I am a new RN who would like to pursue a NP degree in the future. What is the best area to gain experience in as a RN to be prepared to practice as a NP? Critical care? Med/Surg? ER? How many years experience as an RN is necessary? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi and congrats on your RN! As to what nursing experience is best and how much to have....get into something you like and go from there. Its difficult to say what is the "best" experience. I had 1 year ICU and 10 years ER experience and now I work in nephrology. My employer liked my years of dealing with emergencies. However, another potential employer (at a derm practice) thought my years of ER would make me less customer-focused. So...it just varies. There are quite a few APNs on the board...so you should be getting some more responses.

Hello Raebeth,

I totally agree with traumaRUs. Select an area of nursing that you think you will enjoy. Go from there. I was in OB (became OB-GYN NP) and then worked in education, cardiac emergencies, ED, rural health (became FNP later).

By working in something that interests you, you will be better able to select an area of APN specialty that you want to pursue later.

Good luck with your decisions!! And, congratulations on your RN!!

Agreed with Siri & Trauma. I jumped into Burn ICU and really appreciate what I gained even though it wasn't for years and years!

NP's I know have run the gamut of previous experience settings and they are all great providers.

Congrats and do what you love

As I stated in a previous thread. Some experience is a must but too much experience is detrimental in my opinion. ( but that's just my take on it.)

I found I took too many bad nursing habits with me as I entered the realm of the NP.

I have the same question. Check out the thread I started. I'm getting a pretty good amount of replies...

CrazyPremed