NP still working as a bedside nurse on the side...

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Hey guys! Just wondering if any NP(non-acute setting) on this board still works in an acute setting as an RN and not an NP. Maybe a per diem or part time in order to keep their acute care skills ongoing. Thanks!

Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
1 hour ago, LM NY said:

I thought I can't work in the ER with an FNP. I don't want to remain in acute care full time once I get my FNP, but would love the chance to do it once in a blue. Maybe I am thinking too much about it now, when I haven't even started the FNP program. All I know is, I will always have that itch for the hospital setting, just not full time.

More and more states and organizations require ER NP to be Acute Care NP. If you want to do acute care so much, become an acute care NP. Such NPs work throughout the hospital, not just in ERs. Honestly, you don't seem very excited or committed to being in primary care. You are going to have a boatload to learn as a new grad primary care NP and you need to focus on that. You are certainly going to have ample opportunity for "critical thinking and reasoning," etc. Those acute care RN skills are not going to mean beans in primary care. Another option is to work in Urgent Care, but most of those jobs require at least 2 years of NP experience in Acute or Primary care.

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I am committed and cannot wait to be part of the primary care of my patients. It's possible I will get over these feelings once I cross that bridge. Thank you all for your comments. Keep them coming.

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2 hours ago, FullGlass said:

More and more states and organizations require ER NP to be Acute Care NP. If you want to do acute care so much, become an acute care NP. Such NPs work throughout the hospital, not just in ERs. Honestly, you don't seem very excited or committed to being in primary care. You are going to have a boatload to learn as a new grad primary care NP and you need to focus on that. You are certainly going to have ample opportunity for "critical thinking and reasoning," etc. Those acute care RN skills are not going to mean beans in primary care. Another option is to work in Urgent Care, but most of those jobs require at least 2 years of NP experience in Acute or Primary care.

I like the sound of Urgent Care. Gives me a little of both worlds.

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Specializes in HIV.

I'm honestly not sure why you'd want to continue working as a staff RN once you are a NP. They are completely different jobs/roles and functions. Do you want to be a nurse, or a nurse practitioner? If you want to "keep" your basic RN skills, it seems like you may not be so sure about your decision to pursue the NP role.

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I’m not talking about keeping a full time position as a staff nurse. I don’t regret my decision to pursue FNP, but wonder do people ever miss certain skills they were proud of having while being a bedside nurse? Like I said before, these are probably feelings I will no longer have later on down the road.

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I don't miss anything at all about being an RN. Not even a little

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Do you want to be a NP or a RN? Who cares if you don't put in foleys, or IVs, or pass meds anymore? That's not the point of being a NP. Physicians and NPs have a more cerebral role vs the RN who has a more technical/task oriented role. Choose which you want and go all in.

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
On 3/14/2019 at 10:23 AM, The-DON said:

I remember being taught that regardless of your position you are held to your highest level of degree. Meaning you may be working as an RN but if you are an NP and something goes wrong, you are held to the NP scope.. (even though your employer has limited that scope). So it is best to avoid situations like this. Teaching is definitely a better option. With that said, I haven't ever confirmed this but I personally wouldn't want to take the risk either way.

This has been said so many times, but isn't so. You're employed as an RN so no prescriptive authority because that's not how you're employed. If you were able to be held to the NP scope as you affirm, then you'd be able to prescribe, etc as any NP would.

Under that premise, suppose she did that. She hadn't been credentialed by the hospital as an NP so technically the hospital could not be sure of her safe practice ability at the NP level, exposing all parties involved to liability if something went sideways with the "ordered intervention". So no, you are not held to the NP standard when practicing as an RN.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.
On 3/17/2019 at 1:43 AM, Neuro Guy NP said:

This has been said so many times, but isn't so. You're employed as an RN so no prescriptive authority because that's not how you're employed. If you were able to be held to the NP scope as you affirm, then you'd be able to prescribe, etc as any NP would.

Under that premise, suppose she did that. She hadn't been credentialed by the hospital as an NP so technically the hospital could not be sure of her safe practice ability at the NP level, exposing all parties involved to liability if something went sideways with the "ordered intervention". So no, you are not held to the NP standard when practicing as an RN.

You are held to the ASSESSMENT skills of an APRN. Believe me.

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On ‎3‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 2:09 PM, LM NY said:

I thought I can't work in the ER with an FNP. I don't want to remain in acute care full time once I get my FNP, but would love the chance to do it once in a blue. Maybe I am thinking too much about it now, when I haven't even started the FNP program. All I know is, I will always have that itch for the hospital setting, just not full time.

I worked with them in the ER, however it is a state by state thing. There is the option of obtaining an post grad acute care certificate as well.

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It's hard explaining what it is I am feeling exactly. In no way shape or form am I regretting my decision to pursue FNP. It's a 2-3 year program that starts in the fall. I will still be working in acute care during that time. Without a doubt in my mind, I want to be a primary care provider. It is what I want to do full time. Although I can't speak on how I will feel once I am working as a FNP, I am going to miss the "action" of an acute care setting. However, I know for sure I wouldn't want to be a full time APRN in an acute care setting. Like a previous comment mentioned, I may dabble in urgent care to satisfy that feeling. Then again, these feelings may completely disappear once I am practicing in my new role. I was just wondering if anyone had similar feelings before/during/after starting their APRN programs.

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2 hours ago, The-DON said:

I worked with them in the ER, however it is a state by state thing. There is the option of obtaining an post grad acute care certificate as well.

That may interest me once I am done with school. Thank you!

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