Are you happier as an NP than you were as an RN?

Specialties NP

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I have seen a couple posts titled similarly to mine, have even asked the same question in the title on a different thread. But this post is meant to be a little more fine tuned and specific (scroll down to the last paragraph if you don't care to see where I am coming from with my questions).

I just got accepted into NP school, but I am scared I will still not find the happiness I am looking for... I know it is probably my specialty and my current work environment giving me these feelings of hopelessness, but I need some reassurance that I am making the right choice.

I started off working in a large, level one regional trauma center. The drive was too erroneous, so I left to work 15 minutes away from my home at a rural, critical access ER. People like to think I work at a "bandaid station." But they could not be anymore wrong. I still see all the same things I saw when I worked at the big level one trauma center. Actually, when it comes to ratio, I see even more sick people at the ER I work at now, compared to the ER I previously worked at where people using the ER as primary care completely diluted the place. Right now, my work environment is experiencing a pretty big hiccup, and I am really starting to hate coming to work (where previously, I was pretty neutral about it, not happy, but didn't dread it either). One of our other nurses has come under investigation for a sexual harassment claim. He was suspended all last week and my "little ER" was hit hard with traumas, people on the brink of death, and seemingly everything in between. It was me and an orientee who had to carry all the weight, and now I have been told this RN has flat out quit (which, I can't blame him to be honest). So it will be me riding solo a lot until they find someone to take his place. I know that anywhere I work, hiccups WILL happen, negative staffing changes are nearly inevitable, and this job will never be easy... But I can't help but feel stressed out and burnt out.

These past couple of weeks I have wondered if healthcare is even really for me. I don't want to be miserable. I want to be happy to come to work. I enjoy educating patients, I enjoy solving complicated work ups and collaborating to find a solution, and most of all, I love the reward of saving a life and seeing patients glow when I can relieve them of their anxiety, pain, and other ailments. Frankly, I am tired of the long hours, the weekends, the small hospital politics, always being blamed because I am the nurse, and the exhaustion I feel on my days off.

Am I dreaming if I think as an NP I will be able to find a Monday - Friday, 9-5 with no weekends or holidays? (I know the job market is hard right now, but I will literally move anywhere after I graduate to get a job because I want out of the craptastic state I live in) Am I being unrealistic thinking I might experience less anxiety and chaos as a FNP in lets say, a family practice clinic? Let me know your thoughts and words of advice. Thanks for reading.

RN role was easier and basically has turned into a role that is all about checking boxes and very little thinking or creativity. The NP role can be stressful as you have no one to blame and cannot pass the buck to someone else. However, I never feel like I am treated like a child working as an NP where in the RN role I would get weekly emails regarding clocking in a minute too early or our three minutes too late. I come in when I have a patient and leave when I am done. No clocks to punch and no one reminds me or scolds me for some petty BS. So, no I do not miss being an RN. I have been there and done that and have about 50 nursing week bags and cups to prove it.

Thank you for all the input everyone. It is very valuable to me, and I greatly appreciate it. I enjoy hearing everyones perspectives plus pros and cons.

Speaking from over 25 years as an RN with the last 15 years as an NP.....don't look for happiness with that kind of change. NP responsibilities are far more stressful and demanding than an RN. If you are not happy or satisfied as an RN, then stepping it up to NP would be a waste of your time and not be for the benefit of those we serve. I became an NP to be a better nurse and provide help to those in need at a different level. I work as an NP in a health clinic and hope I am making that difference that keeps most out of the ER and hospital and have lessened their risk of getting DM Type 2 or heart disease. I feel I am happier as an NP but not because my hours are better, in fact they are worse as NP hours are more than 9-5. I am happier because my time has been helping others at a level that I would not have been able to reach as an RN. So if you are looking to feel happier at what you are doing as an RN or something else, figure out why you are not happy now. Don't waste your time and energy with additional schooling until you find you answers or direction.

Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

Sounds like she clearly knew what was costing her happiness... From what she typed her satisfaction was all tied to the fact she was carrying a hefty load pretty much single handedly. Doesn't matter what the hell you are, RN/NP/CRNA/MD SuperHulk, that's going to burn you out!

I think many of us run into the same thing in this profession. Nursing like many things in life is a two ways street - there are good and bad. I've had a simliar experience where I dreaded going to work - I often think about why I chose this profession because of all the negative things I've experienced in my short "career." I've been peer reviewed 3 times and came out ahead each time - but each review was seriously damaging to my physical and mental health. But it's helped me realize that being a regular floor RN is not for me.

The thing that keeps me from giving up is that I know there are things I love about the profession, which you noted, and I'm sure most of us enjoy - patient interaction and feeling like we're making a difference in someone's life - things that expand with the NP role. Most of us I'm sure would love to do without all the staff/leadership politcal drama and being slammed on the floor feeling like we can't be everywhere we are needed. Things need to be done to the general floor atmosphere in order to stop burning people out - one simple things is to just have more staff. That alone would probaly cure a large amount of burnout (unfortunately there is such a shortage of healthcare workers). I remember days where I felt like I had enough dependable help were fabulous. On the other end, days when I was killed, taking care of a team by myself - admitting and discharging at the same time - doing all the treatments/meds myself, I would get tension headaches due to stress and can barely take care of my own needs such as eating and using the toilet. Whoever is responsible for creating such a system (I know not one person) deserves to suffer through it for the rest of their life! No amount of money is worth the cost to my helath that a bad day is on the floor/ER or wherever is responsible for.

There ARE places in nursing for you, you just have to find it - advanced education CAN help you get there and that's all an NP is. I'm pretty fixed on going the PHMNP after months of deliberation and investigation. It seems the best option!

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