Becoming an NP with little to no nursing experience??

[Blurr156]

Hello to all!!! I have worked as a parmamedic for 20 years, have a B.A. in Economics, and I wanted to advance my career in healthcare. I was originally looking to pursue the PA route, but for certain practical reasons (including my union not helping to pay for it) I have been looking at other options, nursing/NP.

I was very excited to learn of a school near me that has a combined BSN/NP program for people with non-nursing bachelor degrees. I was about to start looking deeper into this program when a good friend of mine who is a member of an interview committee at a nearby hospital told me that I shouldn't do the program because I would have trouble getting a job.

The reason stated was because I wouldn't have been seen as having "paid my dues" as a nurse first.

Is this true?

I could understand why someone might feel that way about someone who went through this type of program never having worked in healthcare before. However, I like to think that to a certain degree I've paid my dues (I know it isn't nursing, but from a time in healthcare perspective).

My friend did say that I might be considered an exception to that rule. The program is at a VERY well known school and I was told by my friend even then it wouldn't matter. I was wondering what people here thought regarding this topic.

Thank you for any guidance you can provide.

[zenman]

Go for it, and don't listen to the nay sayers!

As a paramedic, you have just the right kind of experience for the NP role. That of taking independent decisions. Nurses on the other hand, still take orders on the floor and 'fetch' most of the time, in spite of their more in depth preparation.

Your ACLS training and experience is better than of nurses.

The direct programs will first make you a nurse. You will sit for the NCLEX.

Then they will not let you take any clinical courses till you have completed about a 1000 hours of clinical experience as an RN.

For God's sake do not go for Excelsior as they are not recognized in CA or IL.

You make a lot of blanket statements that are not correct. I'm sure someone will point them out to you, lol.

....Ex ARMY medic and Helicopter Flight Nurse and Excelsior grad.

[Michigan Man 09]

In a BSN program right now and am contemplating how I want to go about obtaining an Advance Practice degree, likely in Cardiology or Cardiovascular services. I will be graduating in May 2009, and my goal is to work full time and apply and earn acceptance into a program part time. How long do most nurse practitioner program's take to complete? I have heard full time programs are about 2.5 years and part time varies.

If I work full time as a nurse for the 3-5 years of a part-time NP program, would that serve as an adequate clinical base? Would I have 'enough experience' to function in the NP role.

Currently, I've been a nurse aide for two years and a nurse tech for six months (which I will continue to work as through graduation).

Your thoughts? Advice? Things I 'should do'/'should know'? I plan on shadowing some NP's this summer to really see what the role entails outside of my own observations thus far.

-Thanks

Michigan Man 09

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Sounds as if you have the right idea, Michigan Man. Shadowing is a wonderful idea. Gives you some perspective.

And, gaining that vital RN experience as you've described (working as you pursue your NP part-time) is an excellent plan. I think you will do well........

[yellow finch, BSN, RN]

In a BSN program right now and am contemplating how I want to go about obtaining an Advance Practice degree, likely in Cardiology or Cardiovascular services. I will be graduating in May 2009, and my goal is to work full time and apply and earn acceptance into a program part time. How long do most nurse practitioner program's take to complete? I have heard full time programs are about 2.5 years and part time varies.

If I work full time as a nurse for the 3-5 years of a part-time NP program, would that serve as an adequate clinical base? Would I have 'enough experience' to function in the NP role.

Currently, I've been a nurse aide for two years and a nurse tech for six months (which I will continue to work as through graduation).

Your thoughts? Advice? Things I 'should do'/'should know'? I plan on shadowing some NP's this summer to really see what the role entails outside of my own observations thus far.

-Thanks

Michigan Man 09

It looks like you're already on the right path! Having worked at the bedside during nursing school gives you the experience and advantage over those new grads that did not complete the work you've done. I also worked as a tech during nursing school and always remember that first day of nursing clinicals where we had to transfer a patient from a stretcher to the bed. Two other nursing students just flattened their bodies up against the wall while I jumped in and helped out. You learn little things like throwing a little baby powder on a bedpan to prevent the patient's butt from sticking to it. Real world stuff that you don't learn in nursing school.

As for NP school, my program (FNP) would have been 2 years full-time, but I broke it down into 3 years because the clinicals portion made it too difficult to work full-time and attend full-time courses. Once again, working at the bedside provides you ample opportunities to learn and apply your graduate knowledge and will honestly give you that advantage over NPs who have never touched a patient outside of clinicals. Plus, I've met some future clinical preceptors just by being a good RN and earning the respect from MDs and mid-level providers in order to gain their confidence that my presence won't mess up their day just by having a student.

Best of luck to you! You already sound like someone who knows the right path for future success!

:paw:

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

In a BSN program right now and am contemplating how I want to go about obtaining an Advance Practice degree, likely in Cardiology or Cardiovascular services. I will be graduating in May 2009, and my goal is to work full time and apply and earn acceptance into a program part time. How long do most nurse practitioner program's take to complete? I have heard full time programs are about 2.5 years and part time varies.

If I work full time as a nurse for the 3-5 years of a part-time NP program, would that serve as an adequate clinical base? Would I have 'enough experience' to function in the NP role.

