I know what you might think, why did I start FNP if I don't like contact with patients. The thing is, I didn't feel this way before I started the program. I've been an RN for 3 years, I started FNP because I wanted to get out of bedside.
Demanding and understaffed work environment was getting the best of my mental and physical health. I thought it would be different in outpatient setting, since I'd be getting more respect and independence.
I did a thorough research about what I'd be doing as an FNP before starting the program, and it seemed really nice, way better than bedside. However, I didn't really know what primary care really was before I started my clinicals. And now I have 4 months before graduating, and I'm realizing that's not really what I want to do.
I just can't deal with people. I can't stand when they think that there's a magic pill to fix everything when they don't bother changing their eating habits or adding exercise regimen. Or when they come into the office not knowing what medical conditions they have or what medications they take.
It may not be a big deal to many healthcare professionals, but I just cant imagine dealing with this for the rest of my life. Maybe I'm just burned out. I don't know.
What can I do with my MSN FNP degree that doesn't require much patient contact?
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.
Consider working for a pharmaceutical company. They are typically always looking for RNs and NPs to work clinical trials or become drug reps. Some handle post-market issues (adverse reactions, etc).
I say if you have the time and the stamina, go to med school and become a radiologist. You don't have to deal with the bedside that comes with hospital nursing, you definitely get the respect and independence (more than you'd get as an FNP) and as a radiologist, you don't have to really deal with people. It's a win, win, win all around!
I hear Ford is hiring. No patients and fairly task oriented job without having to deal with people. Also imo respectable field where a range of people I know do well there consistently providing for their families.
Jokes aside, while your candor is appreciated, your best bet is to probably stay out of healthcare. Many of us have frustrations with people and the range of situations on why their health isn’t well managed. That’s where it’s important to have the empathy to tolerate and attempt to work with them to find something that helps. That’s where healthcare is a challenge as we are not just pill dispensers who react using algorithms. Meeting people where they are and finding solutions is where we really make our money. You might actually help only a handful of people at the end of the day, but that alone will make your day.
It’s also important to know yourself and what you can/will do. Research might be a better fit. I hate to push more school, but a PhD might get you that direction more. I don’t recommend education as a nurse or management with your all of 3 years bedside where you categorically qualified your situation as burned out. That’s the last person I want teaching or leading new nurses.
Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
10 hours ago, KatieMI said:
I second sleep medicine ?
BTW, with some luck an FNP can work in Interventional Radiology. Just ask a few routine questions, push the needle in, take it out, fill note template, repeat. Patients are frequently sedated/tubed and you might not care about anything else.
this is a good idea. Don’t have to talk to peeps much for paras and thoras and such
Thank you guys for your responses. I do like the idea of working in urgent care. I currently work in ER and I like it because you “treat them and street them”, so maybe urgent care will my goal. Thanks again!
Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
On 2/1/2020 at 2:07 PM, LadyT618 said:
I say if you have the time and the stamina, go to med school and become a radiologist. You don't have to deal with the bedside that comes with hospital nursing, you definitely get the respect and independence (more than you'd get as an FNP) and as a radiologist, you don't have to really deal with people. It's a win, win, win all around!
Great job but I thought it was boring lol. I like talking to (most) people
after a month of looking at imaging I was done. Even though the procedures are a nice break up in the day
I've met a couple of PMHNPs who went into hospital administration (they didn't like prescribing and the liabilities). Couple other options would be education and pharmaceutical sales.
I would get at least couple years of FNP experience first though. You might end up liking it and, if not, you'd have some advanced-level clinical experience.
I'm a little late on this conversation, but I can relate to your predicament a lot, as it's basically how I felt most of the way through school and still now, 6 years after graduating.
I worked 2 years in family practice and had the same gripes - non-compliant patients, understaffed units, "worried well" visits) . Now, as an Oncology NP, the things that initially bothered me about primary care are not present. Patients show up to their appointments, are generally compliant, and are grateful for any help you provide them. I do not see that many patients (the MD I work with prefers to use me as an over-paid MA), which could be good or bad, depending on what you want. In primary care, however, you will likely be practicing full-scope. For me, this felt beyond my comfort zone as my "direct entry" NP program was really not adequate for the job. I was one of the shmucks who fell for the "direct entry NP" route, thinking it was no different then going to medical school without prior experience. As for respect, I personally haven't felt respected anywhere I've worked since becoming an NP, which is one of my main issues with the field in general, so if respect is important to you, I personally don't think being an NP is the way to go.
