Needing guidance

[kstollery83]

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum so thanks for letting me join. My question is this. I have been a RN for four years. I reside on the West Coast in Portland OR. I have worked in Critical care for the entire time. Recently I have been evaluating my next move because I feel a change coming on. My husband is an RN as well and brought up the idea of me returning to school to become a FNP or a Acute Care NP I am hoping to get some feedback from those that have made the transition from bedside Critical Care to NP, are you happy with your decision? Does the wage increase warrant the cost of tuition? What programs did you all choose and why? Just a few of my question. I am looking primarily at online programs. Thanks so much for your time,

KS

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Well, I would say the transition from ICU bedside RN to Critical Care NP is not as easy as I thought. You don't have the 2 to 1 or less staffing ratio where you get to watch your patient like a hawk so you rely a bit more on the accuracy of the bedside RN's judgement and assessment of issues you are being asked to deal with. Because at times during a night shift for instance, you have an entire unit to watch and you will need to learn triage skills in prioritizing which calls on issues demand immediate attention.

You are making treatment decisions you never did as a bedside RN - ICU nurses can be autonomous but these are always within established parameters that providers set-up. As a provider, you are the one setting those parameters for RN's to follow. There are procedural skills you must learn. It can take up to a year to have a comfort level but some places are willing to give up to 6 months of orientation to new grads.

Does the wage warrant the cost of tuition? it depends. I didn't attend a super expensive private school. I went to a state university where I even got funding for some of my tuition from a federal grant. I am earning more than I ever did as an RN but even if I didn't factor they pay in the equation, this role has made me much happier because of the flexibility and having to deal with a lot less political maneuverings that tend to happen at the staff nurse level.

I also love the fact that there is a higher level of involvement in collaborating with not only your attending intensivist but with consultants, pharmacists, etc to discuss treatment and care - these are discussions you may never have had as an RN at the bedside.