Taking a Break from FNP Program

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2013

No one has any advice at all?

phillycpnp-pc, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 24, 2013

I think it depends on the school's policy. At my school i know some people that took a year off and came back to picked up where they left off. Talk to your advisor he/she can push u in the right direction. good luck

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2013

I think it depends on the school's policy. At my school i know some people that took a year off and came back to picked up where they left off. Talk to your advisor he/she can push u in the right direction. good luck

I have talked to my school and I can pick back up where I left off in a year or two as long as my pharm class doesn't expire (only good for 5 years). I am not sure I want to be an FNP at all, and thought I could possibly change my major, but only 6 of my 24 credits will transfer, so I am kind of stuck

calinicumurse · Jul 25, 2013

Hi Christine, sorry to hear you're going through this right now. Do you have any advice or could you expound on why your sentiments on FNP have changed?

Your words are much appreciated! I'm about to apply to the fast track programs for both NP and BSN (I have a BS in biochem). Regardless, I'm having a hard time deciding on a specialty and wonder if I'm best off getting my RN and then going back to school years down the line if I decide to go advanced practice. I'd love to end up in the CCU/ICU/ER setting but was drawn by the hours and autonomy of being an NP.

Any advice? Thanks!

mcnacht · Jul 26, 2013

Hi Christine, sorry to hear you're going through this right now. Do you have any advice or could you expound on why your sentiments on FNP have changed?
Your words are much appreciated! I'm about to apply to the fast track programs for both NP and BSN (I have a BS in biochem). Regardless, I'm having a hard time deciding on a specialty and wonder if I'm best off getting my RN and then going back to school years down the line if I decide to go advanced practice. I'd love to end up in the CCU/ICU/ER setting but was drawn by the hours and autonomy of being an NP.
Any advice? Thanks!

Not sure if this is more of a reply to n.a.norcal or to ChristineN, but I at many times HATED the masters-entry nursing program I was in. Compared with almost all of my previous educational experiences at several universities in the U.S. and Europe, as well as another graduate degree, I felt we were treated like small children who couldn't think for ourselves and had to be punished into submission. I don't think it was just my school either (though that might have been part of it), but I definitely learned the meaning of the phrase "Nurses eat their young." Interestingly, now as a practicing NP, and having gained 5 years of RN experience interwoven with school and early NP jobs, I'm starting to grow into my role and leave the school experiences behind. At times, I also thought about quitting my program, but I tried to keep in mind my original reasons for starting the program, and they had nothing to do with working as an RN or pleasing my instructors.

Sorry to be a negative Nelly about school, but sometimes you just have to push through and keep the end goal in sight.

If, on the other hand, you're fairly sure this profession isn't for you, by all means quit before you rack up too much more loan debt! However, when in doubt I would hang in there and get done sooner. It might be the case that clinicals is what inspires you to continue.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2013

Hi Christine, sorry to hear you're going through this right now. Do you have any advice or could you expound on why your sentiments on FNP have changed?
Your words are much appreciated! I'm about to apply to the fast track programs for both NP and BSN (I have a BS in biochem). Regardless, I'm having a hard time deciding on a specialty and wonder if I'm best off getting my RN and then going back to school years down the line if I decide to go advanced practice. I'd love to end up in the CCU/ICU/ER setting but was drawn by the hours and autonomy of being an NP.
Any advice? Thanks!

My feelings about FNP's hasn't changed. I have never felt especially drawn to being an FNP, and have no career goals or aspirations with it. I figure I will take a year off and figure out if FNP is even the right degree for me.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2013

Not sure if this is more of a reply to n.a.norcal or to ChristineN, but I at many times HATED the masters-entry nursing program I was in. Compared with almost all of my previous educational experiences at several universities in the U.S. and Europe, as well as another graduate degree, I felt we were treated like small children who couldn't think for ourselves and had to be punished into submission. I don't think it was just my school either (though that might have been part of it), but I definitely learned the meaning of the phrase "Nurses eat their young." Interestingly, now as a practicing NP, and having gained 5 years of RN experience interwoven with school and early NP jobs, I'm starting to grow into my role and leave the school experiences behind. At times, I also thought about quitting my program, but I tried to keep in mind my original reasons for starting the program, and they had nothing to do with working as an RN or pleasing my instructors.
Sorry to be a negative Nelly about school, but sometimes you just have to push through and keep the end goal in sight.
If, on the other hand, you're fairly sure this profession isn't for you, by all means quit before you rack up too much more loan debt! However, when in doubt I would hang in there and get done sooner. It might be the case that clinicals is what inspires you to continue.

