Becoming an NP with little to no nursing experience??

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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.

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
As long as there's a "fast track" ER, then the FNP's can do it. I noticed there is now a ACNP/FNP and a EM/FNP program at Vanderbilt. There was a EM/FNP program at UT-Houston, but they were thinking about shutting it down. The reason being, some of their graduates couldn't get licensed in other states. Believe it or not, there are states that are even more strict about educational preparation than others! I've heard that some states won't even recognize online programs, so people have to be very careful about attending these online programs and "super specialized" program.

Until there becomes a "generalized" NP program, there will continue to be stratification among NP's.

Presently in Texas, we're fighting for 100% independence. There's a good chance this will happen in rural areas. If so, I'm going to open my own clinic. If it weren't for that, I would have gone the PA route - I was accepted into OU's program, but ended up moving to TX so I did the Vanderbilt program.

Hmm do you have more specifics on the states not recognizing online programs?

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Hmm do you have more specifics on the states not recognizing online programs?

When I went to Vanderbilt, they made a point of telling us that it was not an online program, but a modified distance program with concentrated time on campus. They said there were some states that weren't accepting online NP programs and that's why they emphasized theirs wasn't online. That was back in 2003/2004, but if I remember right, Washington and Oregon may have been a couple??

I know that UT-Houston couldn't get a couple of ER/FNP graduates licensed as FNP's in Oregon and some other NW state and that's one of the reasons they dropped the program. UT-Houston has one of the top NP programs in the nation, so they were shocked to find out those people couldn't get licensed in those states (they were already certified as FNP's). I wish everything was "nationalized," so there would be a set of educational requirements/scopes of practice for all NP's and we could move freely from state to state.

If you want to become a NP and think you'll be moving around a lot, then go the FNP route and attend a college with a traditional program. That will cover you to practice in primary care settings in every state. There are plenty of jobs out there for FNP's!

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Specializes in Emergency.

hello all, I am interested in continuing my education by going the NP route right after achieving my BSN. I've been a paramedic for the last 6 years in NYC and feel that RN isnt going to satisfy my inner drive. what do you guys think? is it possible or should i work as an RN for x amount of years before i apply? thanks in advance

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hello all, I am interested in continuing my education by going the NP route right after achieving my BSN. I've been a paramedic for the last 6 years in NYC and feel that RN isnt going to satisfy my inner drive. what do you guys think? is it possible or should i work as an RN for x amount of years before i apply? thanks in advance

Most programs are going to require a minimum of one year of RN experience, so you may not have a choice.

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Specializes in ICU.

One of the 'stickies' at the top of the page is called something like "Becoming an NP with little to no experience." That is a lengthy discussion on this topic. Take a look.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, siegolindo, and Welcome to allnurses.com

I merged your thread with the one to which indecisiveRN referred.

This is a very good thread to answer your questions/concerns.

Good luck with your decision. And, we hope you enjoy allnurses.com

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hello all, I am interested in continuing my education by going the NP route right after achieving my BSN. I've been a paramedic for the last 6 years in NYC and feel that RN isnt going to satisfy my inner drive. what do you guys think? is it possible or should i work as an RN for x amount of years before i apply? thanks in advance

Hmmm I have seen some bridge programs from Paramedic to BSN...

I went from paramedic to RN to APRN... I only had to do the two years of the Nursing program (BSN) my core was more than completed by the time I went that route..

I took my time looking for my first APRN job... Hospital paid me a whooping dollar more an hour for my MSN..

I would recommend at least a year of experience as an RN. Not all programs are requiring that stipulation anymore though... If you might even considering CRNA: ER or ICU will be your best bets... If you are looking at acute care NP: ER or ICU is still probably your best bet...

You might look at the time spent as a Nurse on a floor as wasted but its good experience and also good a good networking time if done appropriately. Some hospitals are now looking at growing their own NPs from in house building up good a relationship with doctors you may be working with/for doesn't hurt either...

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Emergency.

im not an np but ive heard nothing but encouragement to jump right in, i'm done working the street on an ambulance and want to get into an ER somwhere. Im starting here to get information and am going for CNA school starting OCT1.

Thank you for working the streets as a medic

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I took my time looking for my first APRN job... Hospital paid me a whooping dollar more an hour for my MSN..

You only got a ONE dollar an hour raise for working as a NP in the hospital? UNBELIEVABLE! Where I live, ACNP's are making in the low 6 figures for hospitalist jobs.

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:nurse:I am an RN with almost 2 years of experience. LTC and Clinic. I am going to go on for my BSN/MSN for NP. From what Im reading it would really benefit me to work in a hospital while Im going to school. Do you all feel the same? Can you be an effective NP without hospital experience? I love the people I work with at the clinic but I feel much more like a secretary than a nurse and I feel like my skills are slipping away. Thoughts?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.
:nurse:I am an RN with almost 2 years of experience. LTC and Clinic. I am going to go on for my BSN/MSN for NP. From what Im reading it would really benefit me to work in a hospital while Im going to school. Do you all feel the same? Can you be an effective NP without hospital experience? I love the people I work with at the clinic but I feel much more like a secretary than a nurse and I feel like my skills are slipping away. Thoughts?

I think you get more opportunities, in general, to use your nursing skills in a hospital vs. a clinic. What are your responsibilities in the clinic you are at now? Do you feel you are learning new things there? Which program are you in: ANP, FNP, ACNP? Also, once you become an NP, where do you plan on working? Hospital, clinic, nurs home?

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Im not enrolled yet but I will be going to Viterbo's BSN/MSN program and doing the NP probably in family practice. I work in neurology and I do mostly phone work, refills, deal with insurance. I do alot of IV therapies, but this is the one of the only nursing skills I seem to use on a regular basis. Im not sure where I want to work when I have my NP, Im really not sure of all the options. I really enjoyed working at the nursing home, and I did work on a med/surg floor for a couple of months right out of school (22 y/o preceptor wasnt very happy to have an "older lady" for a preceptee. I was told that the first older lady they had didnt work out so I should just keep my mouth shut and do what I was told). I feel that working in a hospital will give me better skills and knowledge to fall back on.

Do you work as an NP? Which field?

Thank for the feedback!

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