Np

[JonB04]

Where is the section for nurse practitioners. If anyone on this site is an NP can you provide any info about your jobs. What you like about i,t what you do and is it rewarding. Thank you in advanced.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Hello,

We moved your thread to the NP forum. Go to "Specialty", found above and click on "Advanced Practice Nursing". You will see the Nurse Practitioner forum when that loads.

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

What would you like to know?

[JonB04]

Your experiences, how you became an NP is it rewarding. can you do almost the same things a doctor can do. I know the salary is less but is it a noticable difference.

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I find being a NP very rewarding, and have not at all regretted my decision. I started my program after being a RN for 8 years (some cardiac/mostly ED experience) and chose to attend grad. school part-time; hence, it took me 4 1/2 years to complete my program. I worked per diem while attending school, and I also had a 6 mos old and 2 year old when I first started grad. school.

When you mean the salary is less, do you mean compared to a doctor or RN?

A lot of what I do is similar to what a doctor does at my facility - I perform H&Ps, order labs, tests, EKGs, etc. and interpret them; I am able to prescribe meds if need be. I also order consults for certain types of clearances pre-anesthesia (cardiac, pulmonary if warranted). If a doctor was to be hired in my dept., we would be doing the same exact thing.

Hope this helps....

[JonB04]

Thats good to hear. And i meant salary compared to a doctor, i do know the work is similar. I just wanted to know the difference in salary if you wouldnt mind sharing

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

The salary difference can vary greatly. I work in nephrology and so our physicians are quite specialized - I would guess they make upwards of $200-300 whereas I as a mid-level make less than $100. I think you need to also consider that the part of the country that you live in makes a difference too.