Advice & Questions About NP School

[dazywhale]

Hello all!

I am not yet a nurse. Still awaiting acceptance letters to start my nursing journey. As of right now, I am mainly focused on getting my RN. However, I do have some thoughts about NP school, but I do not know much about it. I do not personally know any NP's or anyone who has gone through it so I had a couple questions.

1. Is going through NP school and working full-time as an RN possