So what is your job like as an NP? Getting into NP school right away?

ERNP · May 21, 2006

As an NP you can get cushy office hours..... or you could have a different environment.

My day goes like this....

Drive in to work (usually runny late) work starts at 1100. Look at the rack and think,"Do none of these people have private doctors?" Change into my work clothes and start the day. Pick up whoever has been waiting the longest or needs the most immediate attention and proceed.

Wade through a littany of chief complaints. Prescribe meds, offer self care advise.

Clock out at 11pm and drive back to the house.

I am respected by most, but there are a few who for reasons I suspect have nothing to do with me, don't care for NPs in general so they would prefer not to come into contact with me.

Overall, life is good and the world continues to rotate on its axis.

HealthyRN · May 21, 2006

I am a new graduate that will be starting an FNP program in the fall. Don't let anyone discourage you from following your dreams. You don't need several years of nursing experience to become an NP, but there are plenty of nurses who will tell you otherwise! I got to the point that I tell very few people of my plans to attend graduate school because of the negative reactions.

I'm not sure how far you are into your undergraduate program, but there are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting accepted right away. Keep your GPA high, get a decent GRE score, and participate in undergrad research. I did this through a formal undergrad thesis, but you could also ask some of your professors if you could work on a smaller project. Get involved in student organizations or community projects. Also, spend a lot of time preparing the professional goals statement. I would also recommend shadowing an NP to make sure that you understand the role of the NP and this is really what you want to do. Good luck!

EastCoast · May 21, 2006

I work all but 4 days a month. So that's the bad part.

My background as a bedside nurse was critical care, then i went on to school and did administration as director of critical care and emergency room.

Currently, I see office patients who are my pcp's 2 days a week. Every day except for 4 designated work days I see my hospital patients (consults/ pcp). I work in nephrology and htn and we have a bit of a PCP following.

I take call 8 days a month. That involves doing the hospitals consults and admitting any of our patients to the hospital and answering the ridiculous callls that should have been placed during the day. FOr some reason people only need anitbx. or pain med at 5:02pm.

I get paged during nite to the er. that's not so fun and as well the floors where all our patients are located.

I work with 3 docs. 2 I like. The other is a jackass and thinks he's God. I decided he likely carries some sort of psych diagnosis that is related to his high regard for himself. I don't know anything about psych so this is just my opinion.

I work my butt off. My salary is good. SOme days I work harder than others, that's the way it goes.

I feel i have really wonderful credibility but there are always the few that you just don't know what they think of you.

For 2 years prior to this job i worked as 'house officer' and covered the hospital as would a senior resident or house doc would. I learned amazing things inclulding central lines, running codes, intubation, and critical thinking. My nursing background gave me a very good basis and I think this made all the difference.

It's funny, everytime I think of doing something else I realize that i'm not qualified for anything else.

good luck no matter where your journey takes you.

zenman · May 22, 2006

I am a new graduate that will be starting an FNP program in the fall. Don't let anyone discourage you from following your dreams. You don't need several years of nursing experience to become an NP, but there are plenty of nurses who will tell you otherwise! I got to the point that I tell very few people of my plans to attend graduate school because of the negative reactions.

Sorry, but I have to give you some reality therapy. As you say, you are a new grad so one has to consider your lack of expertise in sharing your wisdom. No one wants to squash your dreams, but it is a fact that experience would help in NP school. It's not even a point that one should have to argue. I even know physicians who say that being a CNA helped them.

No reply necessary.

EastCoast · May 22, 2006

RE:What Zenman said. I completely agree and somehow missed that in the previous post. I think you will struggle to be a 'good' NP as you are limited in your experience. Dealing with difficult patients,tough families, learning the ropes, having a bad shift...those are the things that build your strengths. I would venture that most NP's will agree and those who don't are those who have followed this same path. In your career I suspect you will be limited in what your abilities will encompass. For instance, even though I am a huge midlevel supporter I would not want an NP who had no experience except classroom and clinical. Good GRE, research, community participation...that's all wrapping. SHow me someone who can run circles at the bedside and I'll show you a strong NP.

I believe the 'fast tracking' undermines the NP profession and schools desire to make money off of these people does as well.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 22, 2006

I made the following quote in the thread, NP With No Desire for RN?, and wanted to bring it forward:

I know my opinion will not be well received, but I need to interject again.
Having RN experience prior to NP school is, IMHO, a must. I've had experience with NPs coming from both backgrounds, with and without RN experience prior to NP school.. The ones who possess the exceptionally higher critical thinking skills are the ones with adequate RN experience. This cannot be obtained with little or no experience and certainly not something one can sharpen in an NP program. It is always difficult to sharpen a blunt object without the proper tool.
Yes, you will get a wonderful education as NP. But, the ones without any experience will not have that smooth transition as they "advance" their practice. And, that is the whole idea, to advance ones' practice.
For example:
As an RN, especially one seeking the NP career, one will gain much knowledge on the whys and hows of medicine. As an RN seeking the NP role, one should be able to logically and systematically obtain an adequate health history applicable to the disease process. If one has never done this prior to NP school, one will be less than prepared for the complex nature of the disciplined physical assessment tool.
As an RN, one will obtain valuable knowledge on why certain diagnostic tests are ordered and how they apply to the disease process. How to interpret said diagnostic values and how these interpretations guide the health care provider (HCP) to tweak the treatment of the patient. This is something you learn in any NP program, but believe me, prior experience in this area allows for a better understanding during the learning process while in the NP program.
As an RN, one will learn how to interact with members of the healthcare team and understand the valuable role each play in the management of the patient. The RN will learn how each develop and manage treatment modalities for the patient.
As an RN, one will observe firsthand how the HCP consults and when, when referral is necessary and why; all necessary to the role of the NP.
Again, this is siri speaking from years of experience as an NP. An NP who serves as mentor for newly graduated NPs coming from both backgrounds and is privy to the difficulties of each. An NP who believes the difference between a good NP and a great NP is a systematic process: the RN living and working in the world of advanced practice.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/np-w-no-desire-rn-128278-28.html

