Scared RN ?

db2xs · Aug 11, 2019

5 hours ago, JenMH88RN said:
Is NP school hard?
Is being a NP hard/challenging?
What were NP clinicals like?
Do you have to give up your life for NP school like you do for nursing school?
Again, any feedback would be truly appreciated

Hi there. NP school is not scary, at least it wasn't for me. To answer your questions:

NP school was hard but not in the same way my BSN program was. As a BSN student, I had no idea about how things worked, clinical things, etc. As an MSN student, I had experience with clinical things so that made things easier.

Being an NP is hard and challenging. I am still a first-year NP and I received one day of training at my job and I am the only NP.

I think clinicals will depend on where you end up and with whom. I loved my last semester clinical site--I learned a lot. I have heard horror stories from other people about how their preceptor didn't give a fig about teaching them anything.

Since I worked full-time while being in NP school, I had to "give up my life." I did not want to be in debt after finishing school, and more than a year out from graduating, I am glad I did it. Those torturous three years of zero life paid off.

JenMH88RN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2019

Thanks for the feedback!!! I’m still a nervous wreck though.

bryanleo9 · Aug 13, 2019

On 8/10/2019 at 2:52 PM, JenMH88RN said:
Hello ??....scared RN here; Not scared of my current position (which I have been working for 1 year now), but afraid of the thought of NP school ?. Other NPs I have spoken to say that it is not as bad as nursing school, is this true? Is my anxiety (that I developed in nursing school, by the way) going to get worse? I have some other questions that I would truly appreciate any feedback on:
Is NP school hard?
Is being a NP hard/challenging?
What were NP clinicals like?
Do you have to give up your life for NP school like you do for nursing school?
Again, any feedback would be truly appreciated

Way harder than RN school by a long shot. We are dealing with a whole new realm of liability and responsibilities. School only prepares you so much. There is massive amounts of self study that is vital to being a component provider. If you don't have hours a day available to readying and knowing the material, a NP program is not a good choice. We owe that to our future patients.

Trauma Columnist · Aug 13, 2019

It is more difficult as you soon realize the buck stops with YOU! Its a tremendous emotional responsibility. A good NP realizes their limits and a great NP asks for help

db2xs · Aug 13, 2019

3 hours ago, traumaRUs said:
It is more difficult as you soon realize the buck stops with YOU! Its a tremendous emotional responsibility. A good NP realizes their limits and a great NP asks for help

I would agree that the hardest thing about being an NP is the amount of responsibility that is newly afforded to us that we didn't have to think about as RNs. But regarding school, I thought it was easier than my BSN program and many of my classmates thought the same as well. A lot of my learning during NP school, I had to go above and beyond and learn them on my own.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Aug 13, 2019

NP programs are at the graduate school level. The material is more complicated. However, I found it easier than my ABSN program because the "boot camp" feeling was gone. My MSN professors treated us like working professionals. While the material was more complex than in the BSN program, we also knew a lot more going in, so it felt doable.

As for clinical, you're not going to be left alone to act as a provider right away. Initially, you will shadow, then your preceptor will supervise you taking H&P, doing PE, etc., before having you do some of this on your own. And they will be there to help you if you have questions. Just like in the BSN program, there will be clinicals you love and some you won't.

Good luck!

HarleyvQuinn, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 15, 2019

On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 5:52 PM, JenMH88RN said:
Hello ??....scared RN here; Not scared of my current position (which I have been working for 1 year now), but afraid of the thought of NP school ?. Other NPs I have spoken to say that it is not as bad as nursing school, is this true? Is my anxiety (that I developed in nursing school, by the way) going to get worse? I have some other questions that I would truly appreciate any feedback on:
Is NP school hard?
Is being a NP hard/challenging?
What were NP clinicals like?
Do you have to give up your life for NP school like you do for nursing school?
Again, any feedback would be truly appreciated

It's going to depend on your program, too. You need to be a disciplined student and able to proactively manage your studies so that you set yourself up for success. Keep on top of your reading assignments, your due dates, and searching for other resources to help you understand the material. What you learn is going to build on everything you're learning in your BSN program. Know your APA formatting inside and out. Establish a relationship with your peers. I'm in a part time program currently, but we're constantly reminded that "even though it's a part time program, it is a full time commitment." Research your school so that you are familiar with how their program is designed. Yes, there are programs that are entirely online. I selected a program that has on campus intensives, especially for health assessment, to help establish our procedural skills.

