Need Advice on FNP school!

Specialties NP

Published

hi, i have been a nurse for about 2 years, but with only about 7 months real experience in the hospital. i am wanting to go back to school for fnp, but am a little concerned that i don't have enough experience. my questions are: do i need a lot more experience to be a good np out of school? when you get hired as a new np does the job come with an orientation? i love diagnosing and treating patients, i think i am just a little scared of increasing my level of responsibility when there is so much i don't know already!

thanks to all who reply!!

The thing I would be worried about becoming an NP without previous RN experience is your potential marketability after you graduate. I do know that in my region, almost all the jobs advertised want at least 3 years of RN experience, with previous NP experience preferred - obviously these are jobs that are not really trying to recruit new grads, but at least with a few years of nursing experience under your belt you do stand a better chance of being able to sell yourself for job asking for the above experience.

As far as what type of nursing to get into which would help you as a future NP, I agree with ED nursing (especially for a FNP program). You see the whole age spectrum, plus many of the patients are there for things that could be handled in the office setting. You get the chance to see the labs, X-rays, EKGs, etc. ordered and interpreted right there and then. If you wanted to go the ACNP route, then ICU/CCU is the place to be.

Good luck! :)

But wouldn't working through my grad program give me three years working as an RN?

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

If you're able to do it while in your program, then yes, that would give you some RN experience.

0 Votes

Excellent idea, yet common sense to work while going to grad school. I will be doing pre-specialty classes anyway the first year. It will take me 3years to complete the dual FNP/ACNP program.

0 Votes

just curious where do they have a dual program for FNP/ACNP???

0 Votes
just curious where do they have a dual program for FNP/ACNP???

Vanderbilt nursing school offer a dual FNP/ACNP program, which cam take 2-3years to complete. Emory Nursing School also offer a similar program, but they title it as ( ENP ). At this school you will be getting a FNP certification with acute care focus. This will enable you to market you self as a FNP, ENP, which is less restrictive in terms of caring for all acute ill pts across the life-span. Check out there website.... The clinical hours are extreme, but needed.

0 Votes

i have been a nurse almost 7 years and done a lot. i wanted to get my np through the air force but that is not going to work out. now i'm considering civilian np programs. everyone is saying to gain experience in the er but most of the nurses i talk to in the er say you mostly take care of the homeless and the drug seekers.

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I have worked in three different EDs in three different communities (one a very rural, poor area; one in a blue-collar type community; and one in a very well-to-do community just outside of a large city) and the above just isn't true. Even if it was - think about it - the homeless are probably some of the most challenging patients to encounter that would give you the most experience because they can have so many untreated, co-existing problems going on at the same time such as diabetes, cardiac problems, asthma, copd, HTN, psych issues, etc. Even though those are all mostly chronic conditions, having the one patient who has not been treated for any of those diseases for years may present with serious acute problems such as DKA, severe HTN, acute renal failure, etc.

I have never worked in an ED where I wasn't challenged and didn't have a good mix of acute and chronic problems presenting through the doors.

0 Votes

Glad to see this thread and replies. I am fresh out of an ADN program after both BA/BS from a past life. I too am wondering how much experience to glean before applying to FNP programs. It seems like there is so much difference of opinion. My instructors have suggested that working part time in med/surg or rural ambulatory with physical assessment should be sufficient while I complete a 2-3 year program. Programs in Spokane (the big city here) are not requiring RN experience for admissions. It sounds like I need to talk to employers to see what type of RN experience they expect of FNP's. Any ideas?

0 Votes
Now that just makes me angry!!! Once again, it perpetuates the notion that we are doctors' handmaidens and their opinion counts so much more than people who acutally know you well and can speak to your abilities. I would think your unit manager's or DON's opinion would be much more valuable. Are there any other programs you could look into?

Almost every program I looked into wanted letters of recommendations from doctors.

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Anesthesia, Education, etc..

Be careful who you listen to. I wasted YEARS of my life in anesthesia. I went to anesthesia school after 9 years in the SICU b/c everyone convinced me to do it (supervisors, nurses, CRNAs). The school even required ICU experience to get in. Being a CRNA has nothing to do with the ICU. What they should require is OR experience. I did not know this about myself until I was in school, but I DESPISE the OR...I absolutely hate everything about it and left the field entirely.

What I would suggest is working in whatever area you want to practice in as an NP. If it's ACNP, do ER or ICU. For FNP, do a clinic or some other outpatient work. I think getting experience during the school is perfectly fine. I used to think that an NP student should have at least a year or two of RN experience. Now that I have gone through the program, I don't think it matters that much. If you are willing and able to go to an NP program...DO IT!

:igtsyt: As time goes by, things change, situations change with money, marriage, family, the economy, health issues, etc. Go to NP school when you are physically, mentally and financially able to go. Do not put it off simply because you are a new RN.

The truth is, I have 19 years of RN experience but most of what I learned for the FNP role was not what I did as an RN. In the NP program, I learned new skills, different diseases/ treatments and a different approach to patient care- a focus on health promotion rather than treating diseases. Just my 2 cents!:twocents:

0 Votes

Great thread! I am graduating from a BSN program next May. My school allows direct entry into the FNP program with a minimum 3.0 GPA, although I would like to look at other schools. The schools in my area all require at least one year work experience as an RN. Which programs do not require experience? Thanks!

0 Votes
Be careful who you listen to. I wasted YEARS of my life in anesthesia. I went to anesthesia school after 9 years in the SICU b/c everyone convinced me to do it (supervisors, nurses, CRNAs). The school even required ICU experience to get in. Being a CRNA has nothing to do with the ICU. What they should require is OR experience. I did not know this about myself until I was in school, but I DESPISE the OR...I absolutely hate everything about it and left the field entirely.

What I would suggest is working in whatever area you want to practice in as an NP. If it's ACNP, do ER or ICU. For FNP, do a clinic or some other outpatient work. I think getting experience during the school is perfectly fine. I used to think that an NP student should have at least a year or two of RN experience. Now that I have gone through the program, I don't think it matters that much. If you are willing and able to go to an NP program...DO IT!

:igtsyt: As time goes by, things change, situations change with money, marriage, family, the economy, health issues, etc. Go to NP school when you are physically, mentally and financially able to go. Do not put it off simply because you are a new RN.

The truth is, I have 19 years of RN experience but most of what I learned for the FNP role was not what I did as an RN. In the NP program, I learned new skills, different diseases/ treatments and a different approach to patient care- a focus on health promotion rather than treating diseases. Just my 2 cents!:twocents:

Dear FNPGrad: You have very good advice so I'm asking for your input here. I am interested in doing NP for Hospice, I currently work as a Hospice RN inpatient unit. Have done many years of field nursing for Hospice also. I especially like the psyche part of Hospice nursing with pts. and families. I will be graduating this Dec. 2010 with BSN and was thinking about doing NP school. So following your advice on previous post, it seems I'm in the right work area currently. Any other suggestions?

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment