Job Satisfaction of NPs

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Would any practicing NPs care to comment on their job satisfaction? Do you like your job? Why do/don't you? How do you think the overall job satisfaction of being an NP compares to that of an RN?

I am a new graduate and so far I dislike my job as an RN. I am one of those that became an RN with the ultimate goal of becoming an NP. I am enrolled in a FNP program for the fall, but I'm starting to wonder if I made a wrong career decision. I know that it takes awhile to feel comfortable as a new grad and to enjoy the job, but I think that it may be deeper than that. Although I did very well, I disliked nursing school and did not enjoy any of my clinical rotations. The only thing that keep me going was my dream of becoming an NP. Now that I have been accepted and will be starting school in a few months, I'm starting to wonder if this is really what I should do. To complicate matters, the university is going to pay for my education. I feel like it would be crazy to give up the opportunity to get a master's degree for free.

I've spent some time shadowing NPs and I believe that I would enjoy the work much more than what I am currently doing. I'm just curious if practicing NPs enjoy their positions much more than what they did as an RN.

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Absolutely! I hated RN school. Hated being an RN. Went to NP school anyway and am glad I did. I am very happy now. I love my job and make 30k more. I get more respect and life is just better in general. I wish I could pin point why--so much difference in job in satisfaction. It is something I have a hard time explaining to my RN friends. But--I'll try. really i think it boils down to the differences between the nursing model(which I don't like) and the medical model which I do like--I feel more like a professional. The nursing model which dictates RN practice is somewhat--like the burka. It doesn't respect independent thinking. The medical model used by NP's is liberation.

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Absolutely! I hated RN school. Hated being an RN. Went to NP school anyway and am glad I did. I am very happy now. I love my job and make 30k more. I get more respect and life is just better in general. I wish I could pin point why--so much difference in job in satisfaction. It is something I have a hard time explaining to my RN friends. But--I'll try. really i think it boils down to the differences between the nursing model(which I don't like) and the medical model which I do like--I feel more like a professional. The nursing model which dictates RN practice is somewhat--like the burka. It doesn't respect independent thinking. The medical model used by NP's is liberation.

Thanks np20020!

It's good to know that some NPs out there are happy. I was looking for some answers along the same lines. Are you an FNP or any other track grad? Also,

are you in primary care or specializing?

Thanks

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Absolutely! I hated RN school. Hated being an RN. Went to NP school anyway and am glad I did. I am very happy now. I love my job and make 30k more. I get more respect and life is just better in general. I wish I could pin point why--so much difference in job in satisfaction. It is something I have a hard time explaining to my RN friends. But--I'll try. really i think it boils down to the differences between the nursing model(which I don't like) and the medical model which I do like--I feel more like a professional. The nursing model which dictates RN practice is somewhat--like the burka. It doesn't respect independent thinking. The medical model used by NP's is liberation.

I'm glad to hear your very happy as NP. I'm curious also to what area are you practicing? I'm starting FNP school this fall and I feel your explanation is quite good and encouraging. I'm an experienced nurse worked in various setting (med-surg, telemetry, ER, home health) and Nurse Practitioner was always my ultimate goal. I have friends who tell me it isn't worth the time to go for nurse practitioner because you can make more on the floor and they don't want that responsiblity. To me, that's a matter of preference and the individual person. It takes responsiblity to care for patients but as I look at it a nurse practitioner is not just able to care for the patient but treat/diagnose them.

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I initially graduated with a women's health np certification. I worked 6 months in a gyn only clinic and then decided to go back and get the fnp(was getting bored). I have worked in occupational health, urgent care clinics and briefly in a high risk OB unit--until the hurricaine blew it away! I am back in occupational health now. We do lots of DOT physicals, wokers comp and minor complaints. We refer all patients with chronic illness. I highly recommend occupational health. Its easy, low stress and usually pays decently. I think the ER is a great place too-though I've never done that. I have friends who work in teaching hospital ER's as NP's and they are awesome in terms of their experience and ability to multi-task. Also ER's pay the best. Locally(south Ms.) around 60 an hour. I've heard that from RN's as well- that they can make more than NP's so why go back to school? Well. Personally, I like a monday thru friday job, I like to see my family daily as opposed to working nights, weekends or travelling. I challege you to find a RN who works 4 10 hours shifts during the week(with wensday off), never works weekends or holidays and can make what even a new graduate NP makes. Oh and lest I forget--is only responsible for one patient at a time, never has to put up with idiot managers who became managers because they couldn't cut it on the floor, never has to put up with hospital administrators who are business people who don't care anything at all about nursing. You know I could just go on and on! Hope this helps you with your decision!!

