Insight to NP

[hopefulhelper.]

Hey everyone. To start off, i'm going to admit that being a doctor was my dream ever since i was 5 up until about a year ago. Then, I started to work at the hospital in my home town (as a food service worker but we spend a ton of time on the wards) and I noticed how much the nursing role changed and I realized thats what I wantedd to do; I wanted to spend a 12 hour shift interacting with my patient and really getting to know them. I did not want to work in a walk in clinic spending my time going through patients in 5-10 minutes or seeing them only during rounds. Now, I may be biased as I live in a small city (~40,000) but I just feel that the nurses are the ones really interacting with the patients (which is why I choose to be a doctor; I wanted to "help" people but I realized nurses do helping in their own way and the way I could see myself doing) Obviously I know there are doctors who spend immense time with patients (take derm for example) but what I really want to do is peds and to be honest, the time and money I would have spent in Med school is not worth the 120k a year or the fact that i'll probably be stuck in a office doing what I do not want to do. Getting back to it, I know it sounds like I am "settling" for nursing but that is in no way the case; I am just having a difficult time as being a doctor is really truly what I saw myself doing but I know in my heart that nursing is what I will love. Ok to get to the question (sorry for the loooong post) the thing that appealed to be about being a doctor was the diagnosing; I want more autonomy. Then I thought about NP. BUT, do they really spend anymore time with patients than doctors? I would love having the autonomy of being an NP but if they basically do what the doctor does (obviously I know there are things an NP CANT do) is it worth it for me to become an NP? Obviously, I should just focus on getting through nursing school (starting this fall) but I just want to hear from some NPs and whether or not they miss bedside or hoow much beside care they get. I know ICU nurses have more autonomy over other nurses and that really appeales to me but I would still love to be a NP. Again, sorry for the super long post.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Do Canadian patients need another nurse practitioner who is doctor wanna be? Is your primary healthcare provider a GP or a NP?

[Novo]

dishes, i don't think you realize how incredibly silly your post is

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I know a number of patients who have NPs, but it is not by their own choice.

[hopefulhelper.]

Ok first of all, I really don't think its fair to call NP "wanna be doctors". Second I made this post to seek ADVICE from NP's not to hear someone else cut them down. If those patients have NPs "not by choice" they should probably look for services else where as I know fr a fact there are lists of doctors seeking patients; most often (well where I live) YOU choose your family physician you don't get "stuck" with a mid level if that's not what you want.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I'm surprised Dishes that you refer to NPs as "wanna be doctors". The NPs that I have worked with have established their practice because they wanted to continue working as RNs but with an expanded scope. It wasn't because they couldn't get in to med school.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

I do not know much about the NP role, which lead me to click on the thread, Sadly I see someone has taken out some frustrations on you.

I will do my best to answer your question, and get this back on topic. Personally I know one NP. Her day is very similar to that of the MDs. She has said she wished she had stayed as an RN as she misses the bedside, she was also the first NP in her hospital and found ‘trail blazing' to be rather challenging. Most opportunities that I see are for primary health care, family health team and NP clinics ect. I have heard from people who go to an NP that they spend much more time with them than their Doc did. The ones I know from work, were floor nurses first.

Like you said I would get through nursing school first. You need 2+ years of f/t hours be considered for the NP diploma program and a masters (although can be done concurrently).

If you are looking for autonomy and time with patients maybe you would like midwifery . I initially wanted to do it, but discovered I really did not like L&D and LOVED palliative care. 4 years is a long time for you to change your mind and discover you may love kids, but hate being their nurse.