Do you ever feel like you 'settled' for being an APNP instead of an MD?

Specialties NP

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Hello,

This is my first post, so please be patient with me.

When I first started college, I was determined on becoming a physician. However, I didn't do so well my first year of college, so I knew I wouldn't make a competitive medical school applicant. Fast forward 4 years later. I am currently in Nursing school, set to graduate next year. I have near perfect grades, and have a CNA job at a hospital. My dream nursing job is to become an ACNP, specifically Trauma Surgery.

My question for any nurse practitioners out there: Do you ever feel like you 'settled' for becoming an APNP instead of becoming an MD? Do you feel like the physicians respect you? Do you have and maintain your autonomy?

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm with Jules - I work on a medical model. I'm not the hand-holding type either.

Dude my ANP program is less than $30,000 for the entire thing, including books and fees! Im not going to have any debt when I get out.....paying as I go.

where do you go for NP school? What specialty please? is it online or hybrid?

Just out of curiosity, what is your specialty?

I don't feel like I've settled for this job--and this life--at all. My journey to becoming an APRN has been challenging, rewarding, and allowed me to feel fulfilled. I hope doctors with MDs feel the same way--and I feel positive that some do feel that way. I feel autonomous and respected. Becoming an APRN has allowed me balance in my 20's, and a life and family that I would not trade for anything. I think feeling like I've "settled" would depend on what I want from life--the "APRN life" is one that I truly enjoy, even though there are hardships and challenges sometimes.

My best advice would be this--if you feel like becoming an APRN is "settling" and you do not feel fulfilled by this role, then would becoming an MD fulfill you in the ways that becoming an APRN would not? What are you truly looking for in a career and job?

It's hard not to compare ourselves to others--it's only human. Do you crave the "status" or additional knowledge base and additional training of an MD vs. that of an APRN? Do you fear that you will not be "good enough" if you're an APRN vs. an MD? Those are the questions that can drive your decision towards MD vs. APRN. But remember to prioritize what's important--making a difference, family, status, finances...whatever your top priorities are should drive your decision. I wish you the best in your journey!

Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
My question for any nurse practitioners out there: Do you ever feel like you 'settled' for becoming an APNP instead of becoming an MD? Do you feel like the physicians respect you? Do you have and maintain your autonomy?

In my college years, yes I would have said I settled for nursing because it's a shorter path to graduation and practice for the fraction of the cost of medical school. Looking back after all these years, I feel like I didn't settle, rather, I made a good career decision for myself given the circumstances I had at the time.

I work with intensivists in the ICU as an ACNP. In this multidisciplinary collaborative environment, yes the physicians have the years of training - they are double and triple boarded some with multiple residencies and fellowships to speak of. But they also have longer hours being in the ICU 7 days a week typically spending an average of 8-10 hours on Mondays through Fridays. I on the other hand, had 6 years of education and only work three 12-hr shifts a week with anything additional paid as overtime.

After being in the ICU for over 10 years, I know I can run the show on my own for the most part but would likely require some hand holding with complicated scenarios...maybe a difficult intubation, maybe some input on an ARDS patient who hasn't improved when all conventional therapies have been exhausted, or a mysterious patient presentation that is hard to figure out. That's why we have a team and even the physicians consult one another in these instances.

I feel that my value as an NP in the team is appreciated and it may not be everyday that I hear it but our physicians go out of their way to express their thanks when we finished a really busy shift and our presence made a difference in making things go smoother. Overall, I would not have changed a thing.

I can't speak for NPs. I know I don't regret choosing the CRNA path. I've been passionate about the anesthesia specialty since I was in nursing school and first was exposed to it. There are two legitimate paths to it, either CRNA or MD with anesthesia residency. I investigated the MD route in undergrad and realized I didn't want to do another 4 years of going through the whole body systems and general study when I just did that general body systems learning for 2.5 years in nursing school. While I'm sure it would be more in depth knowledge it would still be years more of a general type education, which I wan't intersted in when I knew what specialty I wanted to learn.

So I spent 4 years practicing in the ICU and building up my resume, getting certifications, interviews and jumping through all the other hoops to be competetive for CRNA programs. Now that all the programs are tranistioning to doctorate it's a minimum of 3 to 3.5 years of rigorous 70-80 hour weeks of lecture, labs, study halls, clinical rotations etc. I'm in the middle of the program now and have to say I wouldn't have chosen any other path. I found out the hard way that there is much more coursework in CRNA school than just anesthesia topics, you have biochem, organic chem, physics, multiple pharmacologies, human dissection, advanced pathophysiology, advanced statistics etc. Although, I suppose you want your anesthetist to be well rounded in many topics, at least it's not 4 years of having to sit through OB, peds, psych, geriatric, community health, oncology lectures again.

As for actual practice, CRNAs are trained and licenced to do everything independently that an anesthesiologist would do in the world of anesthesia. More than half the states have complete independent practice for CRNAs not connected to any physician. The other percentage that hasn't transitioned yet say they want a physician around but it doesn't need to be an anesthesiologist, many CRNAs count the surgeon in the room as their "physician present" and still practice independent anesthesia in those states.

As for pay, it's no secret that CRNAs are reimbursed very well, no regrets in that regard at all. You could argue that anesthesiologists still make more money but I think you'll find as healthcare moves to a more affordable model insurances will stop offering to pay an anesthesiologist double for a service research has shown CRNAs can do just as well for less cost.

This is all just my very humble opinion.

Specializes in CCU, MICU, and GMF Liver.

With a name like BenD over how can we respect you? LOL

There isnt anything wrong with being an NP or other APRN. As long as one always knows they do not, will not, should not, never will have the same authority as a physician then it is not settling, it is a separate career path. The NPs i have met that know their limitations are the best, as goes for all providers.

The current political nursing mantra is a money gab for more power. There are certain groups of nurses that seem to have it out for physicians, something not seen to this significance in other health profession fields, and it does nobody any good.

Only nursing would come up with their own set of NANDA diagnoses and bend/twist words into formalities that really do not mean anything or exist except to thicken textbooks by a few more inches.

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
There isnt anything wrong with being an NP or other APRN. As long as one always knows they do not, will not, should not, never will have the same authority as a physician then it is not settling, it is a separate career path. The NPs i have met that know their limitations are the best, as goes for all providers.

The current political nursing mantra is a money gab for more power. There are certain groups of nurses that seem to have it out for physicians, something not seen to this significance in other health profession fields, and it does nobody any good.

Only nursing would come up with their own set of NANDA diagnoses and bend/twist words into formalities that really do not mean anything or exist except to thicken textbooks by a few more inches.

So as long as we don't get uppity and know our place we're okay? Wow. I think you must be very insecure in your role as whatever you are to be making statements like this.

It's been years since a regular FT employed NP has been able to spend 30 min with me. How does a NP assess and treat the whole patient in 15 min?

I love my long time NP, but she doesn't have super powers.

You are correct BCgrad, nurses do not replace physicians. Nor should they think of themselves as equal. I know this goes against all of the nursing mantra but until they go through the same rigors physicians do then it will not happen.

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
You are correct BCgrad, nurses do not replace physicians. Nor should they think of themselves as equal. I know this goes against all of the nursing mantra but until they go through the same rigors physicians do then it will not happen.

Please show me where I said nurses should replace physicians. I was commenting on your attitude and condescending manner. Are you a physician? Have you had a problematic encounter with an NP that caused you to have this attitude?

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