Take a breath and remember that nothing worth doing is without challenges.

verene, MSN · Aug 15, 2019

Is NP school hard?

This will depend on the program and on you, it is certainly challenging, but in a different way to nursing school. It's graduate school - so it is a lot of work, requires a degree of self-direction, but also offers some independence and the ability to (hopefully) be studying an area of strong interest.

Is being a NP hard/challenging?

I just graduated and haven't started practice yet. I'm a combination of nervous and excited to start. It's a huge, almost terrifying, amount of responsibility, and I am anticipating a steep learning curve with a fair amount of stress over the first 6months-year of practice, but based on my clinical experience, my RN experience, and knowing that I am a personality that ultimately thrives on challenge and high responsibility, I think I will overall enjoy the NP role once settled into it.

What were NP clinicals like?

This will once again, depend somewhat on your specific program and clinical sites. My program typically placed students in 2-4 sites during the year, focusing on pediatrics, community mental health, and in-patient practice, with the ability to stay in either peds or adult community for a single 10 month rotation based on population interests, with a shorter rotation on the opposing side, and a short inpatient rotation. The program would try to accommodate specific interests area (e.g. community mental health, rural practice) with in reason, but the goal of our placements was to give us all a solid foundation to practice. For those continuing into DNP those clinicals are set up to allow to sub-specialization (e.g. eating disorders, geropsych, MAT program).

In each of the clinical sites I had, we started off with orientation and shadowing, then working with clients with preceptor present, then independent assessment & treatment plant and reviewing case/treatment plan with preceptor at end of session for them to sign orders and/or make recommendations for change.

Do you have to give up your life for NP school like you do for nursing school?

I found the time commitment heavier but I also started working during the MSN portion. It took organization and planning ahead (meals, assignments) but was generally doable. There was only one term where I felt like I was completely losing my mind and ability to have a life - do not recommend taking 4 courses + 30hrs/week clinical + working 24 hrs/week on nights. Working days is much saner and you don't feel like you are losing time flipping back and forth between days and nights.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Aug 16, 2019

Great post and answers! I start my MSN-FNP program end of this month down here in Southern California. I've already got my main general practitioner preceptor set for the next 2 years. I'm very hopeful as she is my actual PCP and I've experienced how great of a PCP she is coming from a patient perspective and glad she's taking me under her wing. Honestly, the biggest part of NP school that I'm very anxious/apprehensive and not looking forward to is OBGYN. Mainly because I'm a dude. Yes, I've done multiple foleys on females, I've done plenty of bed baths and pericare (and still do), but it's not necessarily the same as seeing someone at an appointment in a clinic. Just thinking about it is making me nervous .

catamounts30, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2019

YOU WILL DO GREAT! Being scared is normal and a good thing it means you're learning and are humble. NP school is a BLAST! You will have some transitory anxiety in the beginning that will go away and as an NP will feel just as comfortable as you are now in your current job. One bit of advice.... GO TO NP SCHOOL !

All the best to you

bryanleo9 · Sep 4, 2019

On 8/16/2019 at 8:30 AM, barcode120x said:
Great post and answers! I start my MSN-FNP program end of this month down here in Southern California. I've already got my main general practitioner preceptor set for the next 2 years. I'm very hopeful as she is my actual PCP and I've experienced how great of a PCP she is coming from a patient perspective and glad she's taking me under her wing. Honestly, the biggest part of NP school that I'm very anxious/apprehensive and not looking forward to is OBGYN. Mainly because I'm a dude. Yes, I've done multiple foleys on females, I've done plenty of bed baths and pericare (and still do), but it's not necessarily the same as seeing someone at an appointment in a clinic. Just thinking about it is making me nervous .

I found the bf's and husband's rejected male students more than the women.