I need some serious advice it would be greatly appreciated

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 12, 2013

Ok so I am strongly interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. To do that I would have to become a registered nurse :) and bsn msn and stuff...ok let me get to the point after high school I went straight to a community college and into there nurse assistant program yay woohoo lol I feel like that was a bad idea but in the long run could be a benefit but any who I did that took the exams and got my certificate in December from then till now I didn't take any classes this year horrible right? :/ but they have a RN associates program that I'm interested in that requires prerequisite courses....what should I do ? Did I slack big time? Do you think I'm far behind?

What would you be far behind on? Some people don't start anything until they are 30 or 40 or more.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 12, 2013

Ok so I am strongly interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. To do that I would have to become a registered nurse :) and bsn msn and stuff...ok let me get to the point after high school I went straight to a community college and into there nurse assistant program yay woohoo lol I feel like that was a bad idea but in the long run could be a benefit but any who I did that took the exams and got my certificate in December from then till now I didn't take any classes this year horrible right? :/ but they have a RN associates program that I'm interested in that requires prerequisite courses....what should I do ? Did I slack big time? Do you think I'm far behind?

What you should do is get busy. You have a LOT of pre-reqs to get under your belt. There is no 'behind' because there is no specified starting age. But you can find out when the next ASN application deadline is and shoot for that as a point of origin for your general education completion goals. Also, maybe browsing the pre-nursing threads might give you a leg up on your options. Good luck!

onesunniegal · Sep 12, 2013

Go talk to an someone in advising at the school, and get busy taking your prereqs. In ten years you'll be the same age, it is up to you if you're a nurse or not. You totally can do it if you put your nose to the grindstone. Go, go, go! Keep us posted!

CSThelen · Sep 13, 2013

Put your nose to the grindstone, and STRONGLY consider getting the BSN, not an associate's degree, if that is within your budget & life plan. You need the bachelor's if you are going to apply for NP programs. BSNs also have better job prospects, especially in magnet designated hospitals.

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

I will agree that in some areas the BSN is preferred or even required, but where I live ASN's are getting hired frequently. Also, it is not necessarily true that if you want to become an NP you have to get your BSN first. Many schools have RN-MSN programs.

If you really were born in 1994 and you are feeling like a slacker for not getting started, I think that is kind of silly! You are what, 19? You have plenty of time ahead of you. I would say figure out whether you want to go for the ASN or BSN and then do it!

Annaiya, NP · Sep 15, 2013

I realize this is a forum, however, your post is very poorly written. You need good writing skills to become an NP. It is not just clinical skills that matter. I would strongly suggest you get a BSN, so you have the full curriculum that goes with a bachelor's degree. Make sure you do well in school and maintain a high GPA, above 3.5. Getting into NP school takes a lot of dedication and hard work. There are many many posts on this forum from people who can't get into NP school. Being an NP is a tremendous amount of responsibility. It is not a job where you just show up, do your work and go home. Take some time to put together your plan for how you are going to get your RN, and then work to do the very best you can at that. Just take things one step at a time and eventually you will reach your goal:)