a matter of trying them out and giving some other areas a chance. For me, I knew I wanted to be an NP even before I went to nursing school. I did work as an RN for almost four years. I liked my job. I worked on tele/CV step down unit at a very busy medical center, but I just wanted to be able to do more for patients.

Also, one thing I didn't enjoy about the RN position is having to work nights, weekends and holidays. The long 12-13 or even 14 hour shifts would just kill me somedays. As an NP the hours are definitely more suited to my liking, but I am working 5 days a week as opposed to three. Everything has it's advantages and disadvantages in life and you just have to determine what's important to you.

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I didn't like the typical life of an RN either, floor nursing, pt overload, long shifts, not really knowing why a certain med was rx or how did they come up with the dx of this and that? I wanted more knowledge and better working conditions. I was only an RN for a couple years before NP school. I LOVE being an NP, it is a completely different job than being an RN. My only regret is not doing NP school 10 years ago!

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I know EXACTLY what I don't like about nursing -- and many of them have been mentioned here: the hours, the shifts, and for me, it's the paperwork. I honestly feel LIKE A MONKEY filling out all those papers day in and day out. I just check boxes and fill in blanks. I feel like a robot. And the treatment RN's get by management? I'm sorry, but I do not enjoy it and look forward to the day I don't have to deal with it.

But I also love dealing with the patients and I'm FAR more interested in why they're on certain drugs, why they are ordering certain tests, etc. I like seeing how they are treated and how they improve. I'm definitely also NOT interested in knowing how to "set up" certain equipment, or how to trouble shoot it. All the technical stuff. I just don't care. I just want to know WHY that equipment is used.

I think nursing is far more technical than anything. I'm more into the theories behind it. The bigger picture. I also enjoy being a patient advocate, which is what I think you take w/ you to become a NP. I'm just not into getting into fights w/ other nurses over the trivial nit noidy stuff, which many of them DO seem to enjoy and enjoy fighting over. I say it's a big WHO CARES!

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