NP w/no desire for RN?

Specialties NP Nursing Q/A

Well, not so much NO desire...but are there any NP's out there that wanted to become (and had their sights set on being an NP from day 1) an NP with no real 'drive' to be an RN first? My cousin is finishing up her RN-MSN program and never really wanted to become an RN, but she really wanted to become an NP, so she went the RN route to become an NP (which I know you have to do).

I know this is somewhat rare, but wondering are there any other NP's out there that looked at RN as kinda pre-NP school/clinical stuff in order to become an NP? Like, they may not be real thrilled with what they are doing (RN) but they know they have to do it in order to become an NP. Keep in mind I'm not saying you would hate being an RN or hate RN's or anything to that affect, but you dream has been to become an NP and RN school/work is a sort of necessary 'not the most enthusiastic' hurdle?

You go, girl! You may find that it's not the relative lack of clinical experience that might stymie you in grad school, but the fact you'll be the "old lady" in the class. But your skills as a successful teacher will probably see you through any potential rough spots in school ... I envy you your teaching experience. That might better prepare you for grad school than med/surg experience. Sending you good luck vibes and lots of support,

Another older returning student

Divinegracie, thank you for your encouragement. I am going to grad school online, so age won't be a factor. I don't believe that age is a factor anyway. After reading about all the people in their 50's just starting nursing school, I actually feel a little ahead of the game. For all the posters talking about the necessity of experience, I do agree. I am going to start working as a staff psych nurse at a time that is appropriate for me in my personal life. I just don't think that a year of med surg is necessary. We may all never agree on that one!! I do agree with Divine gracie that NP's need a residency program. I also feel that new RN's need residency programs in their specialties. I see that they are offered in many specialties like ED, CCU, ICU. I would like to see more of these programs offered in other specialties like psych! Anyone know of any? With the nursing shortage, I wish the gov. would start giving money for these programs to nurses, not just doctors. I wonder how bad the shortage will have to be before they realize that some help is needed here. Krisssy RN MA future MS in psych:)

Good Luck and God Bless I'm sticking with experience. It has got me through some tough time in codes and life experiences. Just make sure you have good .

Hello,

I would love to attend a residency program and when I inquire about it...the reactions were negative. A person stated "that is why we do not have one because it brings the uniquness to the nurse practitioner programs. You have been a nurse for a period of time and the clinical time in the nurse practitioner's program is sufficient." Well, I feel that is I would like to explore other area that maybe of interest to me. IE. Cardiothoracic. Grant, an extensive probational period my give you the opportunity to learn. However, I am competing for the best job an/or with other nurse practitioners and physician assistants. I want to be marketable and fully compete for the position. I will be on the next level from being a rn and I would like to be exposed to the speciality as well as additional hours. It will not hinder the nurse practitioner programs at all. If any thing it will be bridge the distant medical professional and patients closer together. So, what I will be making peanuts and the learning exposure will for a yr or two in my speciality will bring a lot more benefits than not attending. I am all about competition, learning and bridging the medical profession/patients closer together. Therefore, residency would be awesome.

Friends and happy thanksgiving everyone,

Buttons

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
WOW:yeah: How long did it take you to get where you are now?:bowingpur

Thank you, sandiixx, you are kind.

I have worked now about 13 years as FNP (before becoming FNP, I worked about 8 years as OB-GYN NP). 5 of these last years were with the federal government working in the rural areas. I am still consulting as a rural health expert and help to set up clinics.

But, I have worked now the past 8 years in one clinic. I have total autonomy with the physicians here and actually share ER call with them. Took a while to get to this place, but, well worth the time.:)

Specializes in LTC.

I know a NP who works in NICU, one 24 hour shift a week. She absolutely loves what she does, and I'm sure she's very good at it. She told me that NICU was the only thing she ever wanted to do and if she couldn't do it, she would not be any other kind of nurse. IMHO, nothing wrong with setting that type of goal as long as you have the competence and passion for your job once you get there.

GO FOR IT!! Skip the RN time and don't look back. PA's aren't required to "do time" why should nurse practioners be required to do such? Also, something I've noticed as I investigated your question among nurses with varying degrees of experience:

The nurses that climbed their way up the hard way always seemed to think many years of experience were needed prior to becoming an NP. It's almost as if they were thinking, "I went through the punishment, and you should too". Luckily, this type of thought is changing, and these nurses who have worked being miserable with their two year degree for 30 years will soon be retiring. I had the unfortunate experience of being under their grumpy preceptorship during most of my BSN clinicals-- YuK! An interesting sidenote to this: most of these nurses were overweight, ate junk food at work all day, compained incessantly yet never did anything about their complaint, and took smoke-breaks whenever they could. This is the antithesis of what NP's stand for: mind/body holistic healthcare. No wonder these nurses never went past two years education.

Wow, I have noticed the same thing about the older nurses. Many are overweight and eat junk food, smoke, and then complain they feel like crap.

They see me eating healthy food and say they don't have time to eat healthy. Well, I work full time, go to two college classes, have a husband and a child at home, etc, etc. so I don't know what they are talking about.

