noyesno

I'm a maniac. It has helped me tremendously as a NP though.

The short answer is yes. Bedside is rough. Especially, the first year. It gets a little better as time goes on but not by much, in my experience. I stuck it out for 9 miserable years because I wanted to be a good NP. If I didn't want to be a NP, I would not have suffered through it and done something else. I did like the patient interactions, the learning, and my coworkers. The no lunch breaks, the constant micromanagement, and insane workload definitely took a toll on my mental and physical health. If you don't want to be a NP, get out sooner rather than later. Save yourself some misery.

Totally true. My experience also. I do feel more respected as an NP than I did as a bedside nurse. That's not saying much though.

I did 8.5 years in Med/Surg and it was horrible. I learned a lot and knew I wanted to be a NP so I kept at it despite the tachycardia from anxiety, sleepless nights before shifts, sleepless nights after shifts, no lunch breaks, physical demands, short staffing, hostile work environment, etc. Needless to say, it took a toll on my physical and mental health. 10 months ago, I started working as a NP and I do have to say all the time I spent in Med/Surg hell has benefited me in my current role. I'm good with patients. I know how to problem solve. I'm resourceful. I know a lot of doctors (helpful for referrals). I'm familiar with most treatments, procedures, diagnostic tests, and surgeries. I know how to deescalate angry patients. Would I do it again? I'm not sure. It took a lot out of me. I should probably be in therapy. Wish there was an easier way to get to where I wanted to be. I would have taken it.

I'm a new FNP. I did not feel ready when I secured my first NP job (family practice) and I still don't (10 months in). I just do the best I can to look everything up and learn as I go. I work with a rather challenging population who cannot get into specialists easily (state insurance) so I have to almost serve as a stand in specialist for so many conditions until they can see someone more qualified. Get an UptoDate subscription. I've logged 335 hours on the app, haha. I also spend hours listening to primary care/medicine podcasts. Some of my favorites: Cardio Nerds, JAMA Clinical Reviews, Conversations with Dr. Bauchner, The Curb Siders, Real Life Pharmacology, Primary Care Update, Anals on Call, The Primary Care Podcast, AFP, medgeeks, Physician Assistant Exam Review. I also subscribe to Medmastery, an online review for doctors. It is pretty helpful. I think becoming a FNP is worth it. Higher level of respect. Not as stressful at hospital nursing. The pay is better. Higher level of responsibility but I think that is what makes it rewarding. I wouldn't worry about listening to all those apps and studying UptoDate right now because you are probably so busy with work and school. When you start working, learn as you go.

This happened at my hospital when we were applying for magnet. They sent the more vocal peeps to mandatory counseling to help improve their "attitudes". I really wasn't a vocal one but I got sent. The complaint that got me was explaining to my charge nurse and unit secretary that I was just threatened by a patient's family member on the phone. The family member was angry because I wouldn't give information over the phone without a HIPAA password. She said she was going to come down to the hospital and "straighten me out". I told the charge nurse and unit secretary about it because I wanted them to be aware that there was a potentially violent person coming to the hospital to harm me. Ask them to have security round on our floor. I had this conversation behind the nurses' station and was not talking loudly. A case manager overheard the conversation and told on me to my manager.

Facilities that are "with the times" should be using lift equipment and other technology to prevent employee injury (beds that help turn patients, air sliding devices). Nobody should be manually lifting people. Preexisting back issues or not. I do NOT think nursing is contraindicated for you. Some options that are less physically demanding that inpatient nursing: school nursing, office nursing, nursing informatics, nurse educator, nurse manager, working for an insurance company, etc. My current role as a family nurse practitioner is not physically demanding AT ALL. I put in 9 years on a surgical/trauma unit to get where I am at though. If you want to go the APRN route, I highly recommend inpatient experience.

I'm a newish NP. Started my first job in October 2019. I work in family practice. Better pay and better quality of life than hospital RN (did that for 9 years). No regrets here.

YOU ARE NOT A COWARD. Drop the guilt. I'd do the same thing. You are high risk.

That's exactly what happened! I know, it killed me. The doctor I work for is literally the sweetest individual I have ever met. She just let it ride.

