Nurse Practioner without any clinical experience?

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2006

Not sure what she got her NP in, but every NNP that I have worked with always had at least two years of experience in that area before even getting accepted into a program.

Gettin a job as an NP requires experience to get a decent job.

And remember that the title is actually "Advance Practice Registered Nurse, which means your skills build on the knowledge that the nurse has learned.

Sure there are others that will argue otherwise, but after having working in the field for too many years to count, and seeing NPs with and without previous experience, you will pick up on it right away. And there are many, many more that returned toi bedside care because they could not find a job. It also takes about four to six months, if not longer, before a nurse will get their APRN credentials from their state, and that does not even include the preceptorship that is required to ge the DEA number. They need to work during that time.

Patients do too.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2006

And here we are again.

I'm in a direct entry program. For the record, I AGREE with y'all that it's a bad idea. I'm taking a leave to work for as long as I deem fit before I start the Master's program.

HowEVER, I wanted to put in some facts -- the accrediting body does require 2+ experience before certification as a neonatal NP. The way my school handles this is requiring you to work for one year (no school) and then work full time during the Master's phase, giving you 3 yrs. There is also a study (which I don't have in hand right now, but it's somewhere on my desk and I'll update when I find it) showing no difference between the skills of an NP with no experience as rated by their colleagues. That was unclear, I'll rephrase. Colleagues of NPs with no RN experience were polled about their opinion of said NPs quality. Other nurses (RNs and NPs) rated these NPs the same as others who DID have experience. MDs actually rated them higher. I'm a little sceptical myself, but there you are. Make of it what you will.

The way my school justifies it (and we had a biiiig meeting on this bc everyone was freaking out bc many of the nurses at our clinical sites were making their feelings clear to the students) is that it's a different skill set. I know it seems weird to have an NP who has never started an IV, but how often is an NP called upon to perform that skill? Where we are (in NY) floor and unit RNs rarely start their own IVs because there are IV teams that do that. So there's that.

Hitchin up my flame suit...

Gennaver, MSN · Feb 17, 2006

So I know someone who is going through one of those one year BSN programs who wants to go straight through and be a NP.
I told him that I thought it was a bad idea since he has never had the opportunity to make decisions, collaborate with the entire medical team, or be responsible for any patients. (In clinicals, I know that nursing students are expected to be responsible, but ultimately it is the primary nurse and the instructor who take responsibility)
He thinks I am being "bitter" because I "have to work my way through grad school", but I'd really hate to see a nurse practioner out there who has no clue how to take care of a patient. Docs have their internship and residency to learn by doing. I see time spent as a staff nurse on the way to being a nurse practioner as the same thing.
Am I completely off my rocker here? For the record, I can quit whenever I want to go back to school full time, but I like working - I like the financial comfort too much to go back to stressing out at bill time every month!! (But Mr. O'Myacin would work as much OT as I want him to!)
Thanks!
Blee

Hi,

Your friend is sadly mistaken if he thinks that he is going to just go straight through without clinical hours for the NP.

I am in a graduate entry to master's program and have all kinds of misinformation from various direction. However, one thing is clear, NO ONE becomes and NP, (or RN even) without sufficient clinical hours. It takes years, [YEARS]. Just becasue the didactic may seem to go quickly in these programs don't fool yourself, (ourself) the clinicals cannot nor should they be, rushed.

Gen

sunnyjohn · Feb 17, 2006

Elizabells, sounds like your school provides you with close to four year experience before they "throw you to the wolves". That is reasonable. I wish you success and would bring my future kidies to see you in practice.

But the dude in the first post who is trying to get his NP and thinks his friend is bitter is 'kernfused'!

It sounds to me like he doesn't really want to get his hands dirty, wants to be a cheif, but not and indian, wants to lead and not follow, puts the cart before the horse, wnats to cross home plate but bypass 2nd base....

Did I include enough useless analogies???

fergus51 · Feb 17, 2006

NNPs in particular ARE called upon to do bedside skills. They are the ones who are supposed to be able to hit those hard to stick veins, put in piccs and lines, intubate, etc.

emtneel · Feb 18, 2006

I am in a FNP program and i just graduated in May, started my first job as RN, BSN, in Sept. I also did an accelerated program because i have a Bachlors in Biology. Concerning the accelerated BSN programs i think i had a "great" advantage that my first bachelors was science related and not something such as English, ART etc.. also i am an EMT-B.

Last semester (my first) of the grad program i almost thought was a joke, i was almost seriously considering leaving. The reason: it was too easy and just a bunch of fluff (and my program is #1 in US for PNP and #6 for FNP) Thankfully this semester is becoming more challenging... Sometimes its hard for me because my undergrad was really difficult and then to come into a Grad program expecting it to be challenging and you barely have to do anything to get A's... It makes me seriously wonder how i will be a great primary care provider.

That being said, i will have almost a years experience when i start clinicals this summer. and 2.5 years RN experience when i finish the FNP program, as i am working full-time. AND most of the nurses in the NP programs work full time.

I think the experience with patients is good, even if the role will change from RN to NP at least you get to experience many different things.

There is this new thing DNP where there are some students in the Grad program and they do not have there RN license yet.. not sure about that whole deal but i think they have to do some sort of residency program towards the end, and also i think the program is 5 years long..

I think part of the problem is that the RNs who complain of people going to direct NP programs are jealous. Why should i wait to go back to school??? If all i did was work i would be totally bored. AND my classes in GRAD school, adv. assess, patho, etc.. only make me a better RN better skills,etc..

I just think some (not all) RNs are jealous that they didn't or wont' go back to school for whatever reason, and that there are a lot of young ambitious people out there doing just that.

CEG · Feb 18, 2006

I am in a direct entry program. My eventual specialty will be midwifery but graduation from that program is 4 or so years down the road at the earliest. I am actually planning to take around 5 years or so to finish my MSN so that I have some experience. I believe to graduate my program I will be required to have at least 1 year of experience.

I considered several different routes to get where I wanted to be and the direct entry just made the most sense. I will be an RN in a year and a half, then I will automatically be admitted to the master's program. With a husband, 2 kids, a mortgage etc I could see graduate school being pushed to the back burner for the rest of my life. This way I can make sure that won't happen. Also, I already have a BA and had already taken A & P 1 and 2, biology, psych, any liberal arts course you can imagine, etc, so doing an associates program or traditional BSN I would have basically been taking only the nursing courses but taking years to complete it.

Just my .02.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Feb 18, 2006

I think everyone is different, but for me personally I am glad I'm getting several of years of experience as an RN before I work as an NP, just because I simply feel a lot safer that way. I graduated in May 2005 with my BSN, passed boards and have been working as an RN since July 2005. I'll be starting grad school this fall to work on my MSN and to become an adult NP. By the time I even start grad school I'll have been an RN for over a year, and since I'm going to classes part time by the time I graduate and can work as an NP, I'll have 4 years experience as an RN under my belt. So I know there are faster ways to become an NP, but for me I like knowing that I took my time and really spent quality time learning the more advanced material while still working as an RN. Just my two cents worth.

-Christine