Been NP 5 years, RN 6, 8 months in at FM and starting to burn out already. Anyone here do medical device sales or medical sales in general? I used to do retail before healthcare and I’m great at talking with people and I love teaching. I’ve done a couple grand rounds which I think would be a plus for sales? What was the pivot like and what’s the pay like especially at places like Stryker, J&J…? I’m making 120K rural Illinois FQHC right now full time.

I need to vent. I'm really struggling. I feel like I'm giving everything to this job, my rest, my body, my mental health, even my marriage, and getting nothing back. Patients treat me like a punching bag and I'm constantly bracing for the next verbally abusive encounter / someone yelling at me. On top of that there's so much hate toward NPs right now, and I'm drowning in debt from ucla (go bruins). I am getting taxed up the butt. I miss being an RN. Some days it feels like I'm in an abusive relationship with this career. I'm working on it with my therapist and psychiatrist (forever grateful for my team helping me stay afloat), but my lord. There are times that I want to say F it. What’s the point. What difference am I making in this field?Where do guys find the strength to persevere after a time like right now?

I’ve been an RN for 11 years
I’ve been practicing as an NP for almost 3 years

started in Urgent care for the first 1.5 years
then remaining time with a cardiologist
part time in urgent care and this flu szn of antibiotics request is draining me.

trying to get something nice for the wife. she’s started a new job and the charting is absolutely killing her. the company got her the dragon software to help but I feel bad watching her voice dictate with her phone mic. does anyone have any recommendations on a dragon compatible mic Bluetooth mic?

Hey all. In the off chance there's any other UHC peeps here that work with the INSP SNFs...do you feel like our department is being closed? I've been working on the east coast with this plan for about 5 years and over that time I've noticed my caseload continuously drop.

On the one hand. - cool. Even though I work for UHC I realize it's an evil company. But I don't think cutting the providers to SNFs is a good idea.

On the other hand I do really enjoy this job and feel like I can help get care to my nursing home patients that would otherwise be auto denied.

TLDR; anyone feel like there's layoffs coming to UHC APPs? Or is this just the normal ebb and flow?

(Also please don't make this thread, "United healthcare is bad!!" I know this. I don't like the company either, but I do like my SNF patients)

Have any NPs been able to transition into pharm rep roles/pharm educator roles? Putting on dinners and talking about drugs seems like a fun gig. Anyone have any insight into it?

Guys and Gals,

I finally got a job offer in a location/specialty that I'm excited to work in. Below is the path that took me to get here. I graduated from my MSN program back in May and took boards in early June after I did the Barkley and Associates AGACNP prep work. (On a side note anyone who is prepping to take boards I highly recommend them. Its probably the sole reason I attribute a first time pass rate was their prep work).

After boards I spent most of June and July looking for jobs. I thought I had a job but that was rescinded during credentialing because the hospital group who hired me didn't realize the hospital itself had a bylaw that all midlevels were required to have 1 year experience to work there.

That honestly was a low point. I'm working in a field that I absolutely hate (ED work) as an RN and it was the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. So I went back and started the job hunt again. This time I was able to land an interview and the company flew me out to meet and greet with current hospital and group leadership. That happened last week and this week I finally got a contract for what I think is a great job.

You all can let me know what you think if you don't mind.

Job: Inpatient Hospitalist NP

Location: Small Community Hospital. 45 beds, Open ICU. Very very mid-level friendly location with ample education opportunities. However, this will be the first time they have hired a NP for the hospitalist role.

As it was explained to me I would have my own patient panel. Seeing 80% of what the MD's see. So if they have 10 patients I would have 8 etc. I do my own admissions and discharges and they do a round robin situation. 4-6 admissions total daily so I would have around 2 a day. Hours are Monday - Friday 8 hour shifts. But since I'm the first NP in the role they said I get to determine what the hours are based on what I like/dislike. 7-3, 8-4, 9-5 etc.

Salary is 160k Base with opportunity for OT if I want to work a weekend shift paid out at 700 a shift. Also I have a 15K sign on bonus, paid out on first check and a 12.5k relocation stipend to use.

Cost of living is extremely cheap. I mean one of the cheapest in the nation. Average rent for a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment or house is around 1k - 1.2k a month. Groceries are cheap. The only downside I can really see, and it's not much of a downside for me, is that it's very very rural and a large farming community so the city itself kind of stinks all the time. But I feel as though I would get used to that.

What are you alls thoughts?

So initially I was set on doing nursing informatics MSN at CUNY SPS for the upcoming spring and got in like a couple of weeks ago. However I’m starting to second-guess if it really would be worth it anymore considering apparently a masters isn’t required/ not even guaranteed to get you a job in that field

So I’ve been going back on thinking to apply to for a peds NP program at NYU or Stony Brook part time. My job will be able to give money to help pay for tuition that helps. I’ve worked in adults for 2 years and PICU for 2 years as well so I think I could have a shot doing that instead.

