NPs: If not primary care, then what?

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

I've always wondered what NPs do if they're not providing primary care for patients or doing rounds in the hospital. I've never really gotten a good answer to that.

Just wondering...never really been interested in primary care. Most of my classmates figure to go on to their NP after finishing their MSN, mostly because of the money.

Me, I hope to do research and maybe admin. I don't think an NP is necessary for that....or am I wrong?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hi Joe. NPs and other APNs work in many specialty areas too. I work in nephrology, a friend works in palliative care, another in cardiology. So...many specialities use APNs too. Especially in Chicago - I see job postings at Loyola and NW all the time.

As to you wanting to do research and admin, no you might not need an NP for that. However, you might need a PhD! Another thing to think about is supose you change your mind? You might one day want to do some clinical care. Maybe getting an MSN (NP) or MNS/MBA combo and then proceed on to the PhD for the research component?

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.
Hi Joe. NPs and other APNs work in many specialty areas too. I work in nephrology, a friend works in palliative care, another in cardiology. So...many specialities use APNs too. Especially in Chicago - I see job postings at Loyola and NW all the time.

As to you wanting to do research and admin, no you might not need an NP for that. However, you might need a PhD! Another thing to think about is supose you change your mind? You might one day want to do some clinical care. Maybe getting an MSN (NP) or MNS/MBA combo and then proceed on to the PhD for the research component?

Yes, I've met NPs at the hospital, but the ones I've met tend to fill in for doctors on rounds.

I've thought about the PhD, although that's a rather long path. It has been suggested that I might want a DNP, which is both research and clinically oriented.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Joe: Not all DNP's will be NP's. Some of those will be in education (I think) and in administration (I am sure). I think, for research, the PhD is still the route to go.

I like primary care myself, but I've known quite a few NP's in specialty areas. Cardiology is a big one.

You might try looking at different graduate programs around the country to see what they are saying about their programs, just to see what's out there. If you're not quite ready to make a decision, try to sit back a watch for a year or so. A lot of DNP programs are just getting started. You might give them a bit of time to see how they evolve.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

You might try looking at different graduate programs around the country to see what they are saying about their programs, just to see what's out there. If you're not quite ready to make a decision, try to sit back a watch for a year or so. A lot of DNP programs are just getting started. You might give them a bit of time to see how they evolve.

That's a good idea, and probably what I'll do.

I admit it's still up in the air...I don't want to do what a doctor does, but what nurses do is still fairly amorphous so finding the right path can be tricky.

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