I get what you are saying, and I do agree that many of these classes are not what I feel graduate level work should be.

I will finish and get a MSN in something eventually, as I don't want my credits to expire. I may end up doing FNP, have also debated ACNP, nurse education, and CNM. Yeah, I have no clue what I want to be, I just always heard people say that the FNP is the most marketable and that it makes the most sense to get.

Fortunately I haven't acquired any loans through this experience, as I have been paying for grad school out of pocket

blusueNP, MSN, APRN · Jul 27, 2013

I suspect you are giving voice to something that many feel, but are afraid to admit even to themselves, even for a minute..for most high achievers, quitting is not an option...but it is apparent that advanced practice nursing is not for you..do not pursue it any longer - take the general education courses and funnel your energy into a different avenue. The last thing the world needs is a nurse with an advanced degree influencing healthcare who has no heart for it.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2013

I suspect you are giving voice to something that many feel but are afraid to admit even to themselves, even for a minute..for most high achievers, quitting is not an option...but it is apparent that advanced practice nursing is not for you..do not pursue it any longer - take the general education courses and funnel your energy into a different avenue. The last thing the world needs is a nurse with an advanced degree influencing healthcare who has no heart for it.[/quote']
The idea of quitting was something I have wrestled with because I am not a quitter. However the relief I felt inside once I made the decision to defer school for now and figure things out is great. Besides continuing to work my RN job, I will use this year to obtain some certifications and do some volunteer work.

OfficerRNBSN · Jul 27, 2013

I get what you are saying, and I do agree that many of these classes are not what I feel graduate level work should be.
I will finish and get a MSN in something eventually, as I don't want my credits to expire. I may end up doing FNP, have also debated ACNP, nurse education, and CNM. Yeah, I have no clue what I want to be, I just always heard people say that the FNP is the most marketable and that it makes the most sense to get.
Fortunately I haven't acquired any loans through this experience, as I have been paying for grad school out of pocket

Who cares what people say makes the most sense? It seems like a sound idea to pick up the FNP credential because you can do so much (theoretically), and I've thought of this too. However, I do not have one singular iota of a desire whatsoever to treat gynecological issues, polypharm some elderly person, handle someone else's baby, treat screaming pediatrics, or stick my finger in anyone's hole. So yeah, FNPs could treat some of the same stuff I'm doing in psych, but at the end of the day I haven't done anything that I never set out to do. Interestingly, at my school, the FNP people take THREE specialty courses. Adult acute and psych folks take five, adult primary and peds take four, and I have no clue what the gyneo folks take. It strikes me as peculiar though that the people being trained to run the gamut and treat most all of it take less courses and have less clinical time than any of the other specialties.

jaznia15 · Jul 31, 2013

I thought maybe I was the only one who was not feeling confident in my aspirations to become an NP. It really started this semester with my Adult II clinicals, I was precepted by a doctor who was the only provider in practice. I was so intimidated by this man who could see 20+ patients before lunch time and sometimes 40+ in a day. He was able to explain the patient's problem, do an appropriate assessment and have them out the door within 15 to 20 mins of entering their exam room. Of course there were some patients who required more time and he even performed several small procedures (excisions, I&Ds) on patients. I felt like a total dummy this whole semester and really got into a funk about becoming an NP. It really was seeing a new grad nurse in training the other day that reminded me that I felt the same way when I was in RN school in practicum. I was in the ICU and could never dream of managing drips or doing total care on vent patients. I felt like I was going to kill someone straight out of school. Two years later I would rather have a vent patient or a real critical care patient than some of my walkie talkies. I had to take a deep breath and although not all my motivation has returned as I've been burnt out on school trying to complete this 2 year full time program, I'm willing to push forward. With that being said I understand completely where you are coming from and respect your decision to take a break. Taking a break is better to me than ending up in a profession you hate. I think we all know nurses or even other professionals who hate their job. I had a MD (well experienced) who wrote for a regular diet on a newly admitted tube feeding patient yesterday. It was clear to me that she had not gone to see this patient at all so I talked to her about the patient. She was going to prescribe silvadene cream even though the patient was allergic to sulfa. She ended up taking a phone call and heading for the door saying she needed to go. I asked her if she would order the patient pain medication and she yelled out write whatever you want as she continued her conversation. This was not an unusual case for this MD but it was clear that doctoring is not her passion. When determining treatments that can sustain people's lives, I want someone who is passionate in their care and about their profession. So you are definitely doing the right thing in my eyes.