Stress as a NP or advanced practice nurse?

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

We all know that bedside nurses can have high N P ratios and all he other stressors.

Can the NP's on this board tell me if they feel their job is less or more stressful than floor nursing and how so?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I feel it is a different kind of stress. For instance, I see dialysis patients and deal with their medical management which includes hypertension and diabetes. However, I am constantly having to revisit articles and references in order to keep up to date on what is the most efficacious med or combo of meds to control hypertension in the dialysis population. So...it is a different kind of stress.

My staff nursing background is 10 years in a level one trauma center so I do know what stressful is - but this is different. The buck pretty much stops with me.

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

I went from ER/NICU background to Family Practice...

Working in the hospital I think I always had the sense that something could go horribly wrong at any minute - that feeling that you had to be constantly hyper-vigilant and on top of everything on a minute by minute basis. It was almost overwhelming at times.

Now its more of staying on top of things on a day by day basis. There is still the occasional patient who presents the need to act fast and you still have to think on your feet and make quick decisions. In most cases though - I can call a patient back and say "You know - I have been thinking about this and I think we should try something else instead". It's more of a partnership approach with the patient, and not the sense of just following rote orders and trying to get it all done in a 12 hour shift.

I love reviewing all the labs and specialty reports and studies - and putting all the pieces together.

So different stress, but also different challenges.