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Discussion

Why not Nurse Practitioner?

Hi,

I'm wondering why your (general) reasons are for not going into a Masters program and getting a Nurse Practitioner degree? I've read so many threads that complain about the low wage of RNs, the bad environment, having no control, being treated like dirt, etc.

Wouldn't that be a major change?

How do NPs compare to their work life now as opposed to when they were just RNs.

Featured Replies

ARNP wages are not much more than mine right now. I'm more interested in education than I am a nurse practioner. Which doesn't pay that much either. I don't think being an ARNP would be much more interesting than what I'm doing right now at the bedside, which is my I don't persue it.

Those other reasons aren't enough for me to advance my practice. Having worked the same hospital for 15 years, I can say my work environment is not that bad, I definately have some control and autonomy and I definately am not being treated by dirt by anyone. I'm frustrated with many things though, the ratios especially. The lack of good rehab care, or home health care for uninsured patients, etc.

Nurse Practitioners work a lot more, need to have a TON of knowledge, so much more responsibility, plus the additional school, no thank you! I'm surviving with my income, I'd gladly take more, but we are doing pretty good, I don't have the responsibilities they do (meaning, once I leave work, if I finished everything, I'm done). My mom works her butt off as an NP, and she's happy with that, but she works, and works, and works. That is not what I want in life.

  • Experts

I'm a CNS in an NP role and while the pay is excellent - I do work about 50-60 hours/week. I do "pimp for the man." I am a commodity who bills for the practice so I do have $$ worth. I am treated very very nicely by the MDs in my practice and I have much more autonomy then I did as a staff RN.

On a related note, I do still consider myself an RN.

Libility is greater. I love working when I want to- wouldnt like having to take call, or have more responsibility and have to work more. Plus the fact- I believe at least here- the market is going to be saturated with RNs coming out with the ARNP and not too many jobs. there are so many girls I work with that are going for their degree..

  • Experts

Some of my best friends are NP's ... but it's not for everybody. I decided it was not for me and became a CNS instead. I have also worked in Staff Development, University teacher, and a little administration. The NP role is only one of many possible roles for an advanced practice nurse.

First of all, if you are considering becoming a NP, be sure to research the local job market. In some areas, NP's are in demand and have no trouble finding good jobs. In other areas, the market is over-saturated with NP's and new grads have trouble finding jobs that they like and that pay well. I've seen this happen a lot in areas where the local nursing schools are producing lots of NP's.

Are you interested in doing primary care? -- doing the routine assessment of patients in a physician's office or clinic? That's the type of work that a lot of new grad NP's do. While some people love that type of work, I would hate it. I prefer working with critically ill patients and others whose care is not "routine." I have had more opportunities to work extensively with those types of patients as a CNS than I would have as an NP.

How do you feel about working under the supervision of a physician? While some NP's work pretty independently on a day-to-day basis, many are still working under the supervision of a physician.

The most important consideration should be whether or not the type of work that NP's do in your local area and the types of jobs available in your local area match well with what you would like to do as a career. If it is a good match, then by all means become a NP. If it's not a good match, then don't. There are plenty of other career paths within nursing that you can choose from.

Bedside nursing. I want bedside nursing.

I agree; I love bedside. Perhaps some day I will undertake the study.

Bedside nursing is not for everyone.......I knew during my ADN program that I would further my education to get out of bedside nursing....Nursing is so diversed and with so many options that there are room for all sorts of personalities and traits.......Don't get me wrong, I respect bedside nursing to the fullest.....just not for me in the long run.......

I used to think that I wanted to be an NP...but now am leaning more to education and continuing my regular NM job... I love doing the day to day stuff at my facility; and am now thinking about CNS ... not sure that I will make more money but that is usually not the only motivating factor for me... I love my current job and place of work; so it would have to be something i could do there or in conjucntion with that job.

Am going to school to be a FNP. Will graduate in 2010! Taking it one class at a time so I can enjoy my current job!

Avery

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