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title: What's A Day in the Life of A Nurse Practitioner Really Like? | ThriveAP
description: Check out my guest blog entry on the HEALTHeCAREERS helps nurse practitioners among other healthcare professionals find jobs.  I would highly recommend looking at their website the next time you are seeking employment. I wake up early, take my dog for a jog and then sip a cup of coffee while I watch the morning … What’s A Day in the Life of A Nurse Practitioner Really Like? Read More »
---

[ThriveAP Blog ](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog)

# [What's A Day in the Life of A Nurse Practitioner Really Like? | ThriveAP](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/whats-day-life-nurse-practitioner-really)

 Written by [Erin Tolbert, MSN, FNP-C](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/author/erin) | Jun 14, 2012 4:00:00 AM

Check out my [guest blog entry](https://blog.healthecareers.com/blog/medical-careers/whats-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-nurse-practitioner-really-like) on the [HEALTHeCAREERS](https://www.healthecareers.com/) helps nurse practitioners among other healthcare professionals find jobs.  I would highly recommend looking at their website the next time you are seeking employment.

 I wake up early, take my dog for a jog and then sip a cup of coffee while I watch the morning news.  I write a blog entry for my website, [ ThriveAP,](https://thriveap.com/blog/) which helps aspiring nurse practitioners choose a nurse practitioner program. I don’t have to be at work today until 10 which is nice. I shower, [put on some scrubs](https://thriveap.com/blog/our-5-favorite-brands-scrubs#) and then drive to the hospital. I work in an emergency department in Nashville, TN.

 Once at work, I hit the ground running. There is rarely a slow day [in the ER](https://thriveap.com/blog/last-night-er) and today is no exception. I pick up two charts and and immediately begin seeing patients. My first patient is a 31 year old male with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. My second is a 65 year old female with chest pain. Good start, these are very routine patients, I know exactly what to do. I head back to my desk and begin putting in orders; a chest X-Ray, EKG, labs, nitro and aspirin for the woman with chest pain, IV fluids and zofran for the patient with vomiting. I pause to review an EKG as the nurse slides it onto my desk.

 As I start to document my history, physical and exam findings, I hear another chart being placed in the rack and leave my desk to get the chart and see the next patient. A 29 year old male with shortness of breath. Should be straightforward; usually males in their 20’s are fairly healthy and not complex patients.

 As I enter the room, I see that I am wrong. This guy looks sick, but why? His chest X-Ray looks terrible; extensive right sided pneumonia and developing pneumonia in the left lower lung. After questioning him further, I find he is an IV drug user which could be the reason for the extensive infection. A CT scan of his chest shows he may have septic emboli and there is also concern for endocarditis. An interesting case to say the least.

 I am at my desk catching up on some charting and eating a quick snack when one of the nurses asks for a provider (MD, NP or PA where I work) to quickly see the patient in room 3. An ambulance has brought in a patient with abdominal pain, vomiting and a blood pressure of 75/35. Not good. I quickly get up and go see the patient. I order IV fluids and labwork. I also notify my supervising physician that I have an unstable patient and ask him to go take a look. He confirms I have the right treatment plan and asks me to keep him updated on the patient’s condition.

 Finally, 6 p.m. arrives. I have had a busy, but good day. I’ve seen 18 patients and have sutured two lacerations, drained two abscesses and admitted four patients to the hospital. This has been a pretty typical day in my life as a nurse practitioner.

 I love working as a [nurse practitioner](https://thriveap.com/blog/day-life-er-nurse-practitioner). My job is interesting, challenging and fun. I work hard, but am able to have a flexible schedule. I highly recommend a career as a nurse practitioner to anyone interested in healthcare. To learn more about becoming a nurse practitioner, the nurse practitioner profession, or to purchase the 2012 Guide to Nurse Practitioner Programs from ThriveAP.com.  To see the latest nurse practitioner job openings, visit [HEALTHeCAREERS.com](https://www.healthecareers.com).

[View full post](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/whats-day-life-nurse-practitioner-really)

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