I love nursing but hate NP school

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First, let me tell you about myself. I love nursing, the interactions with patients and even sometimes dealing and solving difficult family situations. But, more than anything, I love and am passionate about the study of human physiology, diseases..... I love to understand a disease, why it is treated a certain way, how meds work... So I was sooo looking forward to starting NP school. Now, once in the program as a Part time student, I realize that I will be spending the next entire year learning about nursing theory, statistics... and nothing related to clinical medicine. I am a clinical person and am dreading this year. I looked at many other schools and thier curriculums all include these annoying classess (annoying for me). Then I looked at medschool curriculum and it starts immediately with really interesting clinical classes such as advanced A&P, patho.... All my coworkers are pushing me to go to medschool since they say Im very passionate about the clinical aspect of medicine.

Now Im sooo lost. Anyone else felt that NP school included to little clinical classes? Any advice?

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Specializes in CVICU.

I've struggled with these things too, which is why I've decided that I would like to be a CRNA. It's kind of like the best of both worlds from what I've read and from what my friends have told me. It's not like the school is "fun" per se, but very interesting, and all my friends love their clinicals.

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I'm so sorry you're feeling that way about your program. I too went part time to my NP program but the first semester was advanced patho and advanced pharmacology! So I guess we got into the stuff you like right away. The second semester was theory and research. I remember asking the professor, "why do we have to take this?" I can understand your pain!

My advice to you is to hang in there, jump through the hoops, and the "good" stuff will come....really, it will !!:redpinkhe

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I was thinking about CRNA school more seriously recently, but I cant bring myself to give up that pt relationship. I want to have relationships with pt's- follow them over the course of their illness. My dream is to work for a cardiology or CT practice and also round on pt's in the hospital. If I were to go to medschool I would certainly become a cardiologist. This is why I never worked ER.

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I'm so sorry you're feeling that way about your program. I too went part time to my NP program but the first semester was advanced patho and advanced pharmacology! So I guess we got into the stuff you like right away. The second semester was theory and research. I remember asking the professor, "why do we have to take this?" I can understand your pain!

My advice to you is to hang in there, jump through the hoops, and the "good" stuff will come....really, it will !!:redpinkhe

Lisa,

Thanks for your response. All in all, do you feel NP school covered enough in depth clinical knowledge needed to diagnose, treat and prescribe? What kind of NP did you get?

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

I think you are looking at it the wrong way.

Yes, it's NP school, but it's also a Masters Degree program...as an advance practice nurse, both professionally and from an educational standpoint, you'll be looked at as a leader...they want to make sure you have that background.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Maybe you're just in the wrong program. I started NP school this semester and it was immediately clinical.

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I think you are looking at it the wrong way.

Yes, it's NP school, but it's also a Masters Degree program...as an advance practice nurse, both professionally and from an educational standpoint, you'll be looked at as a leader...they want to make sure you have that background.

Thanks, but I think 2 theory based classes would be enough, and then they could build in leadership prinicpals in the remaining classess. 5-6 such classess is whats driving me crazy!

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Maybe you're just in the wrong program. I started NP school this semester and it was immediately clinical.

What school are you at and what NP program is it? If you dont mind me asking.

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I wonder if it's because you're part time? I was full time and my program also began with advanced patho and pharm. Though theory and statistics are also necessary to understand why we do what we do, and how to critically evaluate the research when it comes to treating patients. Or else the pharm rep folks will take you for a ride.

Maybe look at the required courses in your program and talk to your advisor - if it would help you to get into the clinical stuff right away, why not?

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Specializes in Neurovascular, Ortho, Community Health.

Why not PA school? You have to look at the foundations of these professions. Nursing is a holistic, inclusive profession of total care, which happens to include the body.

While there is a science in nursing, nursing is not all science.

On the other hand, the medical (and of course PA) field is a biological science by definition.

If you want the science, then study the field relating purely to the science.

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I'm dreading nursing research and theory, I have no patience for this kind of nonsense. They seem so frivolous and useless.

But not all of us can be accepted into medical school.

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