Why become a NP

Published

What are the benefits? What made you decide to go this route? What's the "best" speciality? Any negatives? :heartbeat:nurse:

Specializes in Critical care, gerontology, hospice.

NPs diagnose and manage illnesses. Just like primary care MDs. That's what all that education is for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Do NP's diagnois like MD's? I mean within the nursing spectrum but can a NP say someone is dehydrated or diabetic?

We definitely diagnose and treat just like a doctor. Just today, I diagnosed patients with HTN, dyslipidemia, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, DM II, AOM/AOE, metatarsal fracture, pyelonephritis, etc, etc. I not only diagnosed them, but I prescribed their medications too. All that without ever asking a doctor a question! This job is VERY different from being a nurse, it sometimes amazes me that we are actually allowed to do all of this without going to medical school.

Get this, last week I successfully diagnosed a woman with PE. The doctor THANKED ME for saving her life! She had surgery on some varicose veins 10 days before and came in b/c she thought she had developed an infection (she hadn't). I asked her about chest pain, SOB, etc. She told me that 2 days earlier she had an intense pain under her right breast and it went all the way through to her back. The pain lasted an hour and she almost called 911, but then it went away and never returned - no SOB or cough. Her EKG was normal and I ordered a CT with PE protocol. I got a wet reading and almost fell over when I found out she had SEVERAL clots in her lungs! The doctor actually admitted to me that he wouldn't have asked her those questions or went so far as to order a CT scan. Pretty scary huh?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's pretty cool! What type of NP are you ANPFNPGNP?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also can NP's do procedures?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That's pretty cool! What type of NP are you ANPFNPGNP?

Adult NP, Family NP and Geriatric NP. I work in urgent care and Family/Internal medicine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

As most all my experience as an RN pertains to geriatric nursing, I have considered becoming an NP for the elderly. Is there a title to that...? Thinking about caring for kids and babies scares me...I've always seen the elderly. If this is the type of NP I want to become, do I still have to do a pediatric rotation?

Blessings, Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, gerontology, hospice.

NPs definitely do procedures. It depends on your practice. In my hospice practice, the most common thing I do is paracentesis. I also do a fair number of incision and drainage of abscesses. In other practices NPs do many other invasive procedures depending on the specialty.

I am certified as an Adult NP, Gerontology NP (for the elderly), and Hospice NP. Only the first 2 are recognized for my license but I took the certification for Hospice ARNP as a matter of professional standing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, gerontology, hospice.

I forgot to say, no, you don't have to do a pediatrics rotation in a program for adult/gero NP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As most all my experience as an RN pertains to geriatric nursing, I have considered becoming an NP for the elderly. Is there a title to that...? Thinking about caring for kids and babies scares me...I've always seen the elderly. If this is the type of NP I want to become, do I still have to do a pediatric rotation?

Blessings, Michelle

You can become a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and you won't have to do clinicals with children, younger adults or OB. Both the ANCC and AANP certify GNP's.

Interesting that you feel that kids and babies scare you. Actually, the elderly patients have far more difficult/complex health issues. I work primarily with geriatric patients during the day and it can be draining. When I work in urgent care, it just seems so easy! You should do fine though, since you're used to working with the elderly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.
I forgot to say, no, you don't have to do a pediatrics rotation in a program for adult/gero NP.

Oh thank God...I'm so used to geriatrics and all the meds they receive, I would be much more confident. The main reason kiddos scare me is that so much could go so wrong and I would always second guess myself if I did the right thing or ordered the right med and the correct doseage. I'm not great at math and trying to convert pounds to kg and all that really scares me. I can do basic conversions, algebra, and ratios, but I would be really stressed out caring for kiddos. I get stressed just giving meds to my own kiddos at home and there is only 2 of them!

Blessings, Michelle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

I'm an ANP. I think in my state that an FNP can diagnose and treat womb to tomb so the job field is wide open. As an ANP I can only diagnose and treats folks 16 and up. Pediatric NPs I believe can see folks 15 and younger and Geriatric NPs are licensed to diagnose and treat folks 55 and up.

I also thought about being a geriatric NP but it worked out better for me with the ANP since I can see folks older than 16 instead of just older than 55... :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm an ANP. I think in my state that an FNP can diagnose and treat womb to tomb so the job field is wide open. As an ANP I can only diagnose and treats folks 16 and up. Pediatric NPs I believe can see folks 15 and younger and Geriatric NPs are licensed to diagnose and treat folks 55 and up.

I also thought about being a geriatric NP but it worked out better for me with the ANP since I can see folks older than 16 instead of just older than 55... :wink2:

Most pediatric programs cover ages birth to 21 years of age. My adult program covered ages 12 and up and the gero covered 55 and up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion