Why have you decided to become a NP and not a Doctor?

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Just what the title says.

Specializes in NICU.

Simple: I did not want the lifestyle of a doctor or the debt. I'm very happy doing what I do.

I believe I shall poke the dragon (end of the year and all that) and tell poster RockMay that a new grad neonatal NP is far superior to a new grad PA. We have the RN experience with a program exclusively devoted to neonates, whereas the PA might be lucky to have an elective in neonatology. This is why there are fellowships for PAs being created currently because their education doesn't allow them to walk out the door compared to a NNP.

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Just my personal pet peeve. The title should ve np vs physician. Physicians shouldnt have exclusive rights on the word "Doctor," the majority of NPs are being trained at the doctorate level.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Just my personal pet peeve. The title should ve np vs physician. Physicians shouldnt have exclusive rights on the word "Doctor," the majority of NPs are being trained at the doctorate level.

I believe nurses often choose the wrong hill to die on. I couldn't care less if I'm never referred to as Dr. at work. I know what I have achieved. My husband is a pharrmD and doesn't use the title either.

What do I find important? Creating one path to becoming an RN. Streamlining graduate programs. Students not being responsible for finding their own preceptors. Safe patient to nurse staffing ratios. I could keep going but the point is our profession has bigger fish to fry.

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Did you actually read the link that you posted. Those are all post PA program masters for PAs that graduated from non masters programs. There are a number of PA programs that have an online component, but ARC-PA standards would prohibit an online program due to requirements regarding student assessment.

Thank you for suggesting that I should read a link I posted. Gee whiz I didn't think to do that! :sarcastic:

As you stated, the programs listed provide masters level education to PAs who are licensed, but have only a bachelor's degree. I'm not sure this is much better than giving an MSN online to someone who has a BSN. I agree that online NP programs are more problematic right now than online PA programs. However schools are attempting to incorporate online PA programs for students who have no PA experience. Yale proposed one recently. Although it was rejected, they are already preparing a second proposal.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Thank you for suggesting that I should read a link I posted. Gee whiz I didn't think to do that! :sarcastic:

As you stated, the programs listed provide masters level education to PAs who are licensed, but have only a bachelor's degree. I'm not sure this is much better than giving an MSN online to someone who has a BSN. I agree that online NP programs are more problematic right now than online PA programs. However schools are attempting to incorporate online PA programs for students who have no PA experience. Yale proposed one recently. Although it was rejected, they are already preparing a second proposal.

In my opinion, there is a big difference. These are PAs that have been practicing not newly licensed. These programs are the equivalent of a MSN, NP going back for the DNP online. Not the same as a brand new MSN, NP or BSN to DNP that attended completely online at all.

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After I finished my BSN degree my professors kept pushing me to go on to the masters, so I did. I found myself becoming more and more disenchanted with bedside nursing as the years went by. And after I finished NP school I realized that there were also major issues with being an NP that I didn't like either. I was working in a state where we had zero practice autonomy, little respect, and were paid less than a bedside RN. For these reasons, I stopped working as an NP and went back to the bedside as an RN. I also planned my escape from nursing and went back to school as a pre-med major but my financial circumstances did not permit me to continue.

I had to start working full time, and none of the colleges in my local area were offering the science classes at times when I was able to go to school. Then I began to think about the amount of time and money med school would cost and I convinced myself that it was not worth it. I have a few close friends who are physicians and every last one of them told me not to do it.

If I was even just a few years younger and didn't have kids I would chance it with the obscene amount of student loans and go to med school. knowing now what I know about actually being a nurse practitioner I wouldn't do it again if I had the opportunity for a do-over. To anyone who has the opportunity and resources and is sitting on the fence over this choice...go to med school!

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In my opinion, there is a big difference. These are PAs that have been practicing not newly licensed. These programs are the equivalent of a MSN, NP going back for the DNP online. Not the same as a brand new MSN, NP or BSN to DNP that attended completely online at all.

I see your point and agree with you that an RN getting an MSN entirely online is worse than a practicing PA getting a master's online. However, if these post-masters programs have large clinical components, I think it is worse than getting a DNP online since the DNP does not have a major clinical focus (from what I hear; correct me if I'm wrong).

Regardless of whichever is worse, I think the proliferation of online programs for clinical degrees (whether NP, RN or PA) raises a number of potential problems for future practice. However, my opinion is only based on anectodal evidence so I could be totally off base. I would love to see more studies comparing the quality of graduates from online programs to those from brick and mortar schools.

