Talk To Me About Being An Inpatient NP

[FiremedicMike]

I have a few years before I can retire from the FD and go full-time nursing (second career).  I am personally a long-term planner and am looking at a couple of different possibilities of what direction to pursue, one of which would be inpatient medicine.

I am currently an ED RN and enjoy the fast pace, but have little desire to work in the ED as a provider.  

For those experienced in hospitalist work and/or ICU at the provider level, I'd really love to hear your thoughts.  What is a typical day like, do you enjoy it, etc.

[Tegridy]

43 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

After working for a while I understand that now. But as a brand new provider, I wasn't so sure. Like would a rapid afib require cardiology immediately or after I tried lopressor/cardizem, or not at all? Would a stable stroke require neurology consult in real time? I was also going to a teaching hospital from a non-teaching. So just trying to figure out the who is responsible for what took some time. 

Those are good points. Some consults are hospital protocol. They make us consult neuro at some point during stay to tell us to use dapt for 21 days and start a statin. Something to do with stroke center. 

[RN_SummerSeas, MSN, APRN, NP]

So my job is inpatient but not hospitalist and it may interest you seeing as it appears you are medic also (or have been?).  I work at a small community hospital and was hired to help them implement two new programs that I will be run.  They kind of cross each other so it is going to be more like a dual role. I am working on transitional care and MIH. I am not sure if MIH is big where you are but if it isn't you should approach a hospital group and offer to help them start it. I work with an ambulance company and send them referrals from our hospital discharges and they do a home visit and call me for check in and orders.  I work with the CMO and lead hospitalist for any needs, questions, to run anything by them.  I am just getting up and running after prep for a couple months. I get an email list with our high LACE and readmits and then attend rounds to hear about pending d/c and anyone that may benefit from MIH.  I work M-F but my schedule is flexible and I can work from home if me or a child is sick.  I think my salary is decent and the benefits are good.  I am hoping this takes off and becomes as helpful as it has been at other hospitals near us.