RN or NP??

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 8, 2001

NP may have independent practice with physician COLLABORATION. PA 's practice is ALWAYS dependent on physician supervision.

That said, I'm in MSN/FNP program. In my area, jobs are plentiful and FNP's increasingly being utilized in place of interns in teaching facilities. Look at the job market in your area before you take the plunge.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 9, 2001

RN ------> NP is the way to go. No question.

Ted · Oct 9, 2001

Interesting the NP postions in Penn. are plentiful. Unfortunately, there seems to be an abundant amount of NP's for a fairly limited amount of positions in my area (Albany, NY to Pittsfield, MA). Additionally, I'm making more money as a staff RN at a rural hospital than a NP (or PA for that matter) is making at bigger hospitals in this area!!

A former co-worker of this happy little rural ICU unit just graduated and and obtained her NP certification/licensure. Her specialty is acute-care NP. Can't find a job without traveling over 120 miles!!! So... she's now taken the role as supervisor . . . hopefully until she finds a position that will best suit her talents and expertise as an NP.

My hats off to anyone who goes the extra mile(s) for the NP. As for me, I'm happy being a rural ICU staff nurse at this small-town hospital. . .

Ted Fiebke

a sharpe nurse · Oct 6, 2002

I think the NP route is probably a good one. I'm working on a BS

---->MSN, ANP now. School, work, kids, I sure hope it's worth it. The cardiology group in town just hired an NP for their group. Gave me hope. One of the docs said they advertised for either PA or NP and chose the NP. Cool.

Good luck to ya, jfpruitt. I'm there with ya!

globalRN · Oct 8, 2002

I am a FNP and I agree with many of the previous posters: it CAN be difficult to find a NP job unless you are willing to relocate and have good RN experience behind you.

RNs are currently more in demand than NPs and of course the wages reflect that, once you factor in pay differentials.

However, I believe in doing what is right for you...if you would enjoy being an NP...go for it. Down the road, there will be a shortage of NPs since every doc is becomng a specialist and midlevel practitioners can be more cost effective.

MICU RN · Oct 8, 2002

Np vs. PA, (six years vs. four years). From what I have seen most people advertise for either PA or NP's. So, I wouldn't buy into the premise that as a NP you will have more autonomy. In addition, if you are already a RN then I think it makes sense to go the NP route. However if you are starting from scratch, I wouldn't go the longer route. I am already a RN, but if I wasn't I would go the PA route. Mainly because you could skip all BS you will have to put up as a RN and will be trained in more medical type model. You will be able to skip all the grunt work associated with nursing, such as doing aid work and having to wait on the patients. Also by going the PA route you will start off by be treated more professionally and you will be trained to use your intellect and not your back.

globalRN · Oct 8, 2002

PAs always work under the doctors supervision.

NPs depending on which state may/may not require MD collaboration or supervision. Some states, NPs can hang out their own shingle. PAs cannot.

Some PA programs are converting to a master degree program and this too may be the trend.

MICU RN · Oct 8, 2002

As I mentioned in my previous post if you are already in a RN tract then pursue a NP. Now to your main question, RN Or NP?

It depends on what you want in your nursing practice. If you want plenty of flex. conerning working full or part time then I think a RN offers more flex. and job opportunities. However, if you want autonomy and a more white collar type of job then be a NP. You will get to manage the medical care with supervsion or coll. from a MD. This means you will not be expected to do aid work, maid work, clerk work, or act as a waiter. You will have one job description. I may harp on this, but it because I think this is why nursing is still looked at as a semi-profession at best. I don't know of any other profession (law, cpa, ect) were the person is expected to do so many task that would usually be performed by a person without a college education. Think about it, on one hand you are help making life and death decisions and on the other hand you are expected to do aid work and maid work. Why do we put up with this? They wonder why nursing is loosing it's appeal to young people starting out in college who have a desire to get a professional career? It is because now that all the professions are opened up to females, for example ( roughly 50% of the students in med. and law school are now female). Why would they choose nursing? Hospitals and nurs. schools need to figure a new way to bring nursing into a true professional status type of career. The old phrase of "well we are lic. workers, so therefore we are a profession" will no longer cut it. They will have to start treating us as professionals.

OB/GYN NP · Oct 8, 2002

One point that I'm not sure if you're making in your question is should you go ahead right NOW with your NP, or stop at RN. I would highly recommend stopping to get some experience as an RN before going ahead with your NP. As we all know, it's a lot different when you work than when you're taught how to do something in school. And there's so much more to be learned out there than what's in school. I'm an NP, and love it, but knowing what it's like, I wouldn't want to do this without some RN experience first. Some regions of the country do not have a lot of positions available, esp if you specialize in something besides family health. There aren't usually going to be as many jobs for "specialty" NP's like peds, ob/gyn, neonatal, etc. I would just recommend that you consider taking a break from school for a while before you start an NP program, but yes, if you think you'd like the autonomy that NP's and PA's get, go for it, but maybe after a couple of years. Good luck!:)