FNP student disliking family practice

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Post-masters FNP student here, will graduate in May 2017. I'm starting to realize I dislike family practice and can't see myself doing this. It seems a like a never ending rat race, not enough time to see pts, finish charts, review labs, and the thought of 9-5 mon-fri just depresses me lol. It doesn't help that I'm an RN in Los Angeles and will likely take a pay cut as an NP. To make up for this, I plan to keep my RN case management job and move into per diem which is $68/hr and I already know I won't make this as an NP, which sucks. I'm just having all types of doubts about NP now that I see it up close and personal.

Anyone else have this experience and decided to go into a specialty area and really enjoy it? My program allows me to do 80 clinical hrs in a speciality area my last semester, so I'm going to see if I can do this in urgent care as I really have an interest in area and like the hours.

I'm willing to work for my money, but I don't want to sweat for my money, ESPECIALLY when it's a pay cut, and that's the feeling I get with family practice.

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It all depends on what best fits you. I applied to be a case manager and was too young apparently. I pursued FNP down the line. I'm happy because I like being an NP more than being an RN but not everyone feels the same way. However I do often envy the case managers at our hospital. Looking back, had they hire me back then I wouldn't bother with being an NP.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

I would try your hat in other clinical areas. All it takes is one or two bad clinical sites to sour you when the reality is there are several other places that aren't heavily focused on volume with quantity taking priority of quality. I know I was a little soured in my first family practice rotation, but then did an internal medicine primary clinic that just dealt with adults, and loved it. I also got to do an ER rotation following an FNP in their fast tracks and LOVED that. Being and FNP allows your lots of opportunities in where you work, and just like in being a regular RN there are many areas you might love and some you might hate.

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It's like every RN needs to be an NP now to get another letter after their name. Sometimes being a provider is not your calling. If you enjoyed your job as an RN, stick with it. Don't follow what is trendy at the moment or else you will be miserable.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
It's like every RN needs to be an NP now to get another letter after their name. Sometimes being a provider is not your calling. If you enjoyed your job as an RN, stick with it. Don't follow what is trendy at the moment or else you will be miserable.

I agree. Some of my best friends are still working as RN's and have no desire to become NP's. It personally took me a long time and a lot of reflection before I decided it was for me. Sometimes it feels like everyone is trying to get their NP because that's what your social circle is doing. The feeling of being "left behind" can be overwhelming and get people to pursue a field that isn't for them. It happens all over the field of nursing, not just for NP's.

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Thanks for the replies. I agree, I need to try a different clinical setting, which is why I'm hoping I can do my last 80hrs in urgent care (or even retail clinic might be interesting). And I agree, not every nurse needs to go to NP school just because. Nursing is a second career for me and I knew I didn't want to do bedside for long. I like the the thought of being a provider and continuing to care for pt's in a clinical capacity without breaking my back. And I wouldn't say it's trendy, at least not in my area. Maybe because I'm in California, but surprisingly many of my coworkers are not interested in NP because the pay isn't that significant starting off and I would say majority of the nurses I've come across are all about the $.

I just have to find my happy NP place lol

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First, why did you go into being a np if it was going to be just a pay cut?

Second, fnp is such a broad workfield and many clinics are ran different ways with more or less time for the pt

Third, you can always go back to school and recert in something else

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If worse comes to worse and you really think it's the job and not just the facility influencing your feelings, you can see what options you have for getting a master's of nursing in another area maybe?

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