new FNP, already burning out

prairienp · Sep 25, 2008

Hi all,
I am a new FNP and have been working since May in a rural primary care/urgent care clinic. I don't want to sound like a winer, but I am exhausted. Most days I see 20-25 patients back to back no breaks. Sometimes I'm really scared because I have pts who walk in to urgent care who really belong in the ER - not our clinic.The patients are mostly medicaid and medicare, welfare and unemployed or disability patients with chronic pain issues. It is all paper charting which takes up a lot of time. I have call one night a week and every other weekend for 4 days straight. I feel like I'm always working.
The clinic is owned by an FNP and his wife, the office manager. All they seem to care about is making money. They schedule us full and tight.
They have a high turnover rate, lost 6 FNPs in the last year. I thought I could handle it but I'm burning out fast. Sometimes i want to chuck it all - just get on a plane leave it all behind and go where no one knows me.
Is it like this everywhere? This is much harder than being an RN, sometimes I really miss my job in labor and delivery.
I feel like I have to stick it out for at least a year so I don't look like a job hopper and so I can get experience as an FNP on my resume. I would really appreciate some advice on how to handle this. I know talking to my employer won't help...they told the others who quit - "this is how it is, if you don't like it then leave."

If you are being reimbursed at a very high level($100,000+), and you are in the FNP role for the high reimbursement, you should stay.

bebeleche · Sep 25, 2008

I had a very similar experience in my first FNP job, but unfortunately I did not have the option to leave b/c I owed National Health Service Corps time. I HAD to put in my 2 years. My advice: get the @#%! outta there! You are being abused. That is no way to learn what you need to practice safely and you will only develop sloppy "survival" skills. There are other NP jobs out there where you can achieve a better sense of balance, practice safely and feel respected. I currently enjoy my position in college health.

Don't give up! You put a lot of time, energy and $ into your advanced degree and you deserve to be fulfilled, not battered, in your work. No future employer will fault you for leaving a job that wasn't the right fit.

That said, I also feel one of the great things about nursing as a career is there are so many job options. I see no shame in going back to work as an RN if you find that's what you love. I am actually hoping to land an L&D job in the near future- for more family time (3 twelves) not to mention the experience.

I believe you have to follow your heart, not to mention your good instincts. Whatever you decide, good luck. :specs:

lannisz · Sep 26, 2008

Thanks for your replies. prairieNP my compensation is 80,000/yr for fulltime, with no benefits. I only wish it was the 100,000+! :bluecry1:

Trauma Columnist · Sep 26, 2008

Since this is your first APN position, there is nothing wrong with going on and when asked why you left so soon, say that you realized it wasn't a good fit and needed a different opportunity.

Good luck and move on!

Take care.

emtneel · Sep 26, 2008

Thanks for your replies. prairieNP my compensation is 80,000/yr for fulltime, with no benefits. I only wish it was the 100,000+!

Oh my gosh, that is sad... i am in the south making same as you, it is an inpatient position, i only do H and short P, and i'm lucky if i see 10 pts/day some days its like 5pts.. and some days we just call the patients I get 34 days pd vaca, no call, no nights, no weekends, i work 4-10hr/shifts, and if a holiday week, that is day off, free lunch, health ins. is okay.. anyways, i'm not sure why this place pays so high and so little work, we NPs stand around for several hrs/day. AND they just hired 2 more.... The boss actually told us at a recent meeting to "look busy" and also said they were like 6 million over budget... i really don't get it..

But if it makes you feel better i have only been there 2 months and even with all the great pay and benefits I am leaving. Reasons i don't want to post right now since i am still in notice period.

I graduated in Dec. and took cert in april and finally got licensed in this state in july i think. had license from other state in Feb.

I don't know where i am going or what i am going to do.

I don't miss being a RN really, but may do a travel job till i figure out what i am going to do.

It sounds like it is not a good fit for you. I too do not want to work my guts out, but on the other hand do not like being bored EVERY day either.... We just need to find a happy medium!

There are so many NP jobs out there, that even if you took a break and did a travel RN job, you will still be able to get a NP job, esp. if you are flexible with where you live.

You can PM me if you want, i feel like i can relate since i am in a simliar situation, but i am thankful i am not in your situation!!

YOu should not have to work your guts out for that kind of pay with NO benefits???!

emtneel · Sep 26, 2008

my first job is in the inpatient hospital, and the more i realize that although i know NPs are supposed to fill that primary care need, you are expected to work your guts out and do it for minimal wage... Speciality and inpatient seem the way to go...

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Sep 26, 2008

The decision is up to you, but I would consider leaving. If you don't feel you would get any support whatsoever, then that is a bad sign unfortunately. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed in my new NP career too (have only been an NP for a month now), but I know I have back-up. Whenever I have a problem, I know I can call another NP and a physician for help, and they give it to me without any problems. Good luck.

carachel2 · Sep 26, 2008

Thanks for your replies. prairieNP my compensation is 80,000/yr for fulltime, with no benefits. I only wish it was the 100,000+!

You need to revisit your contract, lay out your concerns and then get the heck out. I think there is more shame in staying in a potentially unsafe situation than in staying. If I were your future employer and saw that you left a job after 6 months, I would highly respect you if you outlined the situation, talked about how you tried to rectify the situation and then left because specific details were not worked out.

VivaRN · Sep 26, 2008

I have known 2 new FNP's now who found themselves in a situation like yours. They left within the first 3-6 months and found jobs that were a better fit. One expressed wishing she'd left sooner instead of being "afraid to look like a failure". It seems that we are harder on ourselves than future employers are!

Life is too short to be unhappy in your job. If they've gone through 6 NP's in a year that is saying something. It's obviously not you. So sad that this an NP-run clinic doing this! But that is a separate issue... :banghead:

prairienp · Sep 26, 2008

Thanks for your replies. prairieNP my compensation is 80,000/yr for fulltime, with no benefits. I only wish it was the 100,000+!

Start looking now for a new job, your current situation will not improve.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Sep 26, 2008

i'd get out. you did not go to school to be treated like that!