Not working as an np

[LookForward]

I have a co worker who's an np, but still works as an rn at the hospital. She's not quite happy with her np experience...anyone knows of people who have an np degree, but are in jobs that don't require it? What are their reasons? Thanks

[Farawyn]

Yes.

Fear.

[Alicia777, MSN, NP]

I have a co worker who's an np, but still works as an rn at the hospital. She's not quite happy with her np experience...anyone knows of people who have an np degree, but are in jobs that don't require it? What are their reasons? Thanks

Salary is a huge reason. Many new NPs aren't willing to make the same pay and take on more responsibility or worse, take a pay cut..

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

There is a personal trainer at the local gym who is a PA. She practiced for less than 2 yrs, then quit. I also know one NP who recently graduated, passed his boards and is in the job search process now. He is working as a RN while he looks for an NP position he likes.

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

Have a friend/NP who works as a nurse informatic. I think she just had a bad experience as an NP. Never really asked why

[Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

I know a couple of NP's that waited a significant amount of time after graduating before starting their work as an NP. Typically the reasoning for waiting is lots of more seasoned RN's search for a job where they won't take a paycut. In one case, one of my cowrokers worked for 2 years as an RN after graduating and board certification as an FNP because he didn't want to take a pay cut. Eventually he landed a job with similar pay but much better hours (and no nights), and finally got his feet wet.

I think this is a fairly common thing for RN's with lots of experience at the top end of the payscale. I know I was skeptical about starting NP school simply because my starting NP pay wouldn't be that much more than my RN pay.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Some novice NPs discover they just don't like the role/responsibility or they had an experience that shook their confidence.

Others just like the bedside. Or they can't find jobs.

Unfortunately, once a year or so has passed after graduation/boards it becomes much more difficult to secure a job.

Sent from my iPhone.

[globalRN]

pretty much what posters have said.

The work can be very stressful and there is a lot of unpaid overtime for NPs( as unionized RNs you would be paid for OT)

Looking retrospectively, working in a specialty clinic is much less stress than working in acute care as a NP.

I wonder how I lasted nearly a decade in acute care...because the workload and the patient acuity has just gone up and up...while the resources(time) to do the work has gone down and down.

[carachel2]

I have heard of a few over the years. One had a horrible experience in her first job as an NP with requirements to see over 30 patients a day and absolutely zero physician support/mentorship. I know of another who is just afraid.

[TexasNP14]

A nurse I work with graduated in midwifery about a year ago. She is still working as a L&D nurse, mainly because of starting a family. Being a midwife and a new mom doesn't really go hand in hand for some.