I think they love their unhealthy way of life.

No, NO, NO, NO,

We are not having this issue on the thread. You are entitle to your opinion and when your opinion is rude, ignorant and discriminated....it should not be said. I do not think you should even go there. Where are the moderators? This sucks, it is a day before we give thanks and you are starting crap. I realize it was not just you and others are involve. WHo gives you the right to make that statement? I need to breath....and a Time out.....

wow:yeah: how long did it take you to get where you are now?:bowingpur

doesn't matter...the journey is the reward, not the destination! i am, of course....zenman.

i was an rn for 32 years before i went to np school and i am now a certified np. the diagnosis i make along with management and evaluation of patients almost always reflect past experiences as a rn. you must practice as a rn before you can be a competent np. i wouldn't trade those 32 years for anything, not even becoming a np years ago. my rn experience truly makes me a more credible np. plus the salary isn't that much more than that of a rn. if you practice in a rural area, you have to depend on your past rn experiences in order to practice safe np care.

oh, my goodness! another voice of reason tempered by real life experience! you have more experience than me and as such, i salute you!

my heart wants to agree with you, but the "research" suggests little to no difference in performance after completion of a np program using years of experience as the independent variable.

i'd like to see the link to this just for the amusement value. we're all aware of the damage done in the name of "empirical" research.

no, no, no, no,

we are not having this issue on the thread. you are entitle to your opinion and when your opinion is rude, ignorant and discriminated....it should not be said. i do not think you should even go there. where are the moderators? this sucks, it is a day before we give thanks and you are starting crap. i realize it was not just you and others are involve. who gives you the right to make that statement? i need to breath....and a time out.....

now, cutie don't let her push your buttons, she is correct. obesity is a big problem across the board. i didn't take it as rude, etc.. and it is thanksgiving where we are allowed to stuff ourselves into oblivion! might i suggest meditation?

I do not understand people. This post is about an individual who was expressing his thoughts and asked for assistance about his concern/thoughts. Pinoy, was looking for positive feedback about the nursing experiences going into the nurse practitioner profession. Numerous of people gave their thoughts and opinions about his concern and thoughts. Therefore, it was a successful thread that stimulated communications by everyone who participated.

Now, we have several post busters on the thread and it is very distasteful. If anyone cannot address the issue on the thread than start another thread about your concerns and issues. Do not come into this thread and destroy it by your bashing. It is disrespectful to those who are addressing the issue and to the individual who began this thread. If you really need to express yourself, please make your own thread and not do it here. Learn to be respectful to others as well as to yourself. Therefore, start your thread and voice it in a constructive way and ignorance does not get you any where in our society today.

Because one who throws stones seem to be living in a glass house as well. Every one should not throw stones toward any houses at all. Remember you may have issues that another person may address in a negative way towards you. Therefore, you can see your reflection in the house that you are destroying.

Buttons

Zenman,

I am trying to be positive and it is down right rude. There are other areas in the forum for them to post their concerns and issues. Being negative do not help the situation or their point concerning the issue. They can make a thread in the appropriate area and not bash someone's thread. I am so fed up with the disrepect.

Happy Thanksgiving to you,

Buttons

well, I have to say something, I think it relates to this thread

because the RN experience before NP program is influenced by

those obese old abusive nurses too. I work 3-12 hr shifts as

ER tech and get all kinds of s*** from nasty nurses. It's ok,

it's my job to take care of them, doing IVs, monitor pts, when

they sit around and gossip. I do plan to attend NP program

sometime so I watch the flow as much as I can, from triage

to Ax, Lab, Dx, Tx, and to admission or D/C. But until I apply

critical thinking and start to do decision-making, I know what

I try to learn is limited. I see many things though. And one of

the valuable lessons is the networking. There are so many interactions

among many levels of care, docs, RNs, techs, CT techs,

on-call docs, etc. Learning how these things work would help

a lot doing NP duties in the future. It is something that

a book or school cannot teach.

I had one of those obese abusive RN, gone out to smoke outside,

while I was doing EKGs and found pt SVT-ing, a doctor and another

RN laughing at my EKG because the lines were swaying

like spagettie, took 5 minutes to have another doctor pay

attention to the EKG and finally start Tx-ing the pt.

Health care is people care. That people include health care providers

also. Unless we the providers care ourselves and chasten each

other, the whole health care system would go down much

faster.

Amitai.

I don't know where you live, but not having clinical experience is going to hinder your ability to get a decent job, as more people take the same route you are. Believe me, in Texas there aren't tons of openings for NP and you don't see a lot of independent practitioners, so I actually have 3 advanced practice RN's working for me on the stepdown unit I supervise. Two are CNS's and one NP, all went straight through RN-grad school, but have no clinical experience, so the can't find jobs in their advanced practice roles. It might be very different where you live, but it's something to consider. They'll eventually get jobs, once they get experience, but had they gone the "traditional route" they might have been more satisified, not working "beneath" their level of education. This isn't usually a problem with CRNA's because they still require 2 years, as far as I know, of critical care experience and the world needs more anesthesia :) !!

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