jdanruck · Mar 31, 2011

I agree with the experience does make a good NP from what I have seen. I also agree that if being an NP is what you want to do then you should get into school when it is offered. This is my humble opinion as I am a nursing student of course .... But I think what our friend who just got into FNP school is trying to say is that a lot of 10-20 year nurses where he/she works are very discouraging about going back to NP school, and that one should not let them keep you from going ahead and getting your NP. I don't believe that this person is trying to say an inexperienced NP is BETTER than an experienced one. OFCOURSE THEY ARE. Therefore, I agree with both in that YES an experienced NP is better prepared, but if you are offered the opportunity to get your NP with little bedside experience then you should do it! I mean, do PAs have 5 years of bedside experience before they start practice? Most of the time NO. Don't let anyone discourage you from your dreams! Obtain your dreams and work hard at your profession.

I made the following quote in the thread, NP With No Desire for RN?, and wanted to bring it forward:
https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/np-w-no-desire-rn-128278-28.html

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Mar 31, 2011

Instead of viewing other nurses' unsupportive comments about becoming an NP without previous RN "work" experience as negative, maybe an open-minded approach would be the better way to go. Just because their opinions may be perceived as "negative" does not mean that's how they truly were meant to be interpreted. Hearing both sides of the argument is the way to go, and is a great way to gather the appropriate information you may need to make a good, informed decision about returning to school so soon.

I have left my comments on several of these threads and I still firmly believe, after working as an NP for over a year, that having at least a couple of years of RN experience under your belt is the way to go. I have not come across one NP yet who regretted working as an RN first. They have all mentioned how the experience has only helped them to become a better practitioner and has given them a leg up when it came time to find that first NP position after school.

Oh, and to answer the OP, I work 3 12-hr shifts per week. Most evenings I am leaving within a 1/2 hour of the end of my shift. I do feel that I am highly respected and my patient evaluations of me as an NP would suggest the same. I love my job and would not hesitate, in the least, to follow this path again.

Best wishes with your decision!

Trauma Columnist · Mar 31, 2011

Im a CNS but have an NP role. I work five days a week and am on call every 4th weekend. I work nephrology also. At the moment we are looking for another mid level so I'm working 50-60 hrs most weeks.

I like it but I loved the ER.

NPinWCH · Mar 31, 2011

I work family practice M-F, patients are scheduled 8-430, though I do work one evening a week. I rarely finish on time, even IF, and that's a big IF, I do manage to see all my patients on time. There are messages and phone calls to return, Rx to call in and things of that nature that need taken care of before I leave.

I don't take call and have my weekend off, which is good, but I miss working 12 hr shifts just 3 days a week. The pay, benefits and respect are much better now than as a bedside nurse.

I agree that nursing experience is important, and in my world it would be required for all NPs, but I don't rule the world and I've met good NPs who never had RN experience. If you ask me however, they seem to struggle more at the start of their career. It takes time to learn to prioritize, focus on the important things and deal with interpersonal family stuff. Experience also gives you an extra oomph...

The docs I work with won't work with newly graduated PAs and they won't hire newly graduated NPs that didn't have strong RN experience. I was a new grad NP when they hired me, but I had 15 yrs RN experience.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 2, 2011

I am in school to be an ACPNP, I have no interest in clinic work. The ACPNPs at my hospital work 6 24-hours shifts a month on average. However, it is hard to find qualified people, so I think sometimes they work a lot more than 6 days a month. I'm in TX, so an FNP could not work in an ICU, but thought I'd mention it just to give you an idea of different practice settings.

I also agree with the others who are saying RN experience is a must. There just are some things that cannot be learned in school. I worked as an RN for 9 months before I took patients on my own (was in a residency program), and even with everything I had learned in that 9 months it is different when you are solely responsible for the care of your patients. If your only experience is in school, you are never caring for patients on your own, and you are missing out on some really valuable skills. I don't think you can really understand and value their importance until you've done it, so it might be a point worth accepting even if you don't really believe it now.

As for experienced nurses being critical about a new(er) grad going back to school, I think it is worth paying attention to their concerns if they are valid. If they feel you are struggling at the RN level and not ready to transition to advanced practice yet, that is something worth listening to, even if it is hard to hear. However, if they are being critical because they are jealous that they never went back to school, then just ignore them. If you work with experienced nurses that you trust and whose opinions' you value, ask them for an honest evaluation of your skills and going back to school and see what they think. Just because you can get into NP school right after getting your BSN doesn't mean it is a good idea.