Mid-life crisis alert - should I become an NP?

[Anonymous]

After ten years of management consulting, I've had it. The salary is nice, but the job sucks. I think I want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. I'm promise I'm not drunk (right now). I'm not having more children, we can manage the tuition, and I feel like it would bring more job security and less slime than consulting. Plus, I honestly think I would love it.

Am I crazy? Is this doable? Any NPs who can speak to the profession? I have a lot of nurses in the family, and all have told me to go NP. I'm also seeing a lot of programs for a Clinical Nurse Leader; is that a comparable path or a made-up title?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Clinical nurse leader is a role meant for bedside nursing. Personally I think it's BS and no one really knows how to integrate it. I'm in the clinical portion of an NP program now. I'm really enjoying it, but it's not all puppies and rainbows. I would try to shadow a few people before you commit. Look at accelerated Bachelor's to MSN/NP programs.

[Anonymous]

Also, be sure the job market will be there when you graduate.

The "nursing shortage" drove many people to get a degree in nursing. The market got flooded with new graduate nurses with no experience when the market needed highly experienced nurses. Especially in inner cities. So now, there are many unemployed nurses because they dont have experience and they only want to work in the hospital up the road, not the inner cities.

[Anonymous]

I left the law and now I am 2/3 of the way through a midwifery program. We have made sacrifices but I'm glad I did it and excited for where I am.

[Anonymous]

I am a peds NP and I think it is a very rewarding profession....but I chose nursing as my first career and worked as a nurse first. It wouldn't hurt to speak with someone at Catholic (they have a well respected program) or University of Maryland. They would probably be able to set you up with a shadow day depending on what you think you want to do (peds office, versus PICU, etc). They could also let you know what a BS to MSN/NP would look like & how long it would take. That would give you more information so you could make a decision.
Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

15:48 here again- I forgot to address the clinical nurse leader part of your post. The previous poster was correct. This is NOT an advanced practice nursing degree but rather a way for those who already have a BS in a non-nursing specialty to become bedside registered nurses. The Master's degree that is granted is far mor appealing to applicants than just another bachelor's degree. It really just confuses most employers and definitely is not what you want if you are interested in becoming a NP.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that you are about to make a serious education commitment. I made a career change into nursing at 40. Even though I had a prior degree (finance) and dreaded the thought of pursuing another Bachelor's, I ruled out the CNL program for all the reasons others have listed and, instead, pursue an accelerated BSN. It took 1.5 years to complete the prerequisites required for entry into the program since my first degree was not science-based. The accelerated nursing program took almost 1.5 INTENSE years to complete (accelerated programs are no joke!). There are different opinions on whether you should get a few years of nursing experience under your belt before you pursue NP---I opted to work in the field as an RN for a few years after being advised that this would make me a much stronger candidate for NP programs. Another factor to keep in mind is that there is a mandate for all NP programs to become DNP (doctoral level) which lengthens the educational commitment further. At University of Maryland, you can't get a Master's level NP---they're all DNP commitments. Despite having a four year degree, when it's all said and done, I will have completed *another* 6-8 years of schooling (depending on whether pursuing the NP full-time or part-time). Some might say, "why didn't you just become a doctor". I was certainly smart enough---but I'd rather be a nurse---and there are many in our field who would say the same! Completely different model of practicing healthcare. It's a rewarding endeavor---but you need to go in with eyes wide open about the level of commitment this is going to take. Best of luck to you! If the prospect of that much additional education is too daunting, a faster route into healthcare would be to become a Physician's Assistant but your career options will be much more extensive as a Nurse Practitioner.

[Anonymous]

Second degree NP-to-be here, finish up at Georgetown in August. Similar to PP, had a BA, so first had to spend 1yr+ taking science prereqs. Then I went to a 1 year accelerated BS in Nursing and it was VERY intense. Worked a little over a year in an CVICU to decide whether or not I would go the CRNA vs NP route, decided I would rather help PREVENT cardiovascular disease than be in the OR all day My program has been absolutely treacherous. Clinical rotations have been enjoyable but the didactic work was grueling, multiple people failede out, dropped out, or dropped to part time. I believe this is specific to Georgetown's program as my friends at Hopkins, Columbia, Penn did not appear to have it as hard. As PP mentioned, there is a push toward the DNP and some schools have phased out the MS program (but not all), and you would be grandfathered in if they ever got around to mandating the doctorate. Note that even the MS route emphasizes research, EBP, and academia which adds a considerable amount of work. From what I hear, PA programs have less of fluff. Good luck with your decision, it is not an easy path but there certainly is job security, and I was offered a job 6 months prior to graduation.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who recently did this and found it really grueling. She was older, and it took months to find a job afterward.

[Anonymous]

My wife is considering returning to school for family NP. She earns 52 an hr as a nurse. Do NPs, upon graduating, start at the same pay even with years of experience working as a nurse? Are NP's schedules setup similar to a nursing schedule where the newest nurses have the lowest priority in work flexibility?

[Anonymous]

I am an FNP with 13 years experience. Do you want to do general peds, inpatient or specialty? You might consider FNP as you may have more opportunities and could still work in general peds. My 1st job was in office pediatrics but as an FNP I was able to specialize in a field where I see adults and children that I enjoy. I prefer specialty care, usually you get more time for your visits. The more time you can spend makes all the difference.

I have friends who did the PNP track and some of them burnt out of office pediatrics with 10 minute visits after a few years. It depends where you land. Not all offices are like that.

It will definitely be more rewarding than many other fields. I cannot speak to clinical nurse leader field.

New grad NPs usually make less than seasoned RNs. It depends on the field, outpatient primary care is usually less. And it will vary widely depending on where you are.

NPs are scheduled similar to MDs in outpatient setting. You are usually salaried for specific hours.

[Anonymous]

Follow your heart, OP!

[Anonymous]

Are there any other rewarding and profitable and ROI degrees in the medical field? I subscribed to a nursing forum and there is a TON of depressed nurses who hate their job and just stay because of the pay.

[Anonymous]

Why is management consulting slimey?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second degree NP-to-be here, finish up at Georgetown in August. Similar to PP, had a BA, so first had to spend 1yr+ taking science prereqs. Then I went to a 1 year accelerated BS in Nursing and it was VERY intense. Worked a little over a year in an CVICU to decide whether or not I would go the CRNA vs NP route, decided I would rather help PREVENT cardiovascular disease than be in the OR all day My program has been absolutely treacherous. Clinical rotations have been enjoyable but the didactic work was grueling, multiple people failede out, dropped out, or dropped to part time. I believe this is specific to Georgetown's program as my friends at Hopkins, Columbia, Penn did not appear to have it as hard. As PP mentioned, there is a push toward the DNP and some schools have phased out the MS program (but not all), and you would be grandfathered in if they ever got around to mandating the doctorate. Note that even the MS route emphasizes research, EBP, and academia which adds a considerable amount of work. From what I hear, PA programs have less of fluff. Good luck with your decision, it is not an easy path but there certainly is job security, and I was offered a job 6 months prior to graduation.

MaY I ask, how old are you right now? And, how old are your children?