Currently, I've been a nurse aide for two years and a nurse tech for six months (which I will continue to work as through graduation).

Your thoughts? Advice? Things I 'should do'/'should know'? I plan on shadowing some NP's this summer to really see what the role entails outside of my own observations thus far.

-Thanks

Michigan Man 09

Hi there fellow Michigander! full time NP programs can be finished in as fast as 18 months in some instances. It depends on how much of a courseload you are will to take on. Part-time NP programs can be finished at our own pace. Some universities however, require that you obtain the degree in 6 years or you're out.

A graduate school advisor will help map out your timeline for NP program completion once you get accepted to a specific program. You can discuss your plans with this person and arrive at when you want to finish.

Working as an RN while in NP school will give you an advantage over those who do not have any nursing experience to bring to the table. It also allows you to figure out which area in nursing is most applealing to you and will help you in deciding what specialization you want for your NP.

Some programs allow you to take non-clinical courses (nursing theory and research) as well as pre-clinical courses (advanced assessment, pharm, patho) and will allow students to change tracks (ANP to ACNP for instance) after you've taken these initial courses. Some do not allow this.

Ann Arbor eh, U of M student?

[Michigan Man 09]

Hi there fellow Michigander! full time NP programs can be finished in as fast as 18 months in some instances. It depends on how much of a courseload you are will to take on. Part-time NP programs can be finished at our own pace. Some universities however, require that you obtain the degree in 6 years or you're out.

A graduate school advisor will help map out your timeline for NP program completion once you get accepted to a specific program. You can discuss your plans with this person and arrive at when you want to finish.

Working as an RN while in NP school will give you an advantage over those who do not have any nursing experience to bring to the table. It also allows you to figure out which area in nursing is most applealing to you and will help you in deciding what specialization you want for your NP.

Some programs allow you to take non-clinical courses (nursing theory and research) as well as pre-clinical courses (advanced assessment, pharm, patho) and will allow students to change tracks (ANP to ACNP for instance) after you've taken these initial courses. Some do not allow this.

Ann Arbor eh, U of M student?

Yes, I am in my junior year of the traditional BSN program at U-M. This is good to know, thank you for the advice! Once I get to the summer, I will be investigating (when I finally have some time) what programs, areas, requirements, time, prices, etc. are available in Metro Detroit area for an NP degree.

Michigan Man 09

[dhigbee]

I do wish these programs had been available when I went back to school (with a non-nursing Bachelor's). It would have saved me at least 3-4 years to complete my MSN. Sure, I "paid my dues", but it wasn't what I chose to do.

Dana

[SFNP]

I am getting ready to graduate from FNP school in a few more months. I have talked with preceptor who have said they will not take on NP students who were not nurses first because they are not willing to teach you the basics before teaching you the advanced skills. NPs are Nurses who have advanced their skills from the basic nursing but without the basic nursing knowledge it is much harder to advance to the next level.

[csb2007]

I was accepted to the University of Minnesota's Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Program. By the time I begin, I will have a year's experience in an ICU setting. I had two former professors write letters of recommendation, and both were very excited when I told them that I wanted to go back to school right away. I also met with the clinical nurse specialists at my work and they were also very supportive.

However, when I told my clinical director she was not very happy. She told me that I would be better off working and not going back to school.

I feel ready for the advanced practice role. My professors think Im ready. I was admitted to this very good graduate school, but now I feel very discouraged about going back to school.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I just apply for next year, or is this possible?

Thank you!

[jjjoy, LPN]

I I had two former professors write letters of recommendation, and both were very excited when I told them that I wanted to go back to school right away. I also met with the clinical nurse specialists at my work and they were also very supportive.

However, when I told my clinical director she was not very happy. She told me that I would be better off working and not going back to school.

I feel ready for the advanced practice role. My professors think Im ready. I was admitted to this very good graduate school, but now I feel very discouraged about going back to school.

It seems you are experiencing first hand the major disconnect in the profession regarding how one progresses in a nursing career and what the requisite experiences and education should be for nurses at various levels. There's no standard answer because the entire field is split on this. Should advanced practice nurses first have experience as RNs? If not, then do we need to reconceptualize advanced practice nursing as not a step *beyond* or *higher* or even *more advanced* than other kinds of nursing, but just a different kind of nursing - like public health nursing or school nursing or occupational health nursing? But then APNs are in fact engaging in activitivities that by definition AREN'T nursing (diagnosing and prescribing treatments), so why are we educating them in nursing schools and can we truly call that nursing, especially if the person has never practiced "pure" nursing? It used to be that APNs did in fact have previous nursing experience and were building upon that. They had been nurses and were being educated to take a role that wasn't really nursing anymore.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I think it's an interesting, though frustrating dilemma. Unfortunately, those looking to enter the field are stuck with the lack of clarity and conflicting advice about how to procede.

[PabloFNP]

I've been a RN for two years and a FNP for a month. I came into the profession only to be a FNP. So once I received my RN I applied and was excepted into school. It's all in your head; it's what YOU want to do and what YOU believe. Don't worry about the rest :).

[nancynursern]

I became an NP years ago. In fact, I only had an AA degree. Sure I have my MSN now, but until this past year you could have done the same. All you needed was 1 year experience. Now you need a MSN.