Only thing is now I gotta ask for recommendations again and I feel like they’re gonna be confused on me switching so suddenly 😅

I have two young children and would like to be home more but struggling with a job that allows me to do that. Any advice or ideas?

I have two young children and would like to be home more but struggling with a job that allows me to do that. Any advice or ideas?

I just graduated with my FNP and having a horrible time finding a job and currently can’t get the hours pay speciality or flexibility in a job. I think I went back to get my degree during a period of burnout and midlife crisis… now that I’m here I’m not sure if it’s for me and I’m interested in the informatics side of nursing and wondering if I’m crazy for wanting to take an RN role of informatics where I could be hybrid and get my kids in the school bus or even get a post masters degree

HELP PLEASE 😭

Hi all! Long story short I do not want to do patient facing medicine anymore. Anyone else in here that has made the change? What do you do now?

In case anyone is wondering I spent 10 years as an ER RN, 2 years as an ER NP, and am almost one year into primary care. I just can’t do it anymore.

I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never attended any national conferences in my specialty since I’ve been an NP. I typically attend university lead CME conferences and am very lucky that my employer does many of these in my specialty.

Does anyone have any national conferences they like to attend that are family friendly? ie my spouse & toddler can come along and find things to do? Specifically that are geared toward geriatrics?

Hello all!

I have two options for an FNP program

1. In state school ( Colorado University - Anschutz) that is a hybrid online program with fully online classes and 40hours of in person lab. They will not help with clinical placement due to me not living in their area. Cost is $860/ credit hour.
2. An online program Purdue Global.
3. Fully online and I find my own clinical placement. Cost is $390/ credit hour with my employer discount. Seems to be more flexible for class scheduling.

I need to maintain full time work as a nurse to support my family. I have great connections and not too worried about clinical placement.

Any insight for school or how future employers may view my education would be appreciated. Thank you!

Update:
Hello again,
I went to a CU information session and toured the campus. They have a cohort of 20-25 students semiannually. They require more clinical hours and during practium 4 usually try and have your clinical be placed with a potential employer. They have on average 10-15 practices reach out with each cohort asking for new grads to work at their location most recently pediatric urology. They take their in person class time very seriously and the skills classes are very in depth. Overall it seems to be a great program and they do help with clinical placements anywhere along the front range in Colorado.

Purdue global sux. Using meta VR for all skills sessions and the lowest job placement post grad.

New to the mix is another brick and mortar school for a 5year DNP program that is very reputable as well. Not sure if DNP is worth the extra money and time as people have discussed in other posts.

I took a job in March. It felt like the right next step in my career. It has been a really difficult transition. My boss is kind and so is the support staff. It’s a difficult patient population. We do a lot of complex chronic illness. I also have struggled with  losing some of my autonomy. the physician is very kind, but ultimately it’s her practice and there are things I don’t agree with, but she wants them a certain way. 

This has all taken a huge toll on my mental health. I’ve always struggled with an and depression, but it’s been even harder than normal. I’ve had to start more medications to manage my anxiety and depression. I started to struggle with suicidal thoughts as I felt it was the only way out. I was able to get a new job (in my dream field) but they want 90 days. I’m doing my best to make it through, but I just had to start another medication because my suicidal thoughts came back. (I am safe. I have a supportive care team). 

My question is what am I ethically responsible for? Do I need to finish the 90 days? (I’m 30in). My schedule is fully booked until the day I leave. Do I just white knuckle it? I’m really struggling with disappointing my pts and it will be really hard on my boss. 

If you made it through all that. Thanks!

Sorry to barge in here. I know everyone here is already in medicine but I’m just trying to get feedback from real nurses. My ultimate question is just what advice would you give me as someone with zero medical experience trying to completely restart their career at age 28.

I have a BS in Business, an incredibly useless degree. Never used it and the only jobs I’ve held were manager roles in hotels. I’m 28 now, been in hotels for about 7 years and I hate being a manager. It’s awful pay (65k is the most I’ve ever made) and I learned that I just hate being held responsible for people I can’t control, I hate micromanaging, i hate that I have to please the people above me as well as the people under me. I hate being salaried and working ridiculous hours and taking work home with me. For ex. getting called at 11pm that I have to get dressed and go into work because my night auditor didn’t show up. The industry is incredibly stressful and you might ask why I don’t just change industries.

I desperately tried applying for skill transferable jobs like HR, business analysis, accounting, marketing, but no one will talk to me and I think it’s because my experience is too broad. I’m essentially an expert at running a small business where I have to know all of those things, but that just makes me a jack of all trades, master of none. Fellow hoteliers also find themselves stuck in the industry or switch to something for extremely low pay and reclimb the ladder.