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I initially graduated with a women's health np certification. I worked 6 months in a gyn only clinic and then decided to go back and get the fnp(was getting bored). I have worked in occupational health, urgent care clinics and briefly in a high risk OB unit--until the hurricaine blew it away! I am back in occupational health now. We do lots of DOT physicals, wokers comp and minor complaints. We refer all patients with chronic illness. I highly recommend occupational health. Its easy, low stress and usually pays decently. I think the ER is a great place too-though I've never done that. I have friends who work in teaching hospital ER's as NP's and they are awesome in terms of their experience and ability to multi-task. Also ER's pay the best. Locally(south Ms.) around 60 an hour. I've heard that from RN's as well- that they can make more than NP's so why go back to school? Well. Personally, I like a monday thru friday job, I like to see my family daily as opposed to working nights, weekends or travelling. I challege you to find a RN who works 4 10 hours shifts during the week(with wensday off), never works weekends or holidays and can make what even a new graduate NP makes. Oh and lest I forget--is only responsible for one patient at a time, never has to put up with idiot managers who became managers because they couldn't cut it on the floor, never has to put up with hospital administrators who are business people who don't care anything at all about nursing. You know I could just go on and on! Hope this helps you with your decision!!

Hey np20020!

Thanks for your very informative response. I've posted my questions on the occupational health forum over 2 months ago. I've got a coupple of vague responses.But the forum seems to be quite dead. Thanks again.

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np20020,

I agree whole heartly with your statements of dealing with administration/management. I'm doing a travel assignment at correctional facility now near my home that thank god ends soon. The money is really nice but I couldn't imagine doing this for years to come. I would like to be able to affect the outcome of patients by my own diagnoses/treatments not continue on this road of convincing md's/pa's a better treatment regiment which they could figure out if they just listen to the complaints of the patient. But I'm just a plain nurse in their eyes who really don't know much just there. The school I'm attending in the fall as FNP and Family Mental Health NP. I was interested in the Mental health program also but is it better to get FNP then go back for mental health? It's like 4 classes more with the mental health plus residency.

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Absolutely! I hated RN school. Hated being an RN. Went to NP school anyway and am glad I did. I am very happy now. I love my job and make 30k more. I get more respect and life is just better in general. I wish I could pin point why--so much difference in job in satisfaction. It is something I have a hard time explaining to my RN friends. But--I'll try. really i think it boils down to the differences between the nursing model(which I don't like) and the medical model which I do like--I feel more like a professional. The nursing model which dictates RN practice is somewhat--like the burka. It doesn't respect independent thinking. The medical model used by NP's is liberation.

Thanks for responding! This is very helpful. I am hoping that I will be much happier as an NP. Respect and being treated like a professional is important to me and I am not getting this as a floor nurse.

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Absolutely! I hated RN school. Hated being an RN. Went to NP school anyway and am glad I did. I am very happy now. I love my job and make 30k more. I get more respect and life is just better in general. I wish I could pin point why--so much difference in job in satisfaction. It is something I have a hard time explaining to my RN friends. But--I'll try. really i think it boils down to the differences between the nursing model(which I don't like) and the medical model which I do like--I feel more like a professional. The nursing model which dictates RN practice is somewhat--like the burka. It doesn't respect independent thinking. The medical model used by NP's is liberation.

Thanks np20020! This is great info. I am interested to know if you feel that starting out as a NP would have been better for you than working as an RN first. I am currently working on my prereqs to get into nursing school, however there is a MEPN (master's entry nurse practioner) program in my area that accepts any undergraduate bachelor's degree (I have a B.S. in Zoology). You do your RN training the 1st year, work a year in your chosen specialty, and then come back the third year to finish your master's work.

I think in the long run I would like to become an NP, but I have two concerns with the MEPN route, 1) I would have to pick a specialty and right now I am equally interested in L&D and geriatrics [not generally considered complementary areas :-)]and 2) I'm afraid that I wouldn't be very effective as an NP without several years of experience as an RN.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

I have been a RN for one year now & while I enjoy it, I am currently attending an MSN program to become an acute care NP because I have always wanted more autonomy and responsibility at work. I also want to be involved in medical decision making and while I take pride in taking care of the whole patient, I also want to be able to use the medical model in my everyday practice. So I am happy I am an NP student.

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Hello, this is my first post. My job satisfaction as a NP is on another level in comparison to my previous BSN RN role. I hate to say it, but I never want to return to my former role. As a NP the level of respect is awesome! I never felt appreciated as a RN. I felt like I was a pill-pushing robot as a floor RN. The level of responsibility is different as a NP. You have to count on yourself more. There is no "Leave it for the next shift" mentality. The best thing I did was become a NP.

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Npcr.....bravo!!!!

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