Psychiatric NP - job security?

[tofcancer]

I'm facing a dilemma. I'm 26 years old, and I've been working as a bedside nurse (psychiatry) for just over three years. I LOVE my job, and I'm great at it, and to those who would say psychiatric nurses aren't "real" nurses, I'm not even insulted, because I recognize that our skill set and job demands are extremely divergent. Although I work at a medical center and therefore care for psych patients with some serious medical co-morbidities, I would be truly lost on an acute med-surg floor. I would probably be as lost as the med-surg floats are when they try to de-escalate a psychotic patient.

I feel that I am stagnating, however, and my good friend recently applied for and was admitted to a university to obtain her NP as a family nurse practitioner. Neither one of us has any experience on a med-surg floor.

I am interested in continuing my education, and pharmacology was my favorite course in college, but I'm not sure whether to pursue FNP or psychiatric NP. My relevant concerns are not only which I will enjoy more, but which is more employable, especially given where our healthcare system is going. For instance, I can see FNPs caring for clients with "basic" psych issues the same way primary care doctors now prescribe antidepressants and anxiety medications.

I question whether I shouldn't try to get experience in med-surg before I make a decision, but that is easier said than done around here. I work at a union hospital with great pay and benefits, but the transition to med-surg while staying with this healthcare system is very difficult because most "entry-level" med-surg nurses are only able to get a foot in the door as per diem, and I need the insurance and benefits of a staff nurse right now.

Ultimately, I might be looking at waiting for another year or two before gaining med-surg experience. I'd prefer not to make that commitment unless I'm sure that I'll be pursuing my FNP rather than NP.

Sorry for the long post. Any insights?

If it's relevant, I live in Boston, MA.

[PG2018]

Where did you hear that for 6 medical positions there is 1 FNP graduate? I'm currently trying to gauge the job market for FNPs. As for psych NPs, a lot of the positions I see that pay pretty well are for Psych. I've worked med-surge, ICU, etc and let me tell you...I can't ever do what psych nurses do. Each specialty is unique and contributes to the overall care of patients. I don't ever believe it when people say "so and so isn't a real nurse..." I've worked in about 5 different areas of nursing and have been a nurse for nine years. Each area has its challenges...

I am fairly intolerant and becoming more impatient by the month. That's why I couldn't really be any kind of nurse. NP is a different ball of wax. They come in for 15 minutes, I eval, treat, street. Plus it's more cognitively appealing. There's more thinking and application involved. The money is great, and this past month was my personal best on number of patient visits.

[sauce]

yes yes, nursing skills are transferable. After working as a nurse for a year I could wipe my butt clean in three strokes instead of the usual 5. Saved me TON on TP expenses. I was also really good at cutting and ripping tape, sticking thumb tacks in the wall, and blocking out annoying distractions like when my wife has her friends over and they all do the girl-chat thing. I used to need headphones but now I can focus without.

Not to mention I am a freaking pro at unraveling cables when I build myself a new computer. I KNEW those IV line disasters would come in handy.

[UndecidedRN25]

@tofcancer I am glad that you were able to make a decision. I am in the same boat as you