As a NP do you miss bedside care?

Specialties NP

Published

Hello Everyone,

I have two questions for anyone who would like to answer:

(1) If you were a bedside nurse who loved bedside care before you became a nurse practitioner, how much do you miss bedside care now? How do you satisfy your need to scratch your "bedside care" itch... or, during NP school did you somehow loose your "bedside care" itch?

(2) Are neonatal nurse practitioners "allowed" to take positions (like per-deim or part-time at a hospital other than the one they work as a NNP) as bedside nurses? Does being a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) somehow legally make it impossible for you to perform as a bedside nurse anymore?

I'm seriously contemplating returning to school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. I must admit that over the past 8 years I've observed our Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNP's) and occasionally, secretly, tried to imagine myself in such a role. Recently two of our NNPs have approached me and encouraged me to continue my education. I am in awe of the work they do and wonder what it is they see in me which has caused them to approach me with this idea...

One of my main concerns is the fact that I love bedside nursing care of these tiny, sick babies. I receive incredible satisfaction doing my absolute best to care for them and also love the interaction with the families. I wonder if I could be as happy as a NNP as I am a bedside nurse... I realize that as a NNP I would have the ability to affect the care of the little ones to some extent which is a great benefit. One of our NNPs says she gets her "cuddle time" in with one-on-one care while doing transports.

Any input you have will be very much appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!

Specializes in Level II & III NICU, Mother-Baby Unit.

Hi Zias! I'm glad to hear all the good things going on in your life and that the part-time plan is working for you. I also would like to go the part-time route. It sounds like you have a good plan which you will be able to stick with easily. I'm soooo happy for you! Thanks for your post!!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

I work in an ER in Phoenix, AZ and I know of at least two NP's working as RN's. One does PRN work as an NP, and the other doesn't work as an NP at all. When I worked in another state, the hospital employed bedside RN's who were trained and had NP licensure.

I don't see it as a problem. I think that it only is a problem when one goes to NP school and is dissappointed with the role due to lack of researching it. I've heard that many didn't like to work in a clinic (so they remained as RN's), or they didn't like the role that an NP played in the ER (they wanted to stay in the trauma realm, and many of our NP's see minor cases - sutures, pharm refills, etc.)

Good luck with your decision!!

CrazyPremed

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

CrazyPremed - I agree with you. My background is 10 years in a level one trauma center where I was the expert - I precepted, was charge nurse, on many committees. Now...I'm back at the novice stage (and at 47, that ain't easy - lol). I too would love to be in the ER. However, in my areas mid-level providers aren't in the ERs. I still think that eventually I will like my new job. However, it is much different than the ER.

It is sometimes hard to get out of our comfort zone.

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