I started a RN-NP Program with the goal of becoming an NP. I am taking a break now working as an RN having completed the first part of the program.
I have experienced a lot of bullying in nursing school and working as a nurse. It is wearing me down. I know longer know if I want to be an NP because it seems there are some toxic issues in healthcare, plus the workload.
I do have 160,000 in debt with my undergrad and nursing school combined. Part of me wants to finish and do NP just so I can make more of an income and hopefully pay off my debt faster. And do what I always thought I wanted to do, before realizing how toxic healthcare can me. But part of me wants to go into another field, one that is more creative, and I won't likely encounter these issues as much. I have worked in other fields and did not experience any bulling, and have done research and found that it is more prevalent in healthcare.
The elephant in the room is that massive student loan debt. That kind of debt will take a LONG time to pay down even under the best of circumstances. At this point I might suggest you go ahead with the NP as planned just for the extra earning potential to work down some of that debt faster.
As for worrying about being bullied as a provider, well I'm sorry but that is most likely going to be a non-issue. Not every workplace is full of bullies, actually I'd guess that not very many actually are. Sure, bullies exist in every line of work including healthcare but to derail a planned career over the fear you might encounter a bully or two seems a bit extreme.
It depends how the OP plans to pay the debt off. If planning on going the ten year PSLF route, which has been a total failure so far, you would need to continue to work for a non profit. No travel nursing and no 1099 employment which is common as an NP. But the student loans are the real elephant in the room. Also having to recert every year that you work at a non profit, it is just another way to hassle and discourage people and waste time!
And ten years of on time payments! To me that seems the hardest as I think over the years I myself was derailed and put the loans in deferment for occasional medical and financial issues. Ten years of perfect on time payments seems almost unreasonable in the real world where anything can happen and where many will become new mothers and need time off.
You are right not to let a couple instances of bullying derail one's dreams, but it gets under your skin and makes you feel vulnerable when you are a target. For me it destroyed my self confidence, made me leery of others and hard to trust my coworkers. I worked my entire career at that hospital, but ironically, part of the reason was I didn't want to start over as a new employee as I felt I could be vulnerable to a repeat attack from some other bully so I can understand the sentiment. I think most people leave when they are bullied it is a common sense thing to do.
Had I left I wouldn't have the pension I have that made early retirement possible. Also it truly was the best hospital in the city back in the day as far as staffing was concerned.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 10/13/2021 at 9:26 AM, daisychains11 said:
Why exactly would a counselor help? They can't change what's happening.
Just because something happened that hurt your feelings doesn't mean you have been bullied. I have no doubt that there are bullies in nursing but in my experience they have been rare. I am not, however a person who allows myself to be bullied. A good couselor will help you undestand how to react in these situations, Outside of that I would not reccomend taking on more debt!
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
The thing is many work places will have different versions of "bullying" and/or just crappy policies or coworkers or bosses. You just have to suck it up if you want certain things in life. Once you get some experience and credibility you have more options. Piling on more debt is not the answer.
I have decided to go ahead with being a nurse practitioner, after realizing how much I enjoy this field and that some of the bullying I've experienced are just part of life that can happen anywhere. ❤️
I have decided to go ahead with being a nurse practitioner, after realizing how much I enjoy this field and that some of the bullying I've experienced are just part of life that can happen anywhere. ❤️
I'm glad you have decided to finish. As an NP it will be a different environment and I doubt bullying will be an issue. It was nice of you to update us as many times we don't hear from someone how things turned out.
Have things improved regarding the bullying? For me it ended after the LPN who was pathologically jealous of new grad RN's, me in particular, got demoted and began working as a HUC when the hospital phased out LPN's in the mid 90's. Shortly after she quit and went elsewhere. Honestly if I could be paid the same doing secretarial work as a nurse I would see it as a good deal and be quite happy, a great tradeoff, with a lot less stress, but that's just me.
