Life of a nurse practioner in the er

Vanillanut, DNP, RN, APRN · Apr 18, 2011

I am not an NP (I am an RN/BSN) I work in the ED along side an NP. She is highly respected by the doctors and participates in client care as a doctor would (part of the decision making team).

Mind you, she is older, wise, pleasant, and super smart. I doubt a younger, new grad NP would obtain the same amount of respect. I suspect in other places NP's might not be as well received either, but that has not been my experience working with her.

Hoover16 · Apr 18, 2011

Thanks. Good luck to u and here.

Hoover16 · Apr 18, 2011

Sorry her. iPod spell checker.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

I know that anyone who works in the er doesn't have a average day (so I have read) but what is a typical day as a nurse practioner I the er? How much do the other doctors respect you? Is the work eviromonet generally a good one? I would prefer if only NPs answer this question, but if non NPs have useful insight then please feel free.

lots of minor ortho ... mostly fast track stuff. Got to love ortho. I don't love ortho and I wold be bored doing ortho ...ortho...ortho

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

op: non-np here. i was going to get my np in critical care to work in an er but after a few years of work experience as a rn i changed my mind (thank god for work experience). in addition to the comments from the other posters, i would also add that some doctors will treat you like a second class citizen while hospital administrators may treat you like a useless pound of flesh. this is of course assuming you get a job in an er or critical care setting. most ers hire pas over nps. in fact, i have yet to meet an np in an er setting.

on the other hand, i once met a np in an icu setting, but she was quickly removed from the environment by hospital administration because (i kid you not) they did not feel nps were needed in any environment outside of med surg when working with a doctor. the nps working with doctors to care for patients in med surg were only allowed to review documents for the doctors. he/she was not allow to see and assess the patients because the hospital administrators removed just about every aspect of an np’s scope of practice. therefore, the local doctors decided to save time and leave the nps in his/her offices and clinics.

i think you should check with local market when thinking about working in a hospital setting. if you find a job in an er, i suspect your job will be similar to that of a pa. you will only be allowed to work in the “fast track” setting with stubbed toes, colds, and otho problems that do not require moderate sedation and critical or trauma care to correct. on a positive note, the docs, rns, and techs who work with you for the most part will respect you once you have experience; prior to that it may be an up-hill battle. gl!

bonestAx · Apr 18, 2011

I work with a few NP's in my ER. From what I can tell they get their due respect from other ER Doc's and all the ER staff.

However, they get a lot of disrespect from patients. I believe this is because most patients do not know what their knowledge level is. But they get a lot of " I don't want to see you I want a real doctor."

Also, sometimes the admitting doctors can be disrespectful to the NP's but they are the same way with the ER doc's as well.

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 18, 2011

I work in the ER alongside NP's. Every shift we always have 2 MD's and 1 NP at least, more when it's busier. NP's are well respected just as the MD's. Thank God I work in a large ER that is like one big family. Everyone is talked to on the same level. No "I have this degree and you are second-class mess" We don't hire PA's in the ER, just NP's.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 18, 2011

I think it is very regional and you should check your local area. Where I live, FNPs work independently in the ED, and see everyone who walks through the door. They are respected by physicians and administrators, and patients don't seem to know or care, so long as they get good care. They don't get paid squat though, so it is a trade off. We don't have PAs, except for their student rotations. I live close to the state line, and in the state "next door," lol, one must be dual certified as ACNP and FNP to work in an ED. So check out your state BON practice acts and local trends. Good luck.