Easy/Difficult NP jobs

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1. The difficult NP job is 5 minutes drive away from your house with reserved parking. You are making important clinical decisions that will impact patient lives (clinical diagnoses, assessment, plan, prescriptions, referrals, etc).

2. The easy/simple NP job is 3 hours commute to and fro combined everyday. You take public transportation. No parking. Every patient comes for a preventive/wellness exam. No complex medical decision making.

Which will you choose?

Salary and benefits about the same for both.

oof. I think I'd keep looking for something in-between. If you want easy, I'd move to be closer as I hate commuting and an hour would be the max I would ever commit to for commute. And that would probably last 6 months lol The difficult job with the right support would be what I would choose personally; if the risk is all on your shoulders and you don't have the experience to manage this responsibility, skip it. I'm basically in this position right now, I work independently after graduating in May 2014 with VERY LITTLE support and looking for something new. The temptation for something easy is definitely there, and some days I wish I just worked in a Minute Clinic, but I know I'd get bored so quickly it wouldn't last.. If you absolutely need to work right now, pick the easy one with 3 hour commute, see if you can live closer or keep looking in the meantime.

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There are numerous recruiting sites for NPs and PAs so why aren't some of us getting ideal jobs from these places?? Barton Associates is one and also get on facebook and network for ideal NP jobs......they're out there......

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I would take the harder job. I bet you would find it more meaningful to do what you trained for.

With that said, for me, a three-hour commute would be enough to make me turn down any job. That is precious time you could be doing something with instead of wasting on commuting. Additionally, think of all of the money you would wind up wasting on gas. There are also potential safety concerns if you will be driving, particularly if you live in an area with rough winters.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, International Health, Psych.

If you have not made a decision already, I think that your heart will guide you. Commuting is terrible, but there is an upside to it as well. For someone like me who has a full nest and my only escape from my family is when I actually go to work, it can be a time to gather your thoughts, listen to the news or audiobooks, and go on auto-pilot for a minute if the commute is not too demanding. I am currently on a temporary short-term assignment (locums). My real job is waiting for me when I get back home. I'm on a working vacation of sorts. This short-term assignment is very easy.” I almost feel guilty for taking their money. Not really.I have an hour free "record time" when I first come in. So, no coming in and your first patient is already waiting for you. I get 90-minutes for first time patient appointments, so I am done with them in 45-60 minutes and then get to breathe while charting and cleanse myself of their energies before I see the next person. I will get no more than one new patient a day. My lunch is 60 minutes. Then after I return to lunch there is 30-minutes of record time”, so again no patients waiting. Also, my last hour of the day is free for "record time" as well.My real job is the total opposite. They want to squeeze every penny and neuron out of me! I am running from the time I arrive until the time I leave. I usually wind up charting on the measly unpaid 30 minute lunch break or doing it at home. There have been times in the past when I have seen 40 patients in one day! I dare not let on to anyone here that I can work at a much faster pace and simply enjoy this brief change in a practice setting. But the work culture is different. Some work sites simply do not believe is overworking providers.I would get bored with this job if I did not have other things to do in the down time to keep me busy. However, your body assumes the toll for the difference between stress” and boredom” or non-stressful” activities. Determine how stressful the commute will be on your body in the winter months. Not sure where you live. I'd rather be bored (notwithstanding the commute) and collecting a paycheck than stressed out. Do what's right for your mind, body and spirit.I'm looking for an easy permanent NP job. Let me know if you hear about anymore. 

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

I was actually in a very similar position recently, but it had to do with applying to 2 jobs. Eventually I chose not to apply to the "easy" 3 hour commute job even though I had loved doing clinical there and knew the staff. After the winter Boston just had I couldn't fathom having that commute time double for 2 months out of the year.

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The "difficult"job, of course. It is not worth the hassle for the other "easy" job. Besides, the so- called difficult job will soon become easy with practice and time.

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I want to thank you all for your responses to my post. I want to provide a brief update. I'm 3 months into the difficult job. I have wanted to work so close to home for over 10 years! This is my first NP job and it is the hardest job anyone can have in primary care. I'm expected to see 20-30 patients a day. I'm currently seeing about 20. What gets me is the way I get yelled at when I make mistakes. My superiors are very disrectful. They say things like-you can be sued for that or that is malpractice. I feel so awful for not knowing as much as they do. It is a physician run practice and there's a lot of animosity towards NPs. I'm currently interviewing at other places. I will travel if I have to. I can even go back to work as an RN. Please keep me in your prayers. I can't wait to submit my resignation letter.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I want to thank you all for your responses to my post. I want to provide a brief update. I'm 3 months into the difficult job. I have wanted to work so close to home for over 10 years! This is my first NP job and it is the hardest job anyone can have in primary care. I'm expected to see 20-30 patients a day. I'm currently seeing about 20. What gets me is the way I get yelled at when I make mistakes. My superiors are very disrectful. They say things like-you can be sued for that or that is malpractice. I feel so awful for not knowing as much as they do. It is a physician run practice and there's a lot of animosity towards NPs. I'm currently interviewing at other places. I will travel if I have to. I can even go back to work as an RN. Please keep me in your prayers. I can't wait to submit my resignation letter.

Best of luck.

There should be no disrespect or unprofessional behavior in a professional environment.

Three months into your new role if you are seeing 20 patients a day, depending on acuity, you are bound to make mistakes or miss things, which isn't good for you, the patients, or the practice. If those mistakes are truly "malpractice" mistakes (meaning they have damages directly resulting from substandard care) than you should resign immediately as you are putting your license and future in continued jeopardy.

Hope it all works out.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I agree if you are not practicing safely and they aren't doing anything to help you get up to speed you should consider resigning now.

It sounds horrible and while no one should be so disrespectful, my guess is the unrealistic expectations are largely the result of our deficient NP education. Without extensive experience as a RN in a specialty I think for most people there is a very steep learning curve. Physicians expect us to be up to speed and step in seamlessly with little if any orientation which imo is a reasonable expectation however it unfortunately isn't the case for many new NPs. I truly believe the huge number of NPs that are graduating in droves now will result in a decline of our perceived quality of care among physicians as well as a decline in our treatment outcome rates going forward. :(

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FNPatlast: Some physicians are bullies which is exactly what you're dealing with. It is an unrealistic expectation to throw a new NP in the setting without proper orientation because EVERY PLACE IS DIFFERENT !!! There is no excuse for their idiotic behavior. Jesus loves you and He is watching over you, believe that !!! Here are a few resources for jobs for us: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/johttp://www.pajobsite.com/Index2.cfm?Page=JobsSearchbs/healthcare-associates-9f078883

These places specialize in jobs for NPs and PAs so utilize these to secure a better job. Your current employer is worthless and is a danger to their patients, not you. If you feel insecure in your professional abilities, study your resource materials used to pass your NP cert exam. If nothing else this will boost your self esteem. I prayed for you as I read your message. Hang in there ! God will come to your rescue. Please keep me posted and we'll give God all of the glory honor and praise when He fixes the situation. May He bless and keep you !

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New update! I want to thank you all for your words of encouragement as I transition into the NP role. My eyes welled up with tears as I read NP2015 message above. You really touched my heart with your kind words and promising to pray for me.

I will be starting a new position very soon as an NP where I will be given the proper orientation and support I will need. This is not a primary care position but an area I can consider my "comfort zone" having worked there as an RN for several years before going to grad school. My experience in primary care was tough, grueling, but will be useful throughout my NP career. I am looking forward for a rewarding, yet less stressful work environment in my new role.

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