[mvanz9999]

Trauma basically got something to stick in my head that others have been trying to tell me, but I didn't get.

I'm currently in the I/T field and have been looking at nursing for a long time. Because of time/financial constraints, neither the ADN or accelerated BSN is very doable. So I was looking into a couple of Direct Entry MSN programs (Master of Science in Nursing for Non-Nursing Majors) as an NP.

Trauma suggested that I call a few nursing recruiters at the major hospitals in Chicagoland, and they all told me that they would NOT hire a Nurse Practitioner without a minimum of 3-5 years clinical experience. The recruiters don't see how or where graduate students are getting clinical experience, and without that, they aren't going to hire a new grad as an NP. Moreover, the grad schools naturally don't mention this little factoid, and some of us don't see it at first.

It's not that I'm averse to working as a staff RN, but it's a very important point to keep in mind when paying and attending grad school. You're going to come out and be paid as any other RN would. It's not going to do a whole lot of good outright. That will, at least, add 5 or more years to the time that it will take to become a practicing Nurse Practitioner.

Now I need to rethink the whole thing. I'll be 45+ before I start practice. With a whole lot of loans. Hm........anyone have thoughts on this?

[Rosa2Little]

I am currently doing the BSN program full-time after leaving the high tech field. The program at my school allows me to take up to 3 grad level classes that will count toward my master's as well. This option is open to anyone who keeps an honors level GPA in the nursing program.

I'm starting this next semester, with one grad class in addition to my UG classes. My plan is to switch to part-time and work as an RN part-time upon graduation. Doing the NP program part-time should take 2 additional years.

I hope to get an NP position shortly after graduation, but I am committed to doing whatever it takes, and if that means working as a staff nurse for a while longer, so be it. I look at it as if, hey, I'm going to be 45 anyway -- might as well be working on what I want to be when I grow up!

[NYNewGrad]

Originally Posted by Blurr156

Hello to all!!! I have worked as a parmamedic for 20 years,

It's not like you have no experience - If you're a good medic with strong assessment skills and diverse healthcare exposure I think you'll be okay. Maybe not first pick over a NP with 20 years RN experience, but probably on a fair playing field with NPs that have 3-5 years RN experience.

[nurseangel47]

Hi, Blurr156! Blllluuuuthhhhgggghhhh (supposed to be a "raspberry", blown from mouth in taunting way!) don't know how to spell a sound! hehe
to those committee members/et al who think that you " ' haven't paid your dues' " ! ?! How dare they say that a NP student/new grad hasn't paid their dues as a practicing nurse before entering the NP role? What about the experiences gleaned from school? I'm sure that the clinical instructors put them through rigorous training experience on the floors as staff grunt work helpers just like we were trained as nurses in nursing school.. AND I think that the 20 yrs you've held your own in the field as a paramedic is just as good if not better seeing as how it's got it's own stressors and you just have to go with what you've got on the run so to speak and stabilize them before you run 'em in, that this should count as much as nursing in a hospital or other facility...? Am I wrong here? Maybe it's just the way I look at the general picture of things and from the years of experiences I've accrued. Never been a paramedic. Don't think I'd like that kind of danger and adventure every day at work. Regular staff nursing is jangling enough for me, thanks! Hats off to you for being a paramedic...have always admired you guys! First on the scene, scene maybe not safe to be at, perhaps not secured by police/security...guns/knives, the walking wounded, crowds of onlookers...yikes! Not for me.
I digress. Sorry. I totally disagree with that corporate committee's decision. But then, when do the stuffed suits ever make decisions that remotely realistically relate to those of us in the trenches???!!!
Sorry. Just have had it up to my eyeballs in corporate decision making!
Good luck to you in pursuit of perhaps sliding in under this wrong rule!

[traumaRUs]

Hi nurseangel - appreciate your opinion. However, it is sometimes difficult to obtain an NP position with NO RN experience. I will be honest that in my market - I only got interviews because of my 12 years of RN experience (10 in a level one ER and 2 years in a large ICU).

