Hating RN life...Is life as an NP really better?

fab4fan · Aug 27, 2005

There probably are programs out there. But as much as you dislike working right now, you are getting solid experience in assesment and working with a variety of diseases which will only make you a better NP.

Five months isn't a lot of time, FWIW. It takes at least a year to get your bearings, sometimes longer depending on the type of unit where you're working.

I'm not saying you shouldn't look at being an NP, but you'll have a lot more credibility with your patients and colleagues if you have some experience behind you.

I've known a few people who've gone straight through without actually working for a while as an RN. Would I go to any of them? No way.

SharonH, RN · Aug 27, 2005

Most programs will allow you to get your one year of experience while you are in school. I can understand your need to get away from the bedside but I hope you don't have an unrealistic picture of what they do. You may earn more money and have more autonomy but I highly doubt you will have more quality time with your patients and certainly not less stress. Good luck.

carachel2 · Aug 28, 2005

I don't want to rain on your parade, just give you more of an umbrella :)

Acute Care NP's have VERY stressful jobs and are at the bedside in intensive care units making very critical decisions.

There are, however, many many other types of work you can pursue. School nursing, office nursing, cardiac rehab nursing, home health all to name a few.

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 28, 2005

I don't want to rain on your parade, just give you more of an umbrella :)
Acute Care NP's have VERY stressful jobs and are at the bedside in intensive care units making very critical decisions.
There are, however, many many other types of work you can pursue. School nursing, office nursing, cardiac rehab nursing, home health all to name a few.

:yeahthat:

On certain days of the week I see 35-40 patients....birth through death. Now, these are patients without critical problems. On the other days, 20-25, with multiple problems.

When I take ER call as the healthcare provider, I literally have the lives of all the patients in my hands. I make numerous critical decisions that could mean life or death. I am pulled to ICU/CCU/floor/nursery/OB during that call (24 hour call). THAT is stressful. BUt, you learn to handle that type of stress. And, if you cannot.............

Now, that being said, you can go to NP school, but, I feel you should have a considerable amount of experience before hand.......You should work in ICU, ER, CCU, peds, L&D......just to name a few. Then go the advanced practice track.

Check at Allnursingschools.com for online programs as well as other programs.

Good luck to you!! :nurse:

Trauma Columnist · Aug 28, 2005

Hang in there. You really do need the RN experience in order to become an APN. Yes, I know you can go directly from RN to APN but it is probably not in your patient's best interests.

BETSRN · Aug 29, 2005

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knew of any online graduate programs to become an NP with an emphasis on adult acute care that does NOT require 1 year of acute care experience? I am a BSN with 5 months of med-surg experience and wish to pursue this avenue as soon as humanly possible. Why? Because I believe that becoming an NP would make for a much better quality of life than traditional bedside nursing - I just find it too stressful. More money, more autonomy, more quality time with patients, and LESS STRESS - this is what I picture life as an NP to be like. I would love to hear about other opinions and/or experiences! Am I disillusioned or is this a pretty accurate expectation I have? Are there any NPs out there who regret taking the time and money to become an NP and why? Thanks in advance for any advice.

To be an effective NP, you have to have actual experience with illness and wellness, not to mention good assessment and critical thinking skills.

If you are looing at being an NP as a walk in the park, I think you are mistaken. Further, you have far MORE potential liability as a practitioner. Better check those malpractice insurance rates for NP's. You'll be spending a whole lot more on your insurance as an NP.

Personally, I think you need a bit of a reality check. I wouldn't go to any kind of practitioner who didn't have good basic skills and a background in bedside care.

We have a per diem who fancies herself too good for the bedside and figures that she is only there while she becomes an NP. She is totally useless and has little experience. She never works where she doesn't make some mistake. Her skills are less than minimal. We try never to call her if at all possible. She is a walking disaster. I can only shudder when I think of her as an NP. She'll get eaten for breakfast by her peers.

hollyster · Aug 29, 2005

:yeahthat:
On certain days of the week I see 35-40 patients....birth through death. Now, these are patients without critical problems. On the other days, 20-25, with multiple problems.
When I take ER call as the healthcare provider, I literally have the lives of all the patients in my hands. I make numerous critical decisions that could mean life or death. I am pulled to ICU/CCU/floor/nursery/OB during that call (24 hour call). THAT is stressful. BUt, you learn to handle that type of stress. And, if you cannot.............
Now, that being said, you can go to NP school, but, I feel you should have a considerable amount of experience before hand.......You should work in ICU, ER, CCU, peds, L&D......just to name a few. Then go the advanced practice track.
Check at Allnursingschools.com for online programs as well as other programs.
Good luck to you!!

I agree with Siri. You need more then a few months on med-surg. You definately should have ICU,ER and L&D experience as a minimum.

You do not want your first exposure to critical situations to be when you are completely responsible in life or death decisions without the experience to back you up.