working as an RN after NP?

[kahra]

Hi all!

I recently graduated nursing school and have been working as an RN for the past few months. Eventually I know I want to go on to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, but I am trying to figure out the best way to go about this.

I LOVE floor nursing in pediatrics and do not necessarily want to stop doing this any time soon, however, I have heard it is a good idea to get education out of the way before settling down, starting a family, etc. My goal eventually is to provide healthcare to low income kids and possibly practice some overseas in health shortage areas, which is why I want the increased autonomy that advanced practice nursing would provide. Side note, I am also one of the weird ones who loved nursing school and I love learning anything and everything about medical practice so I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to go back to school as soon as possible.

My question is basically this: Is there any way to get a job as an RN after gaining PNP licensure? Like I said, I love floor nursing, but I would have to move for all of the PNP programs I am looking at so I would have to find a new RN job after graduating. My ideal situation would be to get a job as an RN in a pediatric hospital and then volunteer at a free health clinic of some sort as a PNP after graduation so that I can still work on the floor as an RN but I would be gaining some experience as a PNP. Does anyone know if this is even possible/what legal ramifications exist for PNPs working as RNs/would hospitals hire PNPs as RNs? Also, would it be wise for me to go back to school right away, or is it more beneficial to wait but risk the possibility of school interfering with family life later on? Thanks so much! :)

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

There's a lot of talk about being held to your highest license. So if working as an RN but you are also a PNP...you can be held to the PNP while working as an RN. I don't know how true this but I think I would be talking to the BON about this and getting really accurate information.

As far as going right into the PNP...I know many require peds experience. You may be force to work for a year or 2 before you can get into a PNP program.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

There is a debate about liability in an NP practicing as an NP. There is no clear-cut answer to that.

Truth is most practicing NPs don't want to work as RNs anymore; the scope is so different, you need to maintain your practice hours, and there often isn't time in a work week. I have two colleagues that moonlighted as RNs for extra money and one has since stopped and the other is talking about stopping.

You tend to like the NP role or not like it.

[TammyG]

Agree with BostonFNP that you will probably not feel the same about holding an RN job after you have an NP license. As I went through my NP program and gained more clinical experience, I definitely found many aspects of my RN job much less satisfying than I had, and really preferred the autonomy of the NP role.

We have a recently graduated FNP working as an RN at my agency while she finds a job, no one has pain much attention to the fact that she is a licensed NP at this time. She is clearly in an RN role, not exercising prescriptive authority. It is an interesting question as to whether she would be held to a higher standard of practice.

[jrt4]

We have several NPs working the general floor as bedside RNs. All employees work under a job description and are coded as such...if they extend outside their job description (regardless of education level) then the organization is not liable...This also protects them if something were to happen that is within the authority of an NP to correct...This has been reviewed by the legal department at our organization.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

We have several NPs working the general floor as bedside RNs. All employees work under a job description and are coded as such...if they extend outside their job description (regardless of education level) then the organization is not liable...This also protects them if something were to happen that is within the authority of an NP to correct...This has been reviewed by the legal department at our organization.

From my understanding this effectively protects the organization, but leaves the individual at increased risk.

[iluvgusgus]

I've worked with a nurse who was also a NP, all her notes were signed with her highest credentials in the EMR, which was confusing to me by seeing her notes on charts and seeing "nurse practitioner". But she was just a staff nurse and that seemed to be fine for our floor. She just preferred bedside nursing to NP after all was said and done. I dont think there was anything wrong with that.

[BiotoBSNtoFNP]

I know a few NPs who are also working as RNs. One is hired as an RN as a school nurse but also works as an NP in the ED. Two others I work with have NP degrees but are working as RNs on the floor. Not sure about the legal ramifications, but people definitely do it!

[FNPdude74]

I would say get your experience as an RN if you are not yet in NP school. If possible, work and go to school as a NP student is another option. After you get at least 1 year of RN experience, you should be good to go in terms of having prior experience as an RN. After you get your PNP license and start a job as a NP, focus on that. There's so much to learn as a new NP. I would only focus on being an NP as a new grad. After you get about 3-5 years of experience as an NP, if you still want to do floor RN duties, then go for it. Personally, I focused so much on NP skills that I would rather look for NP jobs. For example, I wouldn't be giving steroid injections, doing minor surgery, reducing simple dislocations as an RN and I do all of this as a FNP.

[xiaobear007]

I had the same concern too. I am new , not a year experience yet, but fortunately accepted in to NP school .I will try my best to work PRN to get a year RN experience first.

I really enjoy disease diagnosis and health assessment, patho, pharma when I was in school so I think NP is the way to go for me. I like bedside too but it is just too tiring dealing with other stuff that I cannot focus on critical thinking, which I love to do.

Is there a really magic number that nurse has to work a year as RN in order to go to NP program? I also have family so I am not sure if I can balance all this but will just try.

Otherwise, I am also thinking about working as a RN after NP school to get the magic number 1 year RN experience done . Because my area job market is saturated. Any advice? Is it a good game plan for me?

[olvr00]

I have been offered a job in a clinic with a dual role as FNP and RN. Any thoughts on this. Thank you.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I have been offered a job in a clinic with a dual role as FNP and RN. Any thoughts on this. Thank you.

Oh that would concern me. When are you the FNP and when are you the RN? Are you being paid as an FNP or RN? What happens if you are RN and something needs care at the level of the FNP? I would need to know so many details of how they think this can work.