To add to the "whatever happened to going to school to be a nurse" thread, someone please enlighten me on a day in the life of a NP. Because from my RN perspective, the NP's who aren't practicing in a family practice type setting are doing the physician's "dirty laundry", working the crap shifts, receiving food and bribes from pharm reps, spending literally 5 min with patients (which by the way is a different topic I could write a book on), and having to tip toe around medicaid/medicare and other insurance providers. Sure, the pay seems nice, except incurring additional debt from a 2 or 3 year NP program. But the things I listed above don't appeal to me at all just for extra money. Also, it seems very difficult to build trust and develop a relationship with your patients when you only get to see them every 3 months or so for 5 min. Who knows, I might just be super ignorant. Someone prove me wrong, please.
The NP route is not for everyone. It sounds like you derive a lot of satisfaction with your current role. No one should feel pressured to move from RN to NP.
Oh, definitely! I love my current job, but even my last job had great benefits, mon-fri, no weekends or holidays and tons of time off. So again, I pose the question of why are so many RN's unsatisfied with being an RN and want to immediately become practitioners? Plus, in all honesty, it seems like if one wants to become a mid level, then the PA route would be the best route to choose.
Hey, there! You seem to have a very unique RN job that affords you a lot of benefits not typically associated with this field (no holidays, no weekends, snow days, etc.). I believe that it would be difficult to leave a job with so many positive attributes to become an NP. For many, it is the other way around. If you're truly interested in becoming an NP you should consider shadowing. NPs spend more than five minutes with patients. If you're only venting, then that's understandable, but don't give up on the idea if you're truly interested. It can be a great decision! Best of luck to you.
I am a new nurse (roughly 1 year and 4 months experience) who works on a cardiac stepdown unit at a very well known hospital. I see why people want to go back to NP school so soon. Bedside nursing is brutal now. You are viewed more as a servant than a nurse. Its sad too because the hospital is all about making patients happy. Then you have the ungrateful patients and patients who think they are in a hotel. Its sad. Add in improper staffing and you can see why people want to leave. Heck ill be leaving when it comes to my 2 years but I know I dont want to do any advanced practice nursing.
NP is great in the outpatient setting. If you dont want to do that then I wouldnt get into it because like one poster said you are working ridiculous hours and you are essentially doing the MDs dirty work. Also as a vet I plan on getting into the VA because with a BSN I could make the same as maybe more than an NP/PA at the hospital I currently work at.
For the RNs who ask me if it is worth being an NP:
I always ask them if they are currently happy in their job position as an RN. If so, I don't recommend NP.
Why is that ? I hated being a bedside nurse- I wasn't strong enough to do the physical labor, and I disliked all the menial tasks. I do none of these as an NP. I'm very happy with my position. Just curious about your theory.
Hey, there! You seem to have a very unique RN job that affords you a lot of benefits not typically associated with this field (no holidays, no weekends, snow days, etc.). I believe that it would be difficult to leave a job with so many positive attributes to become an NP. For many, it is the other way around. If you're truly interested in becoming an NP you should consider shadowing. NPs spend more than five minutes with patients. If you're only venting, then that's understandable, but don't give up on the idea if you're truly interested. It can be a great decision! Best of luck to you.
The thing is, though that there are SO many RN jobs out there that are similar, in that you don't have to work holidays/weekends, good benefits, don't have to do bedside and get crapped on by management, etc. And again I say, why are so many RN's pursuing advanced degrees? Is it really just because they hate bedside nursing?? Because maybe they should have really explored their options for RN's instead.
The thing is, though that there are SO many RN jobs out there that are similar, in that you don't have to work holidays/weekends, good benefits, don't have to do bedside and get crapped on by management, etc. And again I say, why are so many RN's pursuing advanced degrees? Is it really just because they hate bedside nursing?? Because maybe they should have really explored their options for RN's instead.
I like being a clinician. It has nothing to do with schedule or holidays. I dig assessing patients, developing treatment plans, ordering and interpreting my own labs/ diagnostic testing. I couldn't do any of that as an RN. I also make triple what I made as a nurse. That's why I went back to school. But if that doesn't appeal to you then don't do it. Seems pretty simple to me.
I am going to disagree with some of these responses. I wouldn't say purely do it for the money, but I find NPs have a larger diversity of platforms to work in. One of the most appealing choices if you no longer have to work for a large healthcare system. The pay can be much better. My hourly rate more than doubled from a weekend program, and almost tripled from my base rate as 7 yr RN (in my first job). I have heard a lot of NPs making as much or less than RNs that is a fallacy. I interviewed for a job in NC with a salary around 140k. Look at the labor of stats there is certainly a worthwhile pay increase. It isn't for everyone though, but if you want to do it. Do it, more options isn't a bad thing.
sunnyskies9
87 Posts
Oh, definitely! I love my current job, but even my last job had great benefits, mon-fri, no weekends or holidays and tons of time off. So again, I pose the question of why are so many RN's unsatisfied with being an RN and want to immediately become practitioners? Plus, in all honesty, it seems like if one wants to become a mid level, then the PA route would be the best route to choose.