I too am now considering what other fields I can go into. Sadly, with $150K in student loans, my options are limited. I've considered moving into a pharmaceutical company and working on clinical trials.
Listen to your gut, but keep an open mind. Since you already have nursing experience and at one point liked working with patients, you may in fact just be burned out and/or need a change in focus.
I'm a little late on this conversation, but I can relate to your predicament a lot, as it's basically how I felt most of the way through school and still now, 6 years after graduating.
I worked 2 years in family practice and had the same gripes - non-compliant patients, understaffed units, "worried well" visits) . Now, as an Oncology NP, the things that initially bothered me about primary care are not present. Patients show up to their appointments, are generally compliant, and are grateful for any help you provide them. I do not see that many patients (the MD I work with prefers to use me as an over-paid MA), which could be good or bad, depending on what you want. In primary care, however, you will likely be practicing full-scope. For me, this felt beyond my comfort zone as my "direct entry" NP program was really not adequate for the job. I was one of the shmucks who fell for the "direct entry NP" route, thinking it was no different then going to medical school without prior experience. As for respect, I personally haven't felt respected anywhere I've worked since becoming an NP, which is one of my main issues with the field in general, so if respect is important to you, I personally don't think being an NP is the way to go.
I too am now considering what other fields I can go into. Sadly, with $150K in student loans, my options are limited. I've considered moving into a pharmaceutical company and working on clinical trials.
Listen to your gut, but keep an open mind. Since you already have nursing experience and at one point liked working with patients, you may in fact just be burned out and/or need a change in focus.
Thank you for your response. I’m thinking about giving a try to urgent care. I know that I won’t be able to work as urgent care NP right after graduation because I’ll be a new grad, but it will be my goal. I like the idea of “treat them and street them”. If it doesn’t work out, I like the idea of oncology. I’m glad there are a lot of options out there. I am a little burnt out right now , but you’re right, at one point I liked working with the patients, so not everything Is lost ?
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
On 2/5/2020 at 10:59 PM, PollywogNP said:
The same patients that you see in primary care show up in urgent care often for chronic conditions that they have failed to keep/make apts or fup with PCP. Abdominal pain x 1 year, incontinence, med refills, ingrown toenails, knee/back pain, rashes for 7 years (and he was mad I didn’t know what was causing his rash), kidney stones etc etc etc.
It’s not all sore throats, pink eye & uti’s. Most urgent cares expect you to interpret X-rays, splint/cast, suture & minor procedures such as removing ingrown toenails.
And it is fast paced 3-4 patients per hour is typical, many its 12 hour shifts. And it’s complicated as they don’t know the name of their doctor/s or the meds they take or allergies.
True, but in Urgent Care you are not responsible for the primary care drudgery of ordering labs, referrals, blah, blah, blah.
There is nothing wrong with a fast pace. At least it is not boring.
Full glass sorry quote feature not working, but in the 3 urgent cares I worked at, we did order labs/xrays/ ct scans/US/ & often referred out. Many people don’t have a pcp to send them back to for follow up or the pcp doesn’t have any available apts for months. So depending on the test results it might bet necessary to send to specialists. In one year I found 2 cases of stage 4 tonsil cancer both with metastasis & one horseshoe kidney in a 19 year old that had been seeing a urologist since age 5! Urgent care can have different capabilities depending on the equipment available & the skills each provider brings. Some are the minute clinics that May only see very basic acute issues such as sore throats & uti’s, to those with X-ray and providers that perform procedures such as trigger point injections or knee injections with instructions to return in a few days for eval
Spacklehead, MSN, NP
620 Posts
Consider working for a pharmaceutical company. They are typically always looking for RNs and NPs to work clinical trials or become drug reps. Some handle post-market issues (adverse reactions, etc).