NP but decided not to practice

[celle507]

I am wondering if anyone here has finished NP school but decided not to practice as an NP...

I have just finished an FNP program at a top-rated school. During the FNP program, I just felt like I did not love what I was doing and always felt like I didn't know enough. While my classmates seemed so confident, I always felt uneasy and anxious.

I have been on multiple interviews now (women's health, primary care offices, specialty clinics i.e. pain, dialysis) and I can't imagine myself working on my own and seeing my own patients. I know that there is some on the job training involved but the clinics all seem to expect their NPs (even new grad ones) to know what they are doing.

I have also interviewed for an RN position and have been offered the job - it's a Clinic RN Case Manager position which is what I was doing previous to NP school. I know I can do it and I would feel comfortable doing it... I want to take it but I also feel like such a failure accepting the RN job!

has anyone else completed the NP program and decided not to practice voluntarily (not because they couldn't find a job)?

Thanks for any insight, experiences anyone can share

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yep I'm talking about hospital/facility credentialing. I wasn't hired until I had my license in hand - no temp APN licenses in IL.

Hospital credentialing takes forever especially if you've been a nurse awhile and in several states - lots of paperwork and then the mid-level credentialing committees only meet once a month some places and once a quarter in the smaller hospitals which means more waiting time.

I was hired as an APN and rec'd temp credentials at the hospitals provided I was accompanied by a fully credentialed midlevel from our practice - I could not see pts on my own, could not give orders or do anything on my own.

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

Most places are not strict. I've had temp privileges many, many times and could function as I did with regular credentials.

I guess it depends on how badly they need you. LO

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yep, I'm pretty useless (said tongue in cheek).

[zenman]

I haven't graduated yet but I will in August. I also am having those feelings of uncertainty. I have days when I really question whether NP school was the right decision for me. I have been an ICU nurse for 10 years and loved it for the most part but I just feel scared to death the majority of the time that I am in clinicals.

I have told myself that I need to embrace the discomfort and anxiety that I am faced with in clinicals. I know that I can't grow without these experiences. And to be honest, I do have good days. I am just constantly worried about what I won't know. I think you should pursue an NP position and at least see how it works out for you. I wish you the best of luck! Keep us updated on what you decide.

It's a continual learning experience and you'll never learn everything as each patient is different. I can give prozac to one person and it changes their life for the better and it may make another want to kill themselves. And then you learn there's a condition called "burning tongue syndrome!" And does my patient have it or it a side effect of meds? After awhile it's more fun and interesting than anxiety-provoking.

[DZaucha]

This is a good reason why I'm leaning towards a PA program, I just feel like they receive more clinical exposure than NPs during school.

[CCRNDiva, BSN, RN]

Don't get me wrong, I agree that NP programs should focus more on clinical (patho., pharmacology etc.) knowledge. I must point out, however, that I have had hospitalists (MDs mind you) who have expressed nervousness and anxiety during and after codes. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I'm glad you were here because you knew what to do" after a code or rapid response call. I've had residents and hospitalists respond "I don't know" when I called them. I'm not trying to brag or anything like that. I'm trying to make the point that there is a learning curve for all healthcare professionals. NPs are not the only ones who face this.

To the OP: I think you should try to find a supportive group to work with or even apply for a fellowship to receive more training. There aren't a lot of fellowship programs for NPs but they do exist. You've worked so hard, don't give up now. Good luck to you!!

[bsnanat2]

to the op: i think you should try to find a supportive group to work with or even apply for a fellowship to receive more training. there aren't a lot of fellowship programs for nps but they do exist. you've worked so hard, don't give up now. good luck to you!!

great suggestion! and if you can't find one, create your own! know a physician or np you admire/respect? approach them. whether it's a hospitalist system or private practice, suggest that you be set up as a trial run for a fellowship program for np's and pa's. a potential employer may be glad to have you learn from them for a while before either of you commit to a permanent arrangement. most physicians and np's are really happy to work with someone who wants to learn from them.

[t2krookie]

Bologna with a capital B!!!! Maybe the $$$ online programs with video lecture, streaming where you can ask questions, but many or better yet most online programs are "read, write, submit"!! My two best friends went to med school my wife is in NP school no and I mean no comparison at all.

I'll have to get my wife to chime in.........she dreams of med school or even PA school this nursing theory is driving her freaking nuts. Where are the clinical hours and sciences to actually understand the disease??

Ahh, so basically you yourself have no formal training and are comparing the hearsay of your MD parental figures and your spouses evaluation of her NP education? Please spend more time on things you actualy know about and less time spreading your opinions on things you know not of from first hand experience. Why the heck are you commenting here for anyways? I don't get it.

[Jasil]

Yep, ya'll all exactly right!! NP online is just as good as PA school hell even med school with all those years of experience. My two best buds being MD's now and watching the grueling hours of study, time, and sacrifice is meaningless. My wife going through ADN, BSN, and now MSN and watching her every night since the beginning measns nothing either.

Go read some blogs by RN's and NP's who have gone to Med School there are even a few who have gone to PA school and listen to what they have to say.

My gripe is the amount of online schools that are popping up all over some direct entry with no RN experience, the lack of clinical hours, and the ease of entry to many programs.

[zenman]

Yep, ya'll all exactly right!! NP online is just as good as PA school hell even med school with all those years of experience. My two best buds being MD's now and watching the grueling hours of study, time, and sacrifice is meaningless. My wife going through ADN, BSN, and now MSN and watching her every night since the beginning measns nothing either.

Go read some blogs by RN's and NP's who have gone to Med School there are even a few who have gone to PA school and listen to what they have to say.

My gripe is the amount of online schools that are popping up all over some direct entry with no RN experience, the lack of clinical hours, and the ease of entry to many programs.

I can understand your concern about direct entry programs, lack of clinical hours, etc. However, ease of entry doesn't bother me. I barely passed GRE yet made only one B in graduate school. I personally wouldn't care if they let anyone who showed up into schools and see how they do.

We feel for your buds and your wife, and no, it's not meaningless. It's their choice. Frankly, I wouldn't go to med school since the 80's due to all the healthcare changes. We've read all the blogs. We also work alongside physicians who appreciate what we do. I had a daughter of a psychiatrist shadow me while trying to decide whether to become a psychologist or something else. Her father and another psychiatrist told her to go to psych NP school for the best all around deal.

I don't know every little nuance or molecular underpinning of every drug I give and frankly don't want to. I only have so many drugs I'm responsible for, and yes, I'll know that the Han Chinese need to have genetic testing if I plan on giving them Carbamazepine for their Bipolar Disorder. Why would I want to be a scientist? I spend a lot of time studying with shamans in Peru in order to help people whom science can't help, lol!

[NP_student]

Jasil, those are valid gripes. However, you can't judge the entire profession from what your wife is experiencing in her current program. Additionally, her education is not going to stop after graduation from this particular school. She will always do continuing education, and learn much on the job.

I'm in NP school & have attended several classes w/ MDs. My program includes bacteriology, immunology, virology, physiology, several courses of pharmacology, statistics, epidemiology, tropical medicine, etc... I am even able to take a gross anatomy class w/ the med students. Also, admission into my program was very competitive.

[Jasil]

That's my point NP Student.......you sound like you are going to a good school as did Zenman.

Now if you search around you'll see the horror stories of the opposite being true that is my gripe. You don't really know what you're getting so to speak. That is why I hope the model changes and it will only benefit the student and the patient.

I apologize if it sounded like I was "bashing" NP's that is not the case. I just think the system needs a overall in a big way.....with these fly by night questionble programs need to be scutinized.