What next ... ?

[brighidh]

I work in and love the OR (circulate and scrub). I've gotten into a specialty I love, too, but I'm feeling a bit restless, as though I should be planning the next step.

What I notice among different specialties is that they utilize either PAs or NPs as first assists and sometimes tap the hospitals surgical assist pool (staffed almost entirely by PAs). I feel as though I should be looking at one of these in order to advance my career. I talked to a surgeon I trust who laid out their expectations of NPs vs PAs. I talked to some folks from both career lines and really, I'm not any closer to knowing if one of these is the right path. The NPs say do FNP, the PAs say stick with NP since I'm already a nurse... though some also say go to PA school to have better pay and acuity of cases (interest generating). (Is this a reality, that PAs are better paid?)

I just want to be in the OR the majority of the time, at the field, and not in an office seeing patients or chasing high acuity cases across the hospital as the majority of my hours. I've envisioned that I'd like to spend about 70% of my time at the field, but a 50/50 or 60/40 split is obviously not horrible. What I don't want (and what I do see) are NPs who come into the OR maybe once every few weeks to do one case with their surgeon and the rest of the time is clinic hours.

I like where I am (hospital and specialty) and my specialty primarily uses NPs when they use them and I'd consider going that route, but I would want more surgical time. What would be an option here? I want to stay in the specialty, but spend more time hands-on surgically with patients and possibly do some work with research.

Suggestions and help much appreciated!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Have you looked into RNFA as an option? There wouldn't be an office component with that. You may end up needing to investigate new workplaces if you choose that route as it appears your facility utilizes NPs and PAs.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

UAB has an RNFA program that is online.

Have you thought about becoming a CRNA (nurse anesthetist)?

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

Surgical NPs and PAs are paid exactly the same for the same work. Typically NPs do not have surgical training whereas PAs do in their program, hence their being used far more often as first assists. However, they get paid the same amount as NPs in an identical role.

Complete an NP program and an RNFA program - as an OR nurse you can complete both concurrently. It's what I'm doing right now. Or, UAB does have a surgical NP program. It's modified distance like most NP programs.

You can PM me for more information if you'd like.