MasterNursinator

I am in an acute care NP program (pediatric) and I have never worked in an ICU. I applied in the past but timing didn't work out and I stayed on my med-surg unit. Now I am busy with school and about to start clinical. My job has moved me to PT days which is what I need right now to get through school. I am worried I will not be able to find employment as an acute care NP without having ICU experience. If I moved to an ICU now I would be FT nights and unable to manage classes and clinical. I know some are able but I have a lot of other things on my plate as well and I know I won't be able to do it. Is this going to hold me back?

I never got this at my first job. I think they all saw me as being incompetent simply because I was new. I changed jobs 6 months later and had no trouble from then on. I do not recommend changing after 6 months, though. Wherever you go, stay at least a year. Trust me. Years later I STILL get asked why I left that job so quickly. It's incredibly frustrating to have to go through that discussion every time I interview for a job. GL!

I am working on my NP right now. I absolutely would have LOVED to go to medical school. It's not that I just HAD to be a doctor. I just love learning. I am absolutely obsessed with medical knowledge. If someone gave me a free ride today I would drop everything and go just to have the chance to learn everything in depth. But here's the deal. I grew up in a not-so-great situation. I married young to get out. I was only 20! I had to work FT and go to school and help put my husband through school, too. Along the way I had two kids. Somehow I managed to get an Associate degree in Education and later a Bachelor degree in Nursing with two babies in tow. I could not have gone to medical school living the life I lived. At this point in my life it just did not make sense to go to medical school. I am coming up on 40. I have two adolescent kids. One has special needs. I wouldn't make enough money working as an MD at this age to recoup the cost of going to school. On top of that my friends are doctors and they tell me all the time if they had known about being an NP that's what they would've done. I also hear the work/life balance is better for NPs. Less administrative responsibilities among other things. I am happy about my choice to become an NP and I think I am really lucky to have such an amazing career ahead of me. I can't regret not becoming an MD because it wasn't in the cards for me. But if you're asking if I could've gone to medical school instead, if my circumstance had been different, then the answer is yes because I would've loved the education.

I love the idea of speaking to the MD about your concerns. He/she needs to be aware you are unhappy. It benefits them to keep you around! Make a strong case for what needs improved, why, and how. It stinks that burden falls on you but it does. I also like the idea of suggesting a follow up appointment in 6 months to review what has improved and what has not to continue making changes. Make it seem like you are being proactive as a way to help them. "Help me help you... More efficiently." I also think if you've been there 3 months you can hang in there another 9. You can! It may REALLY suck but you can. If nothing improves at the year mark, show them the door. GL!

I am working on my NP degree right now so here is what I can speak to: Education- To become an RN I got a Bachelor's degree. To become a NP I am getting my Master's degree. Skills- As an RN I assess for changes in patient condition but I do not diagnose. I treat using a Doctor's order. I place IVs, give medication, insert catheters, assess patients for decline or improvement, etc. As a NP I will assess the patient with a higher level of assessment skills. I will diagnose the patient. I will write the orders for the patient's treatment. Cost- My BSN cost 30k. My MSN is costing me another 30k.

Try places you wouldn't normally consider, like a health department. Take a lower paying job for a year or two until you have that coveted experience. If you absolutely can't find one, get a post masters ACNP certificate and you'll be all set.

I know of 2 and they are both fantastic NPs.