I'm a new FNP and worked 9 years in med/surg as a nurse before becoming a NP. My bedside experience is proving to be so helpful as I transition into the FNP role. There is a NP student at the office in which I work. She has 1 year of nursing experience at a nursing home and now works as a rehab liaison. She asked the doctor I work with how to give an IM injection. She also has UpToDate access and rattled off information to the doctor I work with in an attempt to educate said doctor. This bothers me on so many levels.

Did 9 years (at the bedside). Left me with physical illnesses and emotional problems (burnout, anxiety). It's a sad state of affairs.

So happy to hear from others who are happy too. Yay for good vibes. ❤️

They offered me benefits but I'm on my husband's plan. This is a private practice. I knew these doctors from working at the hospital for 8.5 years. That helped me a lot. They basically created this job for me. Put in the hard work, make the connections. It REALLY pays off.

Just wanted to say: I am very happy I went for it. I just started my first NP job a few weeks ago and I can confidently say: it was 100% worth all the blood, sweat, and tears. I did land a sweet gig with two of the most wonderful doctors so that helps a lot. I did work 8.5 years in med/surg and while it probably led me to be kind of depressed and hate my life (because it sucked), I see smooth sailing, in my future, because it made me well-seasoned and taught me so much. It also allowed me to get this job and many job offers before graduation. Not bragging just want to encourage people to put in the hard work because it does pay off.

I've decided to just work part-time because of this. I work Mondays: 12-4 Tuesdays: 10-6 Thursdays: 10-6 Make about the same as I did as a full-time hospital RN. Family Practice FNP.

Sounds very similar to my experience with "go live". I had 6 patients on the first day, had to give blood, discharge a few patients, etc. My employer contracted some "superusers" from a company that was familiar with the new EMR but not from the EMR company itself. They were not nurses and did not know how to answer the majority of my questions. What the heck. Ugh.

Wow, I'm glad to hear it's done differently elsewhere. Thanks for your replies, everyone. Makes me feel less crazy for being outraged.

When your hospital rolled out a new electronic medical record (EMR), did they overstaff (or at least adequately staff) to help with the transition? I recently had the pleasure of working short-staffed during the first few days of a new EMR roll out. It was beyond dangerous: critical orders were missed and not one staff nurse received a lunch break. Just curious how other hospitals handle it. There has got to be a better, more seamless, way.

IMO: having bedside experience is crucial to being a good NP. I have worked 8+ years in the hospital and will be starting my first NP job in a few weeks. I cannot imagine launching my career as a NP without that bedside foundation. However: you gotta go what cha gotta do. I get it. Try to find a part-time nursing gig. Bedside or in an office.

Thanks so much for sharing! I've been hanging out with the Leik book. Will be taking the exam soon. Just waiting on my transcripts. Congrats!!!!

I'm graduating from a FNP program in 10 weeks. I don't really have any advice but just wanted to say, I'm feeling much of what you're feeling. Hugs.

So sorry you're going through this. I've been there and its horrible. Anxiety to the max. They extended my orientation to 20 weeks when I was a new grad because I struggled with time management. I went on to work 8 years at the bedside, often as a charge nurse, and now I'm almost done with my FNP program. Doesn't sound like a very supportive work environment and, as a new grad, the need for support extends beyond the orientation period. My only advise: You might be better off somewhere else. This is not ideal as you just started this job. So, put in your time and then get out. Don't take their criticism too personally. It can destroy your spirit. Try to learn from it. The delivery might suck but the feedback might be good.

My coworker gave herself a liter bolus bc she came to work hungover. She didn't get fired but she didn't tell people about it. Sketchy AF. Why did you start an IV on yourself? I've felt nervous flushing my eyes out with saline flushes when my contacts got dry. Couldn't see well. Wonder if that's fireable, as well? Hmmmm...

Nursing has taught me how to problem solve like a mofo. I've become extremely resourceful and can basically tackle any issue thrown my way. I've been a nurse for 6.5 years. I have a BS in Nutrition/Dietetics and a BSN in Nursing. I have 1.5 years left in my MSN for Family Nurse Practitioner. I work on a surgical/trauma unit.