And...when you think about it - did you learn much more than the basics of assessment in nursing school? I didn't. I honed my skills by working in nursing. That lends credence to an advanced practice nurse. Otherwise, you have a new grad with a master's degree, but still a new grad.

[sunnyjohn]

I will start a direct-entry MN/MSN program in May 2007.

Even though I am certain my program will teach me all I need to know, I fully expect to spend time at the bedside AFTER graduation perfecting my clinical skills. I would be nervous if I was just out there with no net.

I think direct-entry programs are great. They allow people with varied experience into the nursing profession. Those of us in these programs are probably a less, well, 'jaded' MSN than the nurse that has had to put up with it for more years.

STILL, we have MUCH to learn from those who have been in the trenches. experience is the best teacher.

IMO the best direct-entry programs are those that encourage us MN/MSN/NP/APN/CNS/CNL/CRNA wannbe's to learn at the bedside, soak up the wisdom of experienced nurses and TAKE OUR TIME.

[tbd75]

mvanz9999,

I am a fellow IT career changer as well. I have been accepted into an accelerated BSN/MSN program (Nurse Practitioner). It will take a total of three years to complete (two years for BSN and one year MSN full-time).

Knowing that I lack nursing experience, I certainly want to gain as much experience as I can while in school. The school I will attend is affiliated with a hospital. I saw the hospital offers nurse externship opportunities for student nurses. I intend to take advantage of this opportunity while pursuing my BSN (students work no more than 32 hours a month). Due to I have the summers off (BSN portion), I am hoping I can do the externship full-time during the summer.

While pursuing the MSN, my plans are to work as a nurse either part-time or full-time.

My suggestion is to look into ways to gain experience while you are pursuing your degrees. This way you can have some experience once you complete your MSN, instead of none.

[Blurr156]

Wow!! Great dialogue going on here. Thanks to all for the comments. A special thank you to nurseangel47 for your positive comments about the paramedic field. Although we do have our interesting moments in the field, it's not always "Rescue 911", believe me. You would be amazed at the minimal things that people will call 911. Anyway, I give a hearty kudos to all those in the healthcare field. Between cost containment and staffing issues, it has been a challenge which affects all of us. On a bit of a down note though, I just found out that I won't be eligible to apply to the program I wanted. It turns out that although you can still have a couple of outstanding prereqs. when you apply, you must have already taken the GRE and I haven't done that. I only came across this program last week. Ah well, more plans to work on. Thanks again to all. Best to all on your educational and career goals. And of course, happy holidays!!!

[mvanz9999]

Originally Posted by tbd75

mvanz9999,

I am a fellow IT career changer as well. I have been accepted into an accelerated BSN/MSN program (Nurse Practitioner). It will take a total of three years to complete (two years for BSN and one year MSN full-time).

Knowing that I lack nursing experience, I certainly want to gain as much experience as I can while in school. The school I will attend is affiliated with a hospital. I saw the hospital offers nurse externship opportunities for student nurses. I intend to take advantage of this opportunity while pursuing my BSN (students work no more than 32 hours a month). Due to I have the summers off (BSN portion), I am hoping I can do the externship full-time during the summer.

While pursuing the MSN, my plans are to work as a nurse either part-time or full-time.

My suggestion is to look into ways to gain experience while you are pursuing your degrees. This way you can have some experience once you complete your MSN, instead of none.

That is basically what I'm planning on doing. Trauma gave me some good advice. The program I'm looking at starts with getting MSN in nursing - 15 months. After you pass the NCLEX, you become RN. The second portion is the post master certificate (ie, NP, CNS) during which they encourage you to work as an RN. So I'll have that year or two of RN experience, then I'll work full time as an RN while pursing an NP-type job.

[sunnyjohn]

Originally Posted by mvanz9999

That is basically what I'm planning on doing. Trauma gave me some good advice. The program I'm looking at starts with getting MSN in nursing - 15 months. After you pass the NCLEX, you become RN. The second portion is the post master certificate (ie, NP, CNS) during which they encourage you to work as an RN. So I'll have that year or two of RN experience, then I'll work full time as an RN while pursing an NP-type job.

Ahh, sounds like the direct-entry program at DePaul. That program is new, but it already has a good rep!