RNs versus NPs?

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This whole RN versus NP thing has got to stop. Its ridiculous!!! An RN is an RN. An NP is an NP. If you go to school (any school) and pass the boards, then you deserve the title that you earned. Time will make anyone a better clinician. If your an RN for a week, your still an RN. In 25 years, you will be a fantastic RN. If your an NP (even from a bridge program) for a week, your still an NP. Again, in 25 years, you will be a fantastic NP. There is no substitute for experience. This war between some RNs and NPs doesn't do the profession any good. This anger from some RNs towards bridge programs doesn't do anything good for the profession either.

What is going on here? Get along already. I don't know who actually started this war...and I don't care. However, it has to end.

This is just my 2 cents.

-KC

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Hi Kadie. There are many turf battles on this bb surrounding the issue of titles. I don't see it ending. As of late, there are topics posted on clinical ladders. Do you see program this as one way to help alleviate some of the turf battles we experience?

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I have a feeling that some of this RN versus NP stuff has to do with job satisfaction. If your an RN, and love your job, you probably don't have any ill feelings towards NPs (even the NPs that went to bridge programs). However, if your an RN and you don't really like your role (i.e., you wish you could have more authority), then you probably have more issues with NPs...because your both nurses and the NP has more authority.

This is only my opinion, but that's the way I see it. An RN with 10 to 20 years of experience probably does know what is "best" for the patient, but he or she has to run things by an MD or an NP for the final approval. I can see how this would be very annoying. I have total respect this RN and can understand his or her frustration.

However, this RN (if not satisfied) can easily apply to an NP program and eventually put their expertise to use with more authority. I understand that a lot of RNs may have families and further education will mean taking out loans and losing his or her pay for a couple of years. But, that's life. Dilemmas like this exist in all professions. Personally, I have ridiculous school loans and my credit stinks now because of the three years I spent full-time in school!!! But, its the sacrafice I made to get to where I am now...and I love my job.

The bottom line is that you have to love what you do in life. If you don't, you will just be a bitter person.

I can't see any other reason why one nurse would dislike another nurse without even knowing them as a person.

That's my 2 cents on this issue.

Chris

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Chris, you and I seem to agree on a lot here. The sad thing is, I knew when I was working as an RN that I knew what was best for some of the patients. I also knew that I could do nothing about it. This was my real motivation for going on for my CRNP. I knew I hated feeling powerless as an RN.

I liked when the NP's came into the nursing home I worked at, and I was very kind & helpful. They also took time to explain advanced patho. on certain patient conditions and why one intervention was preferrable to another [something I try to do even today].

I have had a few RN's tell me that they wanted to become NP's, and for the reasons you cited, they don't. I am like you, Chris-- my mortage & car COMBINED cost less than my student loans!!! But in 10 years, they will be paid off, and I plan to work at least another 35 years, so, at some point I guess I will hit the break even point--and have a good time doing it!

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Tis with our judgements as our watches, none go just alike, yet, each believes his own.

-Alexander Pope

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I would just like to say this. I see a lot of disrespect being directed at BSN's and NP's. The level of education does matter in all fields. The individuals who took the time and effort to obtain advanced degrees deserve to be recognized for their efforts.

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Nursing assistant

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I agree with chili2641. People keep stressing experience...and experience is VERY important. However, education is also a critical factor in educating BSNs and NPs. Yes, experience is crucial to being a good clinician, but one's education is the building block for which this experience is based.

The fact remains that the higher you go with your education, the better it will make you as a clinician.

Chris

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Chris alot of what you have said is true, but I have to disagree a on couple of issues. Respect is earned, I don't care what kind of degree you have, you have to perform and prove you know what you are doing. Granted, there are different degrees of power and respect, what you are discussing is positional respect. People respect you because of your position not what you can do.

The other issue was your last comment about the more education then the better clinician you become. Well I don't know many PH.D nurses who are clinicians. Most are researchers or educators. Most of them I know are poor clinicians (skill wise). They may make nursing better for me, by research, but they are not better clinicians.

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Navy Nurse,

I agree with you. I wasn't really addressing Ph.D. Nurses in particular because they do tend to be researchers. I also agree that positional respect is a lot easier to earn than what you actually do for patients...but that takes awhile because the only people in the exam room are the patient and I. The staff only sees me running from room to room!!!

Over time, patients eventually make comments that the staff hears and its then that they see how well you practice.

Chris

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