RNs being negative about NP school

MandaRN94 · Apr 3, 2011

I've found those that are negative have jealousy issues about others advancing in the field. There are lots of jobs out there. I am applying to MSN WHNP schools now. I know in my region there are at least 20 openings for WHNPs. Don't let the negative people bring you down. Pursue your dreams -I can't imagine having a higher education ever being a negative in your life.

RangerMI6 · Apr 3, 2011

I certainly am not an expert. I'm a teacher considering a change of career to nursing, and have a plan to go to NP school at the earliest possible time. EVERYONE in my family (except me-parents, siblings, siblings-in-law, etc) are physicians. I respect their health care field advice (that spans emergency medicine, cardiology, allergy & immunology, anesthesia, and radiology) and they are in agreement that with the growing aging population, that there will be a huge demand for NPs. My mother is an ER physician (formerly board certified family practice), and says there are just not enough doctors going into that area (fp). After racking up a hundred thousand dollars in medical school debt, the pay just isn't worth it. However, for NPs it is well worth it financially and certainly needed. She has a very high opinion of NPs and their education and thinks that this is an excellent time to pursue that career choice. I've been watching local hospital openings (midwest), and there are many, many openings for NPs.

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

It is sad that your coworkers are so jealous. Pay them no mind. Who cares what they think? At the end of the day it is all about you. In 10 years these same people will not matter to you anyway.

zenman · Apr 3, 2011

It is sad that your coworkers are so jealous. Pay them no mind. Who cares what they think? At the end of the day it is all about you. In 10 years these same people will not matter to you anyway.

True, and you may be giving them orders to follow!

FNPdude74 · Apr 3, 2011

I was previously in the same shoes as you a couple years back. I'm nearly done with my FNP degree this August and will be going into the USAF as a 1st LT, new grad FNP :yeah: . Anyway, some of my peers who discounted me on continuing school soon after graduating with my BSN in Spring 2009, questioned me about FNP school. Most of them don't want to continue schooling at all because they're making $47 just after working 2 years as a med/surg pediatric RN. :eek: So they're comfortable. I must say though, the RN experience DEFINITELY helps in terms of gaining more knowledge in the healthcare realm "real world" and skills. Luckily, I got hired and trained just 6 weeks in the ER as a new grad and thrown into the real world of nursing thereafter. I was dead nervous. So I was basically per diem after the 6 weeks of "orientation" even though I worked more than 24 hrs/week! That allowed me to look into reality and force myself to mature up as a young man. But I had to quit after a while to concentrate on NP school and then it happened...I slowly got rusty with my RN skills.

Although I had mostly MDs who taught me so many procedures, I had many RNs who assisted me in refreshing some of my RN skills and NPs who were similar to MDs. I think the MDs taught me the most though... So go to school for yourself. Don't listen to those who bash you for it. I had many MDs at hospitals asking when i'll be done and they were interested where I was planning to work after I get certified as a FNP even as a new grad with hardly any RN experience because they need help: "you guys do almost 100% of what we do now, except for major surgeries". :) Feels good to hear that doesn't it?

Just a side note, under direct supervision, I got trained to perform a chest tube insertions, needle air aspirations, learn how to provide anesthesia perioperative care by CRNAs/MDAs, suturing, intubations, etc. :yeah: But all these cool procedures depends where you practice/laws, etc. i got many rants about how RNs make more money than NPs. That may be true to some extent when comparing an RN who worked for 2 years and a new grad NP. Eventually from what I've heard, salary for NPs go up pretty good in 6 figures while working a 40 hour work week. Again, depending on the practice setting and who you're working for. Negotiate salaries. For me, I can't really negotiate salary in the military.

So if you want to be a provider, go to NP school.

SandBetweenMyToes, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

Be true to yourself...there will always be negative people. In my region, there are actually more NP positions than people to fill them. There are definitely more NP positions than full-time RN positions. The market here is such that employers would rather hire two part-time RNs than one full-time because they don't have to pay benefits. Not the case though with NP positions. Best of luck to you!

Trauma Columnist · Apr 3, 2011

I would consider the source. I run into people who I've worked with in the past and all of them say they wished they had gone back to school too.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

So many of my RN co-workers are supportive and encouraging about me being in school to pursue my MSN degree and FNP certification. However there are also many that make comments that are very negative and discouraging. Last night when I worked a co-worker told me that basically becoming a Nurse Practitioner is a waste of time and that I won't be able to find a job because EVERYONE is obtaining these degrees and the market is saturated. She also felt the same way about CRNAs. Have those of you who are currently Nurse Practitioners or who are in school experienced this type of negative feedback often? Does it bother you? I know that NP jobs won't be as plentiful as RN jobs, but to say that I just won't be able to find a job ever? I think that is a bit extreme. Do you all feel like the market is saturated with APNs? Many things that I have read speak to an increased demand for APNs, and specifically FNPs due to the continued shortage of primary care physicians and the push for health care reform.
Also do you all feel like there are significantly more people pursuing advanced practice nursing roles now that in the past? If so is this because people are trying to hurry up before the whole DNP requirement is possibly enforced in 2015? just wanted to know what others think...

*** Your co-workers are misinformed about NP and CRNA. True there may be local areas with an abundance of one or the other, Minneapolis, MN is a good example of an area saturated with CRNAs. They have three school in a fairly small city.

My best friend graduated from CRNA school in June 2010 and he was very heavily recruited and had many, many job offers. I accepted a job that reimbursed him for CRNA school with a starting pay of $170K with on-call pay expected to add $30K/year to that with fantastic bennies in a low cost of living area. After a few years he can buy into the practice and really start to make money. Another friend is graduating in August 2011 and is being offered lots of jobs.

I see NP jobs all the time.

WyndDrivenRain, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

Also do you all feel like there are significantly more people pursuing advanced practice nursing roles now that in the past?

Yes, I think so. It is due in part to the economy and tight job market. Plus, there are more RN-BSN completion programs that are online and super fast. Once you have your BSN, if you have a decent GPA, your MSN-NP (also online)is a few applications and 18 months to 2 years away. It is getting easier to pursue advanced education in nursing. I believe that is why you are seeing such an influx. Nursing is really on the cutting edge in terms of educational delivery models.

Sue

mammac5 · Apr 3, 2011

I don't know if your co-workers are jealous or not, but they certainly do sound rude! Honestly, you'll meet a lot of people who want to give their unsolicited opinions on everything from your educational choice to your hair to what kind of car you drive...even how your choose to raise your children. I like to say, "Thanks for offering your opinion but I've already made my decision," and then walk away.

I think there are a lot of schools out there training NPs, but I don't see the market being saturated except in key areas (I hear Florida is really a difficult place to find a job right now) and can't imagine that you won't be able to find work - even if you have to relocate to do so.

As for the DNP, I'm not concerned about that. Nurses started recommending DECADES ago that the BSN be the minimal entry degree into RN practice, but there are many, many places still training associate-degree nurses who pass the NCLEX just fine. I think the 2015 date was just picked out of thin air and no one really knows if the DNP will be required to enter practice any time soon. Those of us who do not have the DNP will be grandfathered in, just as the Bachelor Degree NPs were several years ago when the MSN became the requirement.

Best of luck on your education!

akanini, MSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

My clinical instructor is a NP. She told us not to waste our time because NYC has too many doctors and it's hard to find work. So I guess it depends on where you live.