Unhappy as new NP

[PinkTulips13]

Seeking some advice. I’m a new acute care NP and have been at my job about 1.5 years. I had almost 10 years icu experience prior to this. I’m finding myself struggling with the responsibility and feel nervous all the time, even though I’m supposedly doing a fine job. I don’t like the work life balance with young kids at home and am not a happy mom even when I am home because I’m worried about my next shift. I don’t think acute cate was the right track for me. I’m writing to find out 1) Can acute care nps work in other settings? 2) can anyone recommend types of acute care jobs that may be somewhat less stressful? (I know the grass is always greener and every job has stress, I just don’t think being around patients that tank any minute is for me...obviously should have figured that out earlier). 3) would it be stupid for me to go back to nursing in something that I would feel less stressed in And award me more time with my family? 4) or is this all normal for new Np and should except to improve and I should just stick it out?

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

Get an outpatient job. Pulm, rheum, cards, GI, etc. This will provide you M-F 9-5, no weekends, no holidays, no nights. What specialty are you in right now? ICU? I'd venture to say that you'll still have the responsibility and probably still feel nervous and stressed. Just in a different way.

[MikeFNPC, MSN]

If you're not already, get plugged in with your local NP organization, go to meetings, network with other NP's. At the one I go to, there are 50-60 NP's who work in all kinds of settings.

[ICU2NP]

I agree with Dodongo... go outpatient and work in a specialty clinic. I think they get longer appointment times than in primary care, also. While I was applying for jobs I saw pulmonology clinics looking for acute care experience. I've heard this is a low stress specialty from an outpt standpoint (chronic management of asthma, COPD, & OSA).

[egg122 NP, MSN, APRN]

LTC/ LTAC/ STR will also hire acute care NPs. You can also look at urgent care centers and the ER. What you are feeling is pretty normal- it took me 5 years to feel confident in 99% of situations.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

Oncology prefers NPs with acute care experience.

[chiromed0]

I'm not ACNP but I would think the main barrier is your patient age population restrictions. So if you pick an adult field like Pain management (no kiddos) then I don't see why you would be restricted from this field. It's not exactly a "happy" place but it's stable and more routine.