Advice please! Beginning to look into NP online programs

[Sjl.wente]

Hello all! I recently started my first nursing job the beginning on October and already want to look into practitioner school. I currently work in the ICU at a trauma 1 hospital. I love my job but would like to come back to my current town eventually to work (I drive 50 minutes to work). I thought about applying to online programs in roughly a year, and am beginning my research now. I am not even sure what kind of practitioner I would want to be. Any advice on a well reputable school that is easy to get into? My cumulative GPA while in college was around a 3.2. Thanks everyone!!

[Dranger]

There are a ton of programs out there and almost all are easy to get into.

Not to sound like a broken record on these forums, but the NP field will soon be saturated because off these said online programs. Everyone and their mother wants to be a NP. Basically a ton of your peers (new grads) are looking to do the same thing.

Furthermore you also need to decide what specialty you want. Peds (PNP)? Family (FNP)?, psych (PMHNP)? or acute (ACNP)?

[Sjl.wente]

I was thinking peds. Also, what about CRNA? Way too competitive?

[PA_RN87, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

It sounds like you need to spend more time thinking about what you want to specialize in before you consider schools. Research the NP specialties and the CRNA specialty, the roles, job market, responsibilities, etc. and compare to what you value in a career. Talk to some people already in those roles or shadow if you have the opportunity. Once you've decided then you should look at schools.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

This thread has been moved to our Student NP forum.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

I was thinking peds. Also, what about CRNA? Way too competitive?

Well, if you have to ask the question, at this point in your career, yes it is way too competitive.

[sadiemae1123]

You might consider shadowing a few different specialties to get a feel for what might interest you.

You should also consider joining your state nurses association. It could be a great way to network and learn about the different career options you have as a nurse in your specific area. You would also learn about any barriers to practice APRNs have in your area.

Not to mention, there are other ways to advance your career other than become an APRN. There's research, education, administration, informatics, etc. Graduate school can be expensive and time consuming; be sure about what direction you want your career to take before making the investment.