NP...doing the right thing?

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm a nurse and I don't think you are nurse bashing! I'm happy that you admit that you are not "bedside nurse" material! I much rather work with someone who is in it for the right reason, and the patient will appreciate it to! It is not for everyone. I say go for your dream. Don't look back, just move forward. As a FNP you will be able to do what you want to do. That is if you work with a doc that gives you autonomy (or work where zenman does). I'm currently in a FNP program and I would respect you as a fellow classmate with 50 years of bedside nursing or 0 years of bedside nursing (as long as you know your stuff), in other words I welcome you with open arms.... just do it! :)

I totally welcome you! I am much like you as well. I had a business degree and worked as an account manager for 15 years for corporate. I did an accelerated BSN. I worked 2 years on a busy med surg floor. HOWEVER, I wanted to work on the floor to get my feet wet. It was not necessarily needed but helped me with my comfort level. I am now in an adult NP program and am almost finished. I am an older student but that is fine. I have never had any problem being accepted in healthcare. I know Vanderbilt has an excellent direct entry program. You will also spend some time on the floors as part of these programs. In summary, you should be fine!

I appreciate the feedback from both of you. If all goes well I would be working as an RN for a year after nclex while doing post bac courses toward the MSN. Add working while completing my masters work and I will have racked up 2-3 years experience as an RN. I appreciate your understanding of my honesty! I welcome any feedback. Thanks!

I am an RN, will be (hopefully) starting my FNP program this fall. The thing with FNPs, is their practice "rules" are different in every state. Many states have complete independence where they need no collaborating MD (basically an MD who has to look and sign off on x amt of charts every x amt of months and you have an agreement as to what you do, what kinds of meds you prescribe, etc and this all varies by state). PAs always work with an MD... so if you want the OPTION of possibly being more independent, or opening your own clinic or what not, then FNP is for you. What state do you live in? Different states allow NPs to prescribe different schedules of drugs and some do not have any limitations... States also differ as far as how independent they let their NPs be. I have heard that Texas is pretty strict, as well as FL. I really wish they would standardize this more so its not so difficult differentiating what you can and can not do based on state, etc. PA is pretty standard throughout. What a PA does in California is what a PA does in NY... with NP, that may not be the case, and is probably not the case.

On the flip side, if you think you might ever want to go back to med school, PA will be better for you because of the specific classes... they will transfer better. PAs also, from the research I have done, tend to make slightly more, but I think that is also because there are more men in that field and men tend to make more for the same job.... (Doesn't seem fair, but they statistically do... )

I think either option is a great option, I think its just a matter of preference for you. Also, with the FNP, you have the option of working as a nurse before you start the master's work, as opposed to PA where you really can't work as anything medical until you're finished. (Not sure what you do now or anything, whether you would be working during your programs, etc... just putting that out there in case you were not planning on working) At least with the BSN, you can start working and being exposed to the clinical area while you pursue the masters.

Lastly (then I will shut up), I love to teach, so part of the reason I am doing this is because I would really like to teach nursing someday.

I understand the stigma with males and nursing, but really, we love our male nurses! And although I think there will always be kind of that stigma with some people, males are respected as nurses and I really don't think you have anything to worry about if it's being a "nurse" that bothers you. I have an EMT friend that wants to go to PA school because, although he respects nurses, he doesn't want to be one... Even though it would be less schooling and less debt to go RN then MSN, he just can not get past the fact that he would be a "nurse". If you can get past that, you will be joining a great profession!

Thanks so much NAURN for your insight. Due to so many factors a FNP makes much more logical sense than a PA at this moment (location, costs, growing family, etc.). Not really sure how I will feel as a nurse until I get in there...and then take the next step toward the NP. Again, I appreciate the information. I know I will learn a tremendous amount. I guess it's equivalent to wedding night jitters :)

A month away from such a big journey towards such a different career (from what I am currently in).

Good luck in whatever you choose. Please let us know what your final decision was and how its going!

Go to med school!! If your GPA's are that good 1 year of pre-reqs and a solid MCAT and you can get in. Old premeds .com and studentdoctor.net nontraditional forum will enlighten you.

My neighber 3 houses down is 37 and is in his 2nd year he couldn't be happier!!

Count me as one of those who doesn't understand why the charge nurse you were following suggested you go NP? It really makes no sense for someone who has no desire to be an RN and who is older. It is the long way around for sure AND is going to be way more expensive than PA school. I would imagine with PA school you are going to need about a year of pre-reqs such as chemistry, A&P, etc. but then PA school will be a quick 2 years (full-time of course) for you. Nursing school is going to seem like a LOT of BS to you as you float along being forced to learn care plans and nursing theory .

If you don't want to be an RN and you think you have a reasonable chance of getting into a PA school, I would somehow hold off on the nursing school and focus your efforts towards PA.

You say you don't really care for a huge amount of autonomy, but you do want some AND you are one who recognizes your limits. I think you will do fine in either role.