NPAlby

Where do you work? Sounds like a regular day in Phoenix Psych.

Lovemyplants, I'm a PsychNP but work at a crisis stabilization unit. We have a 16bed inpt unit along with our intake area. Just wonder what kind of unit you work on (geri, adult, dual diagnosis) and how do you like it. I havent done inpt as an NP and think it would be fun (maybe not the right word) to go back as that was my RN experience. i actually like the set up here, Im just not crazy about the company.

Can you pm the company's name? I get phone calls daily from one company but then when I told them the pay rate I was looking for (locum tenens) they hung up on me! Just wondering.

Madglee, Where exactly do you work? PM if you can. Wouldnt mind moving if I could make numbers like that only working 40hrs/week.

Contractor here. Looks like Im going to make 225k by the end of the year. Of course I work like a mad woman but I have no kids and will probably slow it down. Looking for a raise so hopefully wont be doing 56hr/week like Im doing now. And yes I take vacations. I've been taking about a week off every month for the past 6mos. I try to make up the lost time but not all of it. Phoenix, AZ

Agree with the above posters. I think I had a week or so of orientation but that was just because it took a while to get me credentialed for their insurers, mental health system. My second job was more like here's the office and theres the bathroom. I was the only prescriber on site so just had to roll with it. I cant imagine asking for a minimum of 4weeks for orientation. sounds painful!

Less stressed as NP. I do have to worry about getting sued and negative outcomes. Still I feel like I have more control of my career and day to day work and therefore less overall stress.

Yikes! Talk about hostile work environment. Where do you work that you have 30 NP's? Just curious.

Hey, it's my honest answer. Maybe if I came from a more wealthy, more educated family I would have gone to med school . As it was I knew I had to pay my own way through school and life. I think my patients appreciate my candor and honesty. Most of them are homeless and do not come from healthy family environments. I usually get a chuckle and a "oh really? wow!"

"It's my straight cred" oops "street"

Oh wow! That is odd. Maybe she didnt have much RN time prior to her NP? Don't know but something's up because I think most of us are proud of our nursing experience. It's my straight cred.

When patients ask, I answer with "I had to work for a living." Kind of like when enlisted personnel are referred to as "sir" and they say "Im not an officer I work for a living!"

I still consider myself a nurse. I think I use "when I worked inpt" or "bedside" to differentiate the two roles. Now granted I wouldnt wanted to go back to RN bedside nursing but I am proud of my RN time and experiences. I wonder if that person from the original post was a new NP and maybe associated being an NP as a more glamorous role. Believe me I do NOT hear Sheila Easton singing the Glamorous LIfe in the background when I'm at work.

Moved 3k miles away from all I know as well. From NY to AZ and love it! I had always planned on moving out to AZ. Not because I knew anyone or anything about AZ but just because I knew it was warmer and the pay was better. It was a pain in the buttocks with licensing and all the things you need to get credentialed for (magellan, medicaid system in az) but has been very worth it. i actually moved out by myself and did the long distance thing for about year with my long time BF. It worked for us. No children so that does make things easier. It was my first NP job out of school and so I did feel like fish out of water regarding the mental hygiene laws in AZ. I am in Psych so hopefully you wont have such hard of a time as an FNP. I dont regret it at all.

I'm a PsychNP and completely agree with what you are talking about. I also realize that this may not be the case with non-psych NP's. Part of being a PsychNP is med mgt but the bigger part is gathering accurate, truthful information. There's no blood work or xray we can take when a pt is trying to score some adderall, valium etc from you. Nor is there a scan or other test we can do when someone is BIB family for psychotic behavior but they (the pt) are desperately trying to hold on to their sanity and are denying all.