new nurse- NP or PA school?

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Specializes in CTICU.

Hello!!

I am a new nurse with 6 months experience on a surgical/telemetry floor. It really stinks to say it, but I do not like nursing that much. I know many of you will say its because I am new and need to figure out how to be a good nurse, but I actually am progressing very well, pretty decent at time management, and am already starting to feel very comfortable (still SO MUCH I don't know, but i'm a fast learner and handle pressure very well). I have gotten such good feedback from my managers and co-workers.

However, I am just not happy. I absolutely HATE the hours (I work nights- dont even get me started as to why I hate working nights). I do not like 12 hours shifts, working every other weekend SUCKS, and I feel like I a can't adapt to it. I understand I have to pay my dues with working nights, but working the 12 hour shifts and weekends will not change. On the days I work, I have no time to do anything besides work. Then I get bored on my off days when all my friends/family are at work. There is no routine or schedule since every week the days are scheduled differently. Also, I find that a lot of what my job entails is just tasks, tasks, tasks, tasks, tasks. Pass my 9 o'clock meds, bladder scan this guy, take this one to the bathroom, get an admission while all my other patients have their call lights on. I just thought it would be something more than that. I have thought about ICU since there is more critical thinking/less patients, but I just dont think I would be tremendously more satisfied.

I have already started thinking about going back to school since I feel so over nursing already. I either want to go to PA or NP school. The reason why I am considering PA school is because the program is more vigorous and has a more thorough curriculum. Since I dont have much nursing experience, I feel that might be the better option. However, would it be dumb of me to not go to NP school since i'm already a nurse? I just feel that with only about a year experience, I wouldn't thrive in NP school since experience is what really makes you a good NP. My gut tells me PA, but it is also way harder to get into and I am going to have to bust my behind to get things done to apply.

What are your thoughts on PA verse NP with my situation?? (I am NOT willing to wait longer to gain more experience as a nurse, 1 year, 1.5 years is max for me.) THANKS in advance!!

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Specializes in CTICU.

I would like to say in advance that I am not pursuing PA/NP just because I dont like nursing, I am genuinely very interested in that route. Doing something in derm/surgery excites me so much I can't even wait to start pursing that kind of career (hence why I am SO eager to get out of nursing)!!

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Specializes in Hospice Home Care and Inpatient.

All of the things you talked about are why loads of us experienced nurses are trying to figure out how to get out of bedside nursing. Yes the hours are terrible, families and pts are demanding. Ratios are unreasonable. But guess what- someday someone's gonna be taking care of your granny or your mom. Stick in this and help us fight for safe staffing. And by the way- the NP market is going to be oversaturated in a few years. We need bedside nurses.

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Running away from a bad situation is understandable. Part 2 involves knowing what you are running towards.

How much do you understand now about the NP/PA role, and what can you do to find out more? What is the market in your area like? How much money would training cost? Will NP or PA give you what you are seeking?

Where I work, some of the ICUs staff PAs and NPs to cover unit needs after hours. They work 12 hour nights and weekends too. The tasks are different, but everyone has tasks.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

If you work in/for a doctor's office you'll find the same thing. It'll be mostly boring with occasionally something fun. You should have seen how excited the NP got when my Mom wanted a small cyst removed. As the person above said "everyone has tasks".

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Few things to consider:

NP route - you'll get in most programs but there is potential to be viewed negatively by nursing peers for taking the short route to an NP career with little experience. You can take the courses at a slower pace and work at the same time.

PA route - you need some pre-requisite courses before you can start a program and you will most likely need to attend the program full time making it tough to work at the same time you're in school.

Depending on the specialty, some NP's and PA's also work nights, odd hours, and long hours.

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My suggestion is to go the part time NP route. By part time, I mean one class a semester, while you continue working full time. You can start with the core classes that all NP programs require. By the time you finish those, you'll have 2 more years of experience, and more insight into what you want out of your career.

PA schools do not allow employment, from what I understand. You'll be borrowing an enormous amount of money for living expenses. They are also extremely competitive.

I knew quite quickly nursing was not for me. My regret is working 13 years an an RN before becoming an NP, when that time probably could have been cut in half, if I had just started. But I was a coward.

By the time you finish your NP program, you'll have at least 4 years of experience, which is decent.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Not to be rude, but before you became a nurse, did you not do your research regarding certain schedules and the work environment? It is common knowledge that bedside RNs work 12s and weekends and most start out working nights.

I would strongly recommending doing thorough research before jumping into grad school and sinking more time and money into a profession you don't seem to enjoy.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
On 10/1/2019 at 11:40 PM, MSO4foru said:

And by the way- the NP market is going to be oversaturated in a few years. We need bedside nurses.

In some places, it already is...

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Specializes in CTICU.
2 hours ago, ThePrincessBride said:

Not to be rude, but before you became a nurse, did you not do your research regarding certain schedules and the work environment? It is common knowledge that bedside RNs work 12s and weekends and most start out working nights.

I would strongly recommending doing thorough research before jumping into grad school and sinking more time and money into a profession you don't seem to enjoy.

Yes I knew exactly what I was getting myself into it. How was I supposed to know I didn’t like it before actually doing it for 6 months? I didn’t mind it when I shadowed, I didn’t mind it when I had to do it for a couple weeks in clinical, but after having a job and doing it repetitively as a career I realized I didn’t. There’s nothing wrong with not liking it, especially considering how many people don’t and go back to school/switch jobs, etc. This is why it’s hard to keep people at the bedside. It’s not for everyone and that’s fine.

I have done more research about NP/PA school than you wanna know about, including shadowing. I know exactly what I want. Thanks for the advice though.

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Specializes in CTICU.
On 10/3/2019 at 3:01 PM, Elaine M said:

If you work in/for a doctor's office you'll find the same thing. It'll be mostly boring with occasionally something fun. You should have seen how excited the NP got when my Mom wanted a small cyst removed. As the person above said "everyone has tasks".

Totally agree everyone has tasks! I just like doing occasional tasks with a little more skill and responsibility ? But I also agree outpatient can be a little slow. I want to find something that incorporates both inpatient and outpatient if I can! I have so many options which is a good thing.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
2 hours ago, Reaz said:

Yes I knew exactly what I was getting myself into it. How was I supposed to know I didn’t like it before actually doing it for 6 months? I didn’t mind it when I shadowed, I didn’t mind it when I had to do it for a couple weeks in clinical, but after having a job and doing it repetitively as a career I realized I didn’t. There’s nothing wrong with not liking it, especially considering how many people don’t and go back to school/switch jobs, etc. This is why it’s hard to keep people at the bedside. It’s not for everyone and that’s fine.

I have done more research about NP/PA school than you wanna know about, including shadowing. I know exactly what I want. Thanks for the advice though.

Not saying there isn't anything wrong with switching your mind, but from the sounds of your first post, you seemed as though you were surprised or unaware of the schedule nurses have, which is common knowledge.

And if you know exactly what you want, then what was the point of this thread?

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