Glut of NPs in coming years?

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2015

I know right, most BSN programs are just stepping stones to a masters it seems. I don't think np will bring down MD salaries no matter what. In most areas of care NP are not an MD replacement. Maybe for primary care and psych but probably not in any other role. Not downing primary care or psych either they are both difficult and awesome specialties. But i don't see the MSN surgical concentration or anything like that popping up soon. I know they have derm and ICU residencies and/or specialties for nps but I'm pretty sure we will never get full credentials to run a DERM clinic or ICU without physician support. At least I hope not.

We won't. The job opportunities to practice in specialties will always be there but physicians will never give up control of the highest paid specialties, even if NP showed comparable procedural outcomes (like NPs doing colonoscopies in Europe); unless the insurance companies for their hands, as we all know, insurance companies run medicine now.

NPs will likely take over primary care, and you know what, they should. Let physicians move fully into specialty where their salary is commensurate with their training and experience and let NPs refer the patients.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Oct 23, 2015

I hereby declare I'm starting a BostonFNP fan club. :)

Thank you for your wisdom and guidance.

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2015

FWIW my colleague physician is GI trained and does colonoscopies and he may inquiries at our hospital about training me to do them based off the evidence presented from European studies and the hospital basically told him that they would never even consider credentialing me for that regardless of outcomes.

Limoges-Gonzalez, M., Mann, N. S., Al-Juburi, A., Tseng, D., Inadomi, J., & Rossaro, L. (2011). Comparisons of screening colonoscopy performed by a nurse practitioner and gastroenterologists: a single-center randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology Nursing, 34(3), 210-216.

Dranger · Oct 23, 2015

Its a case of "the grass is greener". I think many bedside nurses do a hard job and they look over the fence to the provider side and think it's a much cushier job. Its not. They will be even more unhappy as a provider. It the view of the provider as one who "pops in" then retreats to the sofa in the lounge to do and H&P while watching TV just isn't reality. It's even worse in the primary setting.
This is the reason I tell all my students to consider how much they want the role because there are easier ways to make money.

In no way do I think the job is easier, but it does comes with a set of responsibility that intrigues me mentally. I can deal with that kind of demanding and stressful as it also pertains to my Army Reserve job as an officer.

As a RN a lot of the tasks like cleaning up BMs, transferring patients at 3am, restraining violent patients or hanging IV bags over and over gets old after awhile.

Psychcns · Oct 23, 2015

Boston FNP- can the hospital stance to not allow you to do colonoscopies be appealed.

It reminds me of psych aprns learning to do ECT

There are still barriers to practice. Independent practice is only one thing.

twozer0, NP · Oct 23, 2015

Boston FNP- can the hospital stance to not allow you to do colonoscopies be appealed.
It reminds me of psych aprns learning to do ECT
There are still barriers to practice. Independent practice is only one thing.

Are psych APRN's allowed to do ECTs? We do them MWF here in the PACU. I couldnt see why an APRN couldnt do them since Anesthesia is pretty much manning the airway and sedation and all the doc does is press the juice button. I love our Psych docs though, they are really nice guys.

allnurses Guide · Oct 23, 2015

Boston FNP- can the hospital stance to not allow you to do colonoscopies be appealed.

Essentially no.

Psychcns · Oct 23, 2015

RE-psych aprns and ECT. I know of an aprn that went through a training program and is looking for a MD to sponsor her for a practicum and finding it difficult. The BON says it is within her scope of practice. Then there will be hospital credentialing.

WIBound · Oct 27, 2015

I am still waiting for a prospective NP to tell me they didn't get accepted to any school. Literally I don't think it's possible to get rejected from all. .

That is true of many basic nursing programs. Got a check, here are your books and welcome to the exciting world of wiping backsides and pushing pills!

JustKeepDriving · Oct 28, 2015

I am still waiting for a prospective NP to tell me they didn't get accepted to any school. Literally I don't think it's possible to get rejected from all. The online format is convenient so far but I do feel a little sheepish asking MDs to be my preceptor (most assume it's the schools job) or describing how all of my tests online with a couple campus visits a year. Most don't really comment but their reaction is a little surprised. Since after all they endured 4 years of medical school plus 4-6 years of residency and fellowship in a controlled and constantly proctored setting.

I have to agree with you. I go to a regular "brick and mortar" campus and I'm shocked every day at some of the people who are in my program. I don't even know if "online" vs. "campus" really makes that much of a difference (depending on reputation of program... I mean Vandy's program is online and probably more vigorous than the University of Phoenix... not trying to offend, but its my opinion).

Just some base examples of people in my program:

The nurse that never worked a day in psych says "I'm going to be a PMHNP! It's pointless to learn about all this medical stuff! Why do I even need to know it? I just want to do talk therapy for depressed housewives so I don't get it!" And then proceeds to do poorly on pathophys and assessment and then complains that "they didn't just give me a pass!".

The other nurse who never worked in psych that says, "I decided to switch to PsychNP cause it's less stressful [than area they work where patient are intubated and sedated] and I want to actually be appreciated by my patients".

The Masters Entry nurses (who just finished their masters degree) who are now on their 4th masters degree and haven't actually worked as a nurse - or in any field they have a degree in period (I admire the academic pursuit but the grumpy cat part of me wonders why they don't just pursue academic field at this point).

Then again I could just being judgmental and mean right now because I'm feeling particularly bitter and angry over my ongoing sleep deprivation.

One of the reasons why I'm hesitant to quit work (and between school and work am out of the house somewhere around 60 hours a week) and adding in the actual school work portion (which it currently being procrastinated on right now) puts me at somewhere between "living off energy drinks" and "Shower + poop time are relished cause it's the only time I get when I'm not staring at a computer screen or trying to convince the angry psychotic to take his meds", is that I'm terrified that the field will be saturated, I'll graduate and not be able to find full time work as an NP and the time lapse on my resume between jobs will make it difficult to find an RN position (and I actually really love being an RN, I just think I'll love being an NP more, can be better help to my home facility and will have more longevity in my career as I've seen way too many nurses become disabled due to patient assaults in my specialty area).

sauce · Oct 28, 2015

Eh, to accurately predict the future of the nurse practitioner just look at the field of law.

No other information is needed or required.

Thanks

Just making it easy

Psychcns · Oct 28, 2015

@ just keep driving: . Take a deep breath. Focus on your own studies. You like your work a lot. That is huge in being competitive if the field does become saturated. Try not let the negative ones bring you down. Your current work colleagues will be helpful contacts when you begin to look for a psych np job. Best wishes.