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RNs are amazing, but NPs lack the most basic education necessary to even be considered a legal prescriber. Nursing does not include that level of care. All NPs must cease their reckless practice and return to their roots of nursing.

And on what premise do you decree that NPs are "reckless"? How many NPs do you personally know to make such an insulting blanket statement about us? Its obvious to everyone that you don't like NPs but your assumption is ridiculous. Over the years, the Institute of Medicine has published papers about NP practice outcomes which prove exactly the opposite of what you are saying. And what medical institution did you earn your degree from that qualifies you to banish us all back to our "roots of nursing?"

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It would be much better if the PA/NP credential would be completely combined sort of as DO/MD basically is heading toward since DO students will have the same GME credentialing as MD students in a few years. Nowadays DO pretty much completely = MD since the education is exactly the same minus that DOs take osteopathic manipulation stuff or whatnot. Of course this wont happen because whoever gets the "less than 51%" of the take over would be out a good amount of change.

Its like just combine /NP/PA and call them advanced practice provider or whatever term you want, make them sit for the same boards, have the same education, etc. I mean they compete for the same jobs so jeez that would be the obvious solution. 2.5 years with a mix of anatomy/biochem/path/phys/pharm/whatever useful=ology you want to throw in there.

I do not know many people who are going through nursing without aspirations of being an NP, i guess only the few that want to do CRNA instead. So by at least cutting the tail on this provider pathway would provide some differentiation and would probably help out healthcare by not having people suck up seats and nursing schools in order to make a straight shot to NP. Of course I was guilty of this so I'll slap myself on the wrist too.

case 1. I want to prescribe meds and hate bedside nursing-> finish bsn->NP

case 2. I have this worthless degree and need to make money. takes prereqs>applies to PA school> PA

case 3. I like the nursing theory stuff but hate poop. RN>BSN>NP

who knows though this may have its own set of problems.

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Specializes in NICU.
It would be much better if the PA/NP credential would be completely combined sort of as DO/MD basically is heading toward since DO students will have the same GME credentialing as MD students in a few years. Nowadays DO pretty much completely = MD since the education is exactly the same minus that DOs take osteopathic manipulation stuff or whatnot. Of course this wont happen because whoever gets the "less than 51%" of the take over would be out a good amount of change.

Its like just combine /NP/PA and call them advanced practice provider or whatever term you want, make them sit for the same boards, have the same education, etc. I mean they compete for the same jobs so jeez that would be the obvious solution. 2.5 years with a mix of anatomy/biochem/path/phys/pharm/whatever useful=ology you want to throw in there.

I do not know many people who are going through nursing without aspirations of being an NP, i guess only the few that want to do CRNA instead. So by at least cutting the tail on this provider pathway would provide some differentiation and would probably help out healthcare by not having people suck up seats and nursing schools in order to make a straight shot to NP. Of course I was guilty of this so I'll slap myself on the wrist too.

case 1. I want to prescribe meds and hate bedside nursing-> finish bsn->NP

case 2. I have this worthless degree and need to make money. takes prereqs>applies to PA school> PA

case 3. I like the nursing theory stuff but hate poop. RN>BSN>NP

who knows though this may have its own set of problems.

This wouldn't work for neonatology. Neonates are a different species and require education specific to their immature body systems and patho issues. New grad PAs generally do a year long fellowship in the NICU after they complete school or have an extensive orientation (~6 months) in their first job. NNPs on the other hand have at least 2 years of NICU RN experience and devote the entirety of their program to neonates.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
NNPs on the other hand have at least 2 years of NICU RN experience and devote the entirety of their program to neonates.

For now. I remember when psych NP programs required inpatient psych experience but somehow that valuable experience is no longer valued in the grand scheme of nursing school finances. I agree with you but would advise you stay on top of your specialty's happenings because I would bet it won't be long before a money grubbing school feels their instructors with zero actual nursing experience are well qualified to teach the ins and outs of neonates to inexperienced students with 2.0 gpas.

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I agree that online NP programs are more problematic right now than online PA programs.

There are no online PA programs. Not one single PA program exists which takes someone who is not a PA and able to educate them to become a PA. What does exist are online programs which take existing PAs already in practice and allows them to earn a masters degree, but not a single one of those enable someone who is not a PA to become a PA.

Summing up:

Online PA program=does not exist

Online program enabling PAs to earn a masters degree=does exist

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