would you still be a np if you had to do all over again???

salvati08 · Dec 22, 2003

Anyone?????????????

LisaRN2B · Dec 22, 2003

Originally posted by stldmbfan
Like in the general nursing forum, the question was asked "if you had to do all over would you still of picked nursing?". I was shocked to see that a lot of people answered with no. It's really upsetting, but anyway what do all you nurse practitioner's think? Are you happy you chose what you did? Any regrets? Would you do it over? Thanks!:)

Considering this is my eventual destination in nursing, I am curious, too...

Tim-GNP · Dec 23, 2003

No... I would not. But unlike those who post in the general forum, I have done something about it.... moved myself to ultra part-time.

I love being a Registered Nurse--- not an NP.

Dave ARNP · Dec 23, 2003

I absolutely LOVE what I do. Nothing will ever change that. I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world.

With that said, if I were just starting out... YES, I would still be a NP.

Dave

kc ccurn · Dec 24, 2003

Tim-GNP

I'm curious why you would not do it over again. I am starting NP school this July and can't wait. Was it not what you thought it would be?

kc ccurn · Dec 24, 2003

tim GNP

I just read your post on the thread for advice needed. That was an excellent post and gave some great advice to consider. Thanks.

karenG · Dec 30, 2003

yep- would be an NP. love it- best thing I ever did was become an NP. would not change a thing about my nursing career.

Karen:D

kellilou3 · Jan 19, 2004

Originally posted by Tim-GNP
No... I would not. But unlike those who post in the general forum, I have done something about it.... moved myself to ultra part-time.

I love being a Registered Nurse--- not an NP.

Tim,

Why don't you love being an NP? How does it differ from nursing?

FNP grrl · Jan 19, 2004

yeah, i would do the NP thing all over again- but if you had asked me that question a year ago i would have said no!

my school experience was very challenging- not just b/c it was grad school, but b/c we were the first class in a brand-new program that went through many, many changes in personnel etc during our time there. so by the time i graduated, i was truly wondering why i had decided to do the whole thing & feeling seriously overwraught!:chair:

i would also like to warn prospective NPs out there that your first year out of school can be:uhoh3: to me, it wasn't much less stressful than school- and i again wondered (many times) why i was putting myself through such grief. i know this isn't a universal new NP experience- but it is fairly common, so be forewarned. thankfully though, i graduated believing that my first year would be hell, so i wasn't that surprised by how stressful it was. yeah, stress sucks- but i also believed there would eventually be some kind of payoff, so i self-talked a lot & vented w/ peers & tried to take care of myself physically/emotionally as i weathered my 'apprenticeship'--which is really what it felt like to me.

and...lo & behold- one day i realized that i hadn't felt insecure about my skills & knowledge base the entire day- and then, a little bit later, i realized that i had had FUN at work pretty much all day- then one day i realized i was starting to feel downright competent & valuable...and so on. now, 1.5 years after graduation (which isn't that long in the big picture), i am really glad i became an NP- truly. i am seeing the doors begin to open, i am learning how to negotiate & advocate for myself & to realize my own value as an NP- and others (docs, patients, staff, administrators) are starting to see it too! i also LOVE learning new things, which is pretty much non-stop, so that's great. and i am enjoying a new-found feeling of confidence- and dammit, i worked my butt off to get where i am, i deserve to feel good about it! but---i didn't get to this point overnight. most NPs don't.

so if you are considering it, don't be disappointed if it isn't wonderful in the beginning- you'll probably have to work hard to get to that point. of course there are NPs who love their new job/role right out of school- but i'd guess most don't. and i was lucky enough to get work immediately after graduation- not all of my peers were that fortunate. although, i went after the job i knew i wanted aggressively- if you sit back & wait it probably won't just "fall in your lap". in summary- long term goals, eyes on the prize, fabulous peer support, and commitment to the entire process have gotten me to a place of contentment w/ my choice to become an NP. the money hasn't been that fabulous so far- but i am working on that part.

lalaxton · Jan 20, 2004

Absolutely I would do it again. I was truly getting bored with nursing and needed a challenge. I considered getting out of nursing all together but finally decided to continue on and am glad I did. I have had fun in every position I've held since NP school. Now am working in the best job yet with no downside in sight!

FNP grrl, sounds like you went through the UNCC program am I right?

FNP grrl · Jan 20, 2004

actually, no, i went through the WCU program.