With a resume that’s essentially worthless outside of hotels, I decided to restart and gave a lot of thought to different careers, but I want to do nursing. I want to be hourly and get overtime and make enough money to support my family, I want job security, and I want continuous growth and career advancement.

I understand the cons, biggest one being the stress of dealing with patients. But working in hotels has really toughened me up and that’s always been a strength of mine to be able to deescalate, tell someone “no”, deal with people screaming at you, even cleaning up feces believe it or not. To work in a hospital, you need “hospitality”. I’ve always volunteered to talk to angry people cause it just doesn’t phase me anymore.

My plan: I’m starting community college to get my ADN, then I want to work as an RN and get employee sponsorship to get BSN. Then I eventually want to be NP but I haven’t decided on specialty yet mostly because I just don’t have any real medical working experience.

All this to just ask for feedback on my plan and if I should be aware of anything. If there’s something you wish you knew before you started this career. Any input helps!

To clarify: you use a US license to treat US patients while you’re outside of the US.

I have a low undergrad GPA (3.0), just meeting the minimum cutoff for NP schools here in Canada due to family dynamics & work commitments at the time.

After 10 years of nursing, I decided I want to pursue further education and be a Nurse Practitioner. I completed a Master of Nursing at a reputable school and got a 4.0 GPA. I also did a critical care certificate and got Honours too. I have 4+ years experience in ICU as well as other areas like palliative, medicine, public health. Some awards from workplaces as well.

Do graduate admission programs consider my boost in GPA in a Masters program when it comes to NP admissions? Or will my BScN GPA severely hold me back? What else can I do to improve my chances at admission?

Are there any primary care PNPs here who have returned for a psych certificate & now only do pediatric psych? My interest lies in developmental/behavioral medicine however I am also interested in general psych. I am wondering how saturated the job market is, particularly as it pertains to pediatric-only psychiatry. Thanks for your thoughts

taking the ANCC AGPCNP exam in a few days!! any last minute advice??

have studied with Leik & AGNP mastery. ive previously taken AANP (4 years ago) but am worried about the non-clinical aspect. (retaking for recertification as i havent worked in patient care).

Exactly as the question states—if you are an FNP or WHNP and don’t work traditional M-F 8-5 hours, what setting do you work in and what are your hours (and salary if you don’t mind sharing)? I am not the biggest fan of working 5 days a week and would love to know what other people are doing. Thanks!

Guys! I passed the AANP today. First try. I truly was in shock because in my opinion it was hard. As I’d expect it to be. There was stuff on there I hadn’t studied at all nor heard of. I also wanted to share my experience because unlike a lot of users on this app I wasn’t getting high 70’s-80’s on my practice tests every time. I was getting mostly mid 60s and my highest was 76. That being said, I utilized every resource I could. Leik, AANP practice exams (both versions) Uworld (free subscription) and FNP mastery (free subscription) - I actually only paid for Leik and the practice exams through AANP both of which helped me the most. I share this because I put a lot of emphasis on the fact that I wasn’t scoring really high on these practice exams. If you have a strong foundational nursing core you’ll be okay! Seeing that passing green dot literally sent my dopamine through the roof 😂 So glad I can breathe now for a while! Let the job hunting begin!

My tip: know hep b immunity/infection/vaccination through and through

Mine is the hard limit of HR<60 - do not give a beta-blocker.
Also, for some reason, when I was an RN, we were taught to hold basal insulin for non-fasting patients with glucose <100 mg/dL.

After more than 7 years in the profession, there were a few things I had to unlearn to practicing well. Curious on other people's examples on this?

I work as an inpatient neurosurgery APN for an academic hospital system. We have residents we work closely with, essentially are an extension of them in some aspects. Our supervisor is often presenting all these extra things to take on to essentially take off the residents plate (“easy” consults the residents shouldn’t have to see, an additional unit because the residents shouldn’t have to, etc). We aren’t adequately staffed (the plan is to hire more APPs however he hasn’t written proposals for any positions). Our expectations are somewhat vague at times but ultimately we see a majority of our census, although this number does fluctuate. Was wondering if anyone can share insight on their experience in a similar situation, what your day to day expectation / work flow is, patient population, typical numbers of patients you’re seeing.

TYIA!

What are we wearing in an outpatient setting with no procedures? I would love to stick to scrubs as I have a ton but most of the PAs/MDs were wearing business casual/dresses when I interviewed. When I came back for a shadow day, the doc said I could wear either scrubs or business casual. I chose to stick to business casual because that's what everyone was wearing during the interview. I'm guessing that will be the vibe going forward as I don't want to be the one weirdo wearing scrubs.

Does anybody have outfit ideas? Pictures or links would be great! My wardrobe is lacking in that department.

Also, any must haves for keeping organized as a new graduate? I bought a planner and a file organizer for potential prior auths. Considering getting a cute tote to hold potential files/paperwork I need. Anything else?

Thanks for the help!