Regretting My Decision To Be An NP

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My NP Experience Has Been Horrible

I am an NP in Missouri and I have been an NP for over 6 years. Since I have graduated from my masters program, I have had the worst experiences with my collaborating physicians. Too keep it short: my first collaborative MD pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud and lost his license. I found out by way of facebook. The second MD allowed his MA to do procedures and practice medicine without a license while I was furloughed during the pandemic- and the third was doing unnecessary procedures on patients that did not need them. I reported the second MD's MA to the Board of healing arts and nothing came of it.

I have experienced COUNTLESS interviews with fraudulent people (MDs, Chiropractors and people without degrees posing ) doing really shady things. 
I'm tired. I have committed my entire adult life to nursing (over 20 years) and currently I am working a dead, end-of -career NP job to save money quickly so that I can retire or just going back to being an RN. Life was much simpler in those days. 

It is very sad that  an NPs career hinges entirely on a physician in this state. 
I would love to hear your thoughts. 

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Oh my goodness - how sad. So very sorry for this horrendous experience. What kind of job do you want?? Or that you think you would be happing doing?

 

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Have you applied at a hospital or reputable facility? Ever consider moving for better opportunities? How about being a travel NP or RN? Sounds like you're in a bad geographic area with drama that's been going unchecked for a long time and no one wants to fix it. Maybe a different environment would offer you a better experience. Hope it all works out for you.

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First, it’s not you it’s them. It doesn’t seem like being an NP itself is bad, you’ve just worked with some bad actors. Do you live in a state with a lot of NP restrictions? Like others said, try to work for a health system or move to a different area if possible. You became and NP for a reason, so I wouldn’t give up on it right now. Do you have a local or FB NP/PA group you can talk with to see others’ experiences or find new opportunities? Sounds like you might be in a bad area. 

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Full-Practice Authority States

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

Your neighbor to the north (Iowa) will offer a drastically different experience. Is that feasible?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hey there include ILLINOIS as FPA state too - since 2019

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If you want to continue practicing as a NP, I would recommend moving to a state with full independent practice. I believe there are 25 plus DC. There ya have it.

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Thank you everyone for your kind responses. I am not able to leave this state at this point in time for several reasons. I already have an Iowa license for possible telework or government work. I’m just burnt out all together. I was curious to know others’ thoughts experiences in the fraud department….. it blows my mind. 

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