It's been discussed here MANY times....how student nurses plan, often even before doing any of their nursing classes, to become CRNA's or NP's. It's SO very typical.
Labor Day weekend, I was up north with the fam. My mom's BF's grandson (who is about 8 years younger than me) is going in to nursing school. We were discussing career paths, and what does he say? You guessed it...he's going to be an anesthetist. "Or a NP," he adds a short while later. (so as to avoid the "messy" part of nursing....)
I didn't say a thing. Far be it for me to burst his bubble (and it's not like he can't do it, if he so chooses). He just seems to think it'll be one straight shot from start to finish. I tried to talk about needing experience, etc, before getting in to a Master's program...nope, he wasn't hearing it. I wanted to say, do you KNOW how many people think they are going to do that? Didn't say that either.
The whole conversation was such a cliche, after what I've read here, that I had to stifle a chuckle. Time will tell, I guess.
I just finished a second-degree, accelerated RN-BSN program. It was originally designed that we would earn our master's and bachelor's degree at the same time, finishing the BSN plus NP or CNS program in 3-4 years. When I started it was understood that we would move directly into the master's program after finishing the BSN.
Now that I've finished the BSN and will be starting work as a new grad soon, it is very surprising to me that my nursing school actually encouraged (required even) that we begin working on an NP or CNS certification immediately. I informed my school a couple weeks ago that I wouldn't be returning this semester (and may not for at least a year or two) - there's no way I'd be able to be an effective advance practice nurse with no actual nursing experience!
Kind of thought along the lines of 'poetic justice' when I found out the person I knew who always fought instructors tooth and nail when the grade was going to be an A- instead of an A or A+ did not get accepted to nursing school. However, I could not really enjoy any of this when also considering that not getting accepted to nursing school is quite the norm for many people, a lot of the time. This person went on to assauge their feelings of inadequacy by getting a master's degree in the counselling profession, and is currently unemployed. Really, there is still no satisfaction there. But for a minute or two, we can feel a little guilty after the unkind thoughts.
I think a lot of people have big dreams and then enter the "real world" and its not really a great as we all thought. More education equals more resopnsibility equals more stress. I agree with you all I plan on getting my RN, but NP no thanks, Im stressed enough already. Besides that if I go back Im changing careers too!
Unfortunately, the career path I wish I had taken is one of those that tanked. Many of those who lost their jobs turned to nursing before nursing started going down the tubes as a stable career choice. I believe a lot of wise people curtail their bragging about professions lately.
I was definitely one of the "i want to be" students. I really thought I was going to graduate, get accepted into an NP or PA school...ya didnt go that way. I was also under the impression that I could work any day of the week I wanted And go part time if I felt like it, so of course I thought I could work mon-tues-wed and never work a weekend....Yes I had big dreams
I'm gonna be a NP someday God willing...but by then I'll have put in about two decades minimum at the bedside.
Even if not for the experience, you'd think people would look at the financial aspect of it and think it may be a good idea to take breaks as they attain each new level to pay down some loans, save up for the next step, etc.
lol- I actually get the complete OPPOSITE conversations! I am currently a senior nursing student graduating in May. I love nursing school, and love nursing! When I tell people I am a nursing student, I constantly get... So when are your going to be an NP? Or- they'll just assume I'm going to be a NP. Can I just tell you- I have ZERO desire to be a NP! ZERO!!! I want to be an RN!!! I love bedside nursing!! My parents (My Mom especially) are constantly down my neck whenever we talk about it. I'll talk about the types of jobs I'd be interested in and she'll come back with, "And how soon before you'll be an NP?" I have to be like... "Ummmm- never, Mom.... I have no desire!" I'm sorry- but I think being an RN is one of the most amazing responsibilities ever! Why would I want to do anything else!? It can be very annoying sometimes!
I too would never discourage anyone from having a dream but it seems to me alot of the I want to be a "NP" or "insert high ranking medical degree" dream here are people who are self absorbed braggers. All they really want to hear is how impressed you are by their aspirations.. When you ask them any question about where they are in a college program or what school they will apply to to for these higher degrees they get vague and shut up.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I'm gonna be a NP someday God willing...but by then I'll have put in about two decades minimum at the bedside.
When Nurse Practitioner programs were in their infancy, they were based on a broad-based level of prior experience as a nurse. Experience was something that people valued in an RN back then. This was before the current trend of never acknowledging that but just complaining about how the old witch seems to need a Hoyer to pry her backside out of the chair.
It was basically (to me) an affirmation that what we do has value that can't be duplicated anywhere else and adds a unique viewpoint leading into a diagnostic role that is not an MD or a DO or a DC, not a PA, not a PCA, or a ... whatever.
As I tend to be an imaginative sort I imagined NPs were like pioneers leading their burros over rocky paths to go serve underserved populations. Wearing a blue cape. Maybe I watched Sister Kennyhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038948/
too many times. :)
Seems to me people now are the opposite. They view the job of a nurse as a nuisance one must dispense with as quickly as possible. If you dare breathe a word about the topic - the response is normally along the lines of well gosh I guess you're just not smart enough to do the fast-track accelerated direct-entry blah blah blah courses and it's really sad that you hate education.
I'm beginning to hope they take the word "nurse" out of NP for you are not a nurse in my mind if the only time you set foot in a real patient's room was because you couldn't get around that requirement. So go call yourself something else. It bothers me that people have the "N" in their title and contempt for the "N" itself.
Personally, I look forward to putting a few years in bedside nursing before even considering an advanced degree. I do hear a lot of students tell me there objective is NP, CRNA, research etc.... and I think it is great to have long term goals. They loose sight of the fact however, that first they need to take that big exam on Friday, finish the semster, pass the NCLEX and they end up not committing to what they have to do in the present if they ever want to reach those goals.
NMW8809
41 Posts
I just finished a second-degree, accelerated RN-BSN program. It was originally designed that we would earn our master's and bachelor's degree at the same time, finishing the BSN plus NP or CNS program in 3-4 years. When I started it was understood that we would move directly into the master's program after finishing the BSN.
Now that I've finished the BSN and will be starting work as a new grad soon, it is very surprising to me that my nursing school actually encouraged (required even) that we begin working on an NP or CNS certification immediately. I informed my school a couple weeks ago that I wouldn't be returning this semester (and may not for at least a year or two) - there's no way I'd be able to be an effective advance practice nurse with no actual nursing experience!