Schools push APRN immediately-$$

Nurses General Nursing

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I was having lunch with several NP colleagues and as we were lamenting the lack of actual nursing experience in so many of the students we get asked, and refuse, to precept one of them shared something that of course I had always suspected but to know that it is a blatant direction makes me sick. Apparently his university, which is part of a very well known, enormous teaching hospital is pushing the direct entry programs because the philosophy is to keep the money coming in while the student is there rather than take the chance they will graduate and for whatever reason not return to grad school or go to another grad school. No consideration for the value of actually working as a nurse. :(

Not that I didn't suspect this with the whole push for DNP which is only at this point is only being driven by the universities not my board of nursing. Good business I guess but I'm worried about the quality of NPs going forward.

Your thoughts and experiences with direct entry practitioners?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Your thoughts and experiences with direct entry practitioners?
There's a wise chestnut: "You don't know what you don't know."

APRNs who lack a few years of hands-on nursing experience don't know what they don't know; hence, some of the decisions they make and orders they write come across as wacky at best and dangerous at worst.

In addition, many of the deans of these entry-level programs are advising prospective students that actual nursing experience is unnecessary.

OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Nurse Leigh

1,149 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry.

^^^^Hmmm. To me, that begs the question as to why completing NURSING school is necessary if they think the NURSE in NURSE practitioner is unimportant. *sigh* One of the people I most admire (and also consider a good friend) is close to completing her Masters to become an ANP............ (can't insert paragraphs on mobile app).......... She's been a nurse for many years, with lots of experience in cardiac care/electrophysiology etc. She is excellent at educating her patients and colleagues. She loves research and lifelong learning. She recognizes the value her experiences as a direct care/bedside nurse will give her NP practice, and I have no doubt she will continue to educate patients, but also her bedside nurse colleagues and listen to them when making decisions. .............(another attempt to insert paragraph).......... don't think she'd be as well ragarded and trusted without her many years as a bedside RN. I'm aware some disagree, and I know this is just my opinion but there it is.

Specializes in Primary Care.
I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

As a nurse with 2+ years experience on a medical-oncology unit preparing to begin NP studies this fall, I can't disagree enough with this claim. I have learned so much working in the field that will definitely apply to my role as an NP. Getting experience in the real world exposes you to things you'd otherwise only read about in a textbook, and of course we all know that not everything works exactly "by the book." I have learned so much about disease processes, medications, labs, and diagnostics in a real world context.

elkpark

14,633 Posts

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

In my experience, the people making that claim are typically either graduates of direct entry programs or people running direct entry programs.

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
As a nurse with 2+ years experience on a medical-oncology unit preparing to begin NP studies this fall, I can't disagree enough with this claim. I have learned so much working in the field that will definitely apply to my role as an NP. Getting experience in the real world exposes you to things you'd otherwise only read about in a textbook, and of course we all know that not everything works exactly "by the book." I have learned so much about disease processes, medications, labs, and diagnostics in a real world context.

I can't agree with you more! The experience I received as a floor nurse has definitely helped make me a competent practitioner, especially at first when that was all I had to pull from!! I can't imagine not having the excellent psych background and have said it a million times but the things I learned in NP school were nothing compared to my years of hands on experience on the floor.

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Yup I'd like to see exactly who is saying that.

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

In addition, many of the deans of these entry-level programs are advising prospective students that actual nursing experience is unnecessary.

Yup this what they were saying today. I couldn't believe it. In fact I still can't believe they are so smug as to actually put that out there and that people are actually so naive to think they will be competent prescribers with no experience or residency.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Yup this what they were saying today. I couldn't believe it. In fact I still can't believe they are so smug as to actually put that out there and that people are actually so naive to think they will be competent prescribers with no experience or residency.
I totally concur.

It's a travesty whenever I hear a prospective NP student saying, "The nursing department chair at my school says bedside nursing experience isn't necessary to be a nurse practitioner, so I'm going to agree with her!"

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I totally concur.

It's a travesty whenever I hear a prospective NP student saying, "The nursing department chair at my school says bedside nursing experience isn't necessary to be a nurse practitioner, so I'm going to agree with her!"

I had a fellow classmate in my first NP program who had no psych experience and was a dolt. When I heard they were considering taking a very challenging job working independently upon graduation I actually asked if they thought they were ready for it and was told "well if I get hired then they are comfortable that I am ready and will do great".

Interesting because in my experience employers will ask and encourage you to do some really inappropriate things regardless of whether it endangers your license.

Sadly as it seems has become the case with grad school admissions employers are also known to be perfectly content to hire anyone who can fog up a mirror held under their nose. :(

It breaks my heart because I truly think there is great need and niche for NPs and APRNs of all types but as with the Clinical Nurse Leader CNL tract I believe there needs to be something other than a piece of paper indicating someone is a "master" at anything.

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
There's a wise chestnut: "You don't know what you don't know."

APRNs who lack a few years of hands-on nursing experience don't know what they don't know; hence, some of the decisions they make and orders they write come across as wacky at best and dangerous at worst.

This is exactly what physicians say when the topic of NPs and NP autonomy is brought up.

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