Any regrets NP's?

I have been a critical care nurse now for 18yrs and feel like I am ready for a change. I still love critical care but I am getting older. I work 3 12hr days and have 6wks vacation. Some of the physicians and my peers are encouraging me to go back to school to be a NP. However I have talked with a couple NPs and they have told me for the long hours they work and five days a week they should of stayed at the bedside? Another NP is working on his DNP because he feels this is going to be required for future reimbursement?? I would appreciate any advice this is really a tough decision
I recently started my first NP job last week and so far never looked back! I work M-F, part-time (my choice); no weekends, no holidays, no call. I love it! I also cannot complain about the pay. So far - no regrets, and I am happy to be working again (after leaving the ED over a year ago to finish up school).
There is some recent literature explaining the rationale that all NP's by 2015 I think, will need the DNP if we want to be taken seriously as a profession we have to compare the practice credentials as with PT and Pharmacists, they all graduate with advanced degrees now, the PhD level.:redpinkhe