First I will say that I read as many posts and forums as I can so I can answer my own questions. I don't want to waste anyone's time.
That being said there is still something I am stuck on and this is what is holding me back in making decisions regarding getting my FNP. I got my RN in 2007 and my background is PICU. I'm not sure exactly which area I want to focus on but my research in talking to other NPs is that FNP is much more marketable and allows for more flexibility should I change my mind or want to try other specialties. I am interested in working in the PICU but I am also interested in Diabetic/Endocrinology and I don't want to turn my back on caring for adults but my experience and preference is Peds. I think an acute care environment might interest me more and I am even interested in working with a hospitalist group. The children's hospital I work for is finally hiring NPs in the PICU (a current coworker who just graduated) as well as with the hospitalist groups.
I am currently in an MSN-ED program and planned on doing a post-Master's NP program once I figured out a few more things about what I want to do.
The question is this....right now I am enjoying bedside nursing so I am not in a rush to get into a program but I do want to get as much school out of the way. At the same time it keeps pulling on me. Maybe it's self doubt that I can do this, or just feeling like I need more experience, I'm not sure. I guess I'm afraid I will get into it and miss bedside nursing. I think I will love having more decision power and autonomy as a NP but I also love being able to clock out and be done at my current job. Ok, here's the question (really) am I able to work as a bedside nurse after I have gotten my NP? My hospital (chain) just put a ban on NPs working as bedside nurses but I have seen on here where people work bedside until they can find the right (or any) NP job. Also wondering if anyone has done this (gone back to bedside after NP).
I just haven't seen enough info to help me answer my question. Thank you in advance.
Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.
I'm a new NP, so keep that in mind lol. However, I found that after I started going to NP school, got closer and closer to graduation, then graduated and was waiting for Boards, etc, before practicing, doing beside was starting to feel more and more like a hassel. I wanted to be the one making the decisions, not carrying out the tasks! Don't get me wrong, I loved bedside before I started my NP program, and I really liked the acute care setting. But gah, the weeks between accepting my FT NP job and actually starting it were like the most painful of my life! I used to teach clinicals for the BSN students, LOVE that, and hope to get back into that one day to keep my hand in the bedside game.
Christen, that is what I imagine will happen. I think once I get into it I will be itching to apply what I'm learning and gain that new experience. It's just making that leap. Haha! I too am interested in teaching clinicals, so that is one of my goals once MSN is complete.
Let me tell you guys precepting for clinicals is difficult. I've done it occasionally and when you are working full time and trying to precept - ugh is about all I can say. There are simply not enough hours in the day to precept as well as do your job.
Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.
Agreed! I did two 8 hour shifts with the BSN students on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and for the first month or so every day after clinical I went home and took a NAP! Teaching is exhausting!
I think it would depend on your NP speciality. For example if you were a NNP working on an adult unit or an adult nurse practitioner working in a NICU you would surely only be held to an RN's standard as those patients would be outside your practitioner scope. Things get a bit hairy if you are functioning as an RN in an area you are also where certified as an NP. However, I have known FNPs to do it for financial reasons. Which makes me nervous about getting a NP. This is a question for me too as I am debating between FNP and NNP. I'd love to practice as a FNP in my rural area but my heart breaks at the thought of leaving the NICU! If I do FNP, I'd love to work as a RN occasionally in the NICU. This actually sounds like a question for the board of nursing in our particular states. Good luck with your decision.
I'm going through this same debate!! I have finally settled on doing my NNP (my work will pay for it 100%) and then, IF I get tired of being in the hospital, I will go back for a post-master's in either PNP or FNP and do outpatient.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
We have a bunch of NPs working as bedisde nurses in the SICU where I work. I can think of 5. There may be more I don't know about. All of them were our staff nurses before they got their NP. They are not treated any different now than they were before they got their NP. It's a total non-issue.
So Woosah - did you get that post-MSN cert to do NP?
Well, I am two classes from finishing my MSN. I did an RN to MSN online program. I had two large breaks (a year) because I just abhor my program and keep losing the motivation (it's embarrassing that it's taken me 5 years). Also had a wedding and a big cross country move and new job all in there so some of the breaks were to accommodate that. So, almost done. But I'm not sure on the NP part. I just am not sure what I want to do with it. Still enjoying bedside and not quite ready to do a FT NP program, not work (we need my income) and rack up another several thousand dollars in debt. Check back with me in 5 years.
Christen, ANP
290 Posts
I'm a new NP, so keep that in mind lol. However, I found that after I started going to NP school, got closer and closer to graduation, then graduated and was waiting for Boards, etc, before practicing, doing beside was starting to feel more and more like a hassel. I wanted to be the one making the decisions, not carrying out the tasks! Don't get me wrong, I loved bedside before I started my NP program, and I really liked the acute care setting. But gah, the weeks between accepting my FT NP job and actually starting it were like the most painful of my life! I used to teach clinicals for the BSN students, LOVE that, and hope to get back into that one day to keep my hand in the bedside game.