Curious how long have you been working as a nurse? Are you still working at the same place and did you start during covid as things have been at the worst staffing wise etc with in the hospital at least that was my experience. Are you going to work part time while in school? Were you able to get your preceptors and clinicals OK? When will you graduate?
Also there are a lot of NP's on Youtube that share their experiences Nurse Liz is the one I've listened to the most and remember off the top of my head, but there are many others you might want to check out too.
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
4 hours ago, daisychains11 said:
I have decided to go ahead with being a nurse practitioner, after realizing how much I enjoy this field
Glad you found something that you think will work for you! I'm only a few months in on my first NP position but I'm enjoying it so far. I'm also still per diem at my old floor job, so it's made the transition easier because I still spend some time in my old comfort zone. Best wishes!
Glad you found something that you think will work for you! I'm only a few months in on my first NP position but I'm enjoying it so far. I'm also still per diem at my old floor job, so it's made the transition easier because I still spend some time in my old comfort zone. Best wishes!
I'm glad you have decided to finish. As an NP it will be a different environment and I doubt bullying will be an issue. It was nice of you to update us as many times we don't hear from someone how things turned out.
Have things improved regarding the bullying? For me it ended after the LPN who was pathologically jealous of new grad RN's, me in particular, got demoted and began working as a HUC when the hospital phased out LPN's in the mid 90's. Shortly after she quit and went elsewhere. Honestly if I could be paid the same doing secretarial work as a nurse I would see it as a good deal and be quite happy, a great tradeoff, with a lot less stress, but that's just me.
Curious how long have you been working as a nurse? Are you still working at the same place and did you start during covid as things have been at the worst staffing wise etc with in the hospital at least that was my experience. Are you going to work part time while in school? Were you able to get your preceptors and clinicals OK? When will you graduate?
Also there are a lot of NP's on Youtube that share their experiences Nurse Liz is the one I've listened to the most and remember off the top of my head, but there are many others you might want to check out too.
Hi,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, I can imagine that there are many nurses who relate to this thread for one reason or another, so an update is helpful.
I found Nurse Liz months ago and liked her. I should watch more of her videos.
I have been working as a nurse for about 2 years.
The bullying situation isn't as bad/I'm not affected by it as much as when I wrote this. The person who has done the most of the bullying has proven to be someone with some kind of personality disorder who mistreats others as well, so I no longer take it personally. The other people who have been rude to me, I can also see its more about their control issues than me. I think its the culture of the place I work.
Also about being willing to do secretarial work as a nurse- there is nursing informatics which is more desk work.
I know you have already made your mind up, but that 160k is...well...extreme and really should be the main focus, not adding more education (and interest) onto a massive loan.
brandy1017, ASN, RN
2,910 Posts
It depends how the OP plans to pay the debt off. If planning on going the ten year PSLF route, which has been a total failure so far, you would need to continue to work for a non profit. No travel nursing and no 1099 employment which is common as an NP. But the student loans are the real elephant in the room. Also having to recert every year that you work at a non profit, it is just another way to hassle and discourage people and waste time!
And ten years of on time payments! To me that seems the hardest as I think over the years I myself was derailed and put the loans in deferment for occasional medical and financial issues. Ten years of perfect on time payments seems almost unreasonable in the real world where anything can happen and where many will become new mothers and need time off.
You are right not to let a couple instances of bullying derail one's dreams, but it gets under your skin and makes you feel vulnerable when you are a target. For me it destroyed my self confidence, made me leery of others and hard to trust my coworkers. I worked my entire career at that hospital, but ironically, part of the reason was I didn't want to start over as a new employee as I felt I could be vulnerable to a repeat attack from some other bully so I can understand the sentiment. I think most people leave when they are bullied it is a common sense thing to do.
Had I left I wouldn't have the pension I have that made early retirement possible. Also it truly was the best hospital in the city back in the day as far as staffing was concerned.