Quit being an NP

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I don't know where to start but here it goes. I have about 4.5 years of pedi ICU experience, went to NP school, became a FNP and got my dream job.. and I hated it. So much so that I put in my month's notice at 10 months within this position. If I were to be completely honest, I think I went back to grad school because I was completely burnt out of the ICU and wanted to step away from the bedside. I know, I know.. I went back to school for all the wrong reasons and TRUST me I already feel super guilty about it. I loved the flexibility in my new position and the amount of respect and trust I got as an NP but I hated being the provider and diagnostician. I guess what I'm wanting is some grace.. that it was okay to go back to school, try it out, and return to becoming an RN. Who else out there has regretted becoming an NP and has gone back to working as an RN?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'll tell you that in my university, probably 10-20% of the faculty are NPs with your exact same story. Hated the NP role, but have a MSN and went into teaching to make use of it.

In my personal experience, I know three former PICU nurses who went NP and are no longer practicing as NPs. One is a manager, two went back to bedside.

So no, you're not crazy or weird- and I applaud you for being open about it.

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It seems like you got your FNP just a few years after getting your RN.

To be fair, you were well within all recommended time frames, you had solid RN experience, and you were no 90 day wonder, as they say in the military.

But, your pedi ICU experience did not prepare you in any realistic way for the FNP role. Sad to say there is very little connection between these jobs.

Way back in the middle ages, we worked in the field, usually 5 or 10 years, before getting an NP.

Cautionary tale for others. Any old RN experience does not prepare you for specific NP roles.

Do not feel guilty. You got sold some bull malarkey about the NP role.

I personally feel that taking on the prescribing role for most people takes more than 2 years. It is a very large mindset shift.

I have written before that I think prospective NPs should work full time in the field and take one or two classes a semester.

Otherwise the "education" is usually a bunch of bull feces.

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I have one NP friend that works the floor as an RN, and another NP friend that works as a consultant (a position that does requires an MSN but not an NP). I worked with another NP that worked as a school nurse. Do what makes you happy every day. The knowledge and skills you have as an NP will be valuable no matter which path you choose.

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At only 10 months, I don't think you gave yourself enough time to develop confidence in being the diagnostician. It still could work out.

But if not, then grace. We all need it at some time or another.

I just hope you don't have big loans to repay.

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My pedi ICU experience was in a very specialized area and this NP role was in that same field, so my nursing experience in fact did prepare me for the role. Just wasn't what I expected. I agree 10 months is not long at all, but I hated going into work every day and couldn't stand it any longer. I appreciate your comment in offering grace :) Thankfully I repayed all my school loans almost immediately after graduating so no debt!

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Specializes in ICU.

I am so glad someone is feeling the same way I do. My feeling is finally validated by someone out there. I have been a RN for 10 years and ICU and CVICU for 7 years. Prior to that, I have been a PCT for 1 year. I finally decided to become a FNP instead of my dreamed CRNA program due to financial reasons. Boy, I HATE it. I am currently in my last semester of NP Program and I cannot stand the job. I went there for the money, not that much of an upgrade but I thought I got burnt out at the bedside and want something different. I was wrong. 

One thing I will tell other people thinking about NP Program is that the RN experience has nothing to do with NP, besides the fact that we learn how to talk to patients. It is really something you need to go to med school full time for, yet they want to find a cheaper solution for it. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but it is the heard truth to swallow here. You should assume you are going to have a ton of misdiagnosis as you start out. It will take years before someone can be proficient in the NP role, especially primary care, which ironically pays the least. 

I know a lot of people will hate my comments here. But it is the hard truth that no one wants to admit. 

 

 

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On 11/20/2018 at 11:48 AM, Golden_RN said:

I have one NP friend that works the floor as an RN, and another NP friend that works as a consultant (a position that does requires an MSN but not an NP). I worked with another NP that worked as a school nurse. Do what makes you happy every day. The knowledge and skills you have as an NP will be valuable no matter which path you choose.

I know this is old, but THANK YOU. 

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On 9/15/2020 at 9:09 AM, ww8282 said:

I am so glad someone is feeling the same way I do. My feeling is finally validated by someone out there. I have been a RN for 10 years and ICU and CVICU for 7 years. Prior to that, I have been a PCT for 1 year. I finally decided to become a FNP instead of my dreamed CRNA program due to financial reasons. Boy, I HATE it. I am currently in my last semester of NP Program and I cannot stand the job. I went there for the money, not that much of an upgrade but I thought I got burnt out at the bedside and want something different. I was wrong. 

One thing I will tell other people thinking about NP Program is that the RN experience has nothing to do with NP, besides the fact that we learn how to talk to patients. It is really something you need to go to med school full time for, yet they want to find a cheaper solution for it. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but it is the heard truth to swallow here. You should assume you are going to have a ton of misdiagnosis as you start out. It will take years before someone can be proficient in the NP role, especially primary care, which ironically pays the least. 

I know a lot of people will hate my comments here. But it is the hard truth that no one wants to admit. 

 

 

I completely agree with this unfortunately

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I worked as a CNA for 5 years, a PCU/ICU RN for 7 years. Wanted to learn more and went into FNP program. For first job accepted was urgent care NP (thought since I did ICU it would be fun) and I hated it. Not getting to know my patients really depressed me and I wanted more of a relationship. I resigned after 7 months. I'm interviewing for other NP jobs. Maybe primary care would be better. IDK I miss nursing. It's way more gratifying. It's definitely a learning curve both emotionally and physically.

I don't miss lifting patients, the poop or codes. But at same time that made me feel like I was making a difference. 

no matter how little or how much experience you have you get into nursing for different reasons. Some for money some for purpose. 

the question is why did you wanna become a nurse? For the 3-12 hr shifts and the pay or because saving a life, seeing progression made you feel like a better person.

As a NP it was lots of paperwork and patients DEMANDING meds. Or "Google says" which got old fast. I'm not an antibiotic vending machine thank you and I'm trying to educate you. 

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I know this is an old thread but I'm glad I found it. I am a dental hygienist and have been in dentistry 25 years. I'm totally burned out in my field and truly no longer like hygiene at all. I've wanted to transition to medical for a long time so I applied to a NP Program at Vanderbilt and was accepted. I'm super excited but definitely have some concerns that resonate with those outlined above. I do love dx and tx planning but my experience in that is limited to oral health. While I'm really excited about the change I do have some reservations.

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I applaud you for your honesty. RN's are going to NP school in droves thinking they won the jackpot as an NP. It's horrible. I went back and got my PMHNP in 2020 after being in medical. Geez I was burnt out from being soo overworked in medical and thought psych - I could work from home, much easier , more money , no physical contact with patients. Geez I got a rude shock . The mental health system is soo broken . Mental health is soo understaffed , poorly reimbursed, and poorly funded. Mental health hospitals take the path of corruption to survive. I was horrified. Telemedicine psych can be viable if you are willing to prescribe a bunch of Adderall & Benzo for drug seekers / people with substance use issues. The one consolation with psych is that patient exposure (COVID) is reduced but still there is safety issues especially if you work out of an office. Really there is no easy way out of hard work and potential burnout - RN/ FNP/PMHNP / CRNA ( doubt it's a stress free job) - there is no bed of roses in the medical field 

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