smspicer

I agree with the other replies that it is hard to compare in many respects. I became an adult NP (MSN) about 6 years after becoming a BSN/ RN. I think all the things you mentioned are true since I have become a NP. I feel like I have gained more respect, and freedom. I work in hospice and have a flexible schedule, though. Sometimes in the office setting this may not be true. The demands being tedious vary as it does as a BSN, depending on the area in which you work. I also did not like bedside nursing- in fact- I felt that I did not perform in that role as well as I do as a NP. Which is why I find it funny sometimes when nurses I work with say they could "never do what I do". I let them know that I admire bedside nurses who handle that role much better than I did when I was in their role! I feel I fit in the "team" better in the NP role. I guess it comes down to finding where you fit in best, in terms of education as well as setting.

I think the reason given for that is that the nurses who ended up infected were taking care of him when he was the sickest, not long before he died. The other ebola patients were known, and handled more effectively in terms of PPE also, but also did not get as sick.

The law concerning this in many states is probably vague. In the state where I practice (Ohio), the Ohio Board of Nursing rules state that in order for a Nurse Practitioner to prescribe something off-label, it has to be specified in your Standard Care Arrangement (which is the term Ohio uses for a collaborative agreement between a Physician and an NP). We are required to have a SCA with every physician we work with. Within that SCA, there is a section where you name drugs you are able to prescribe off-label, with their approved FDA uses as well as what off-label use you may be prescribing them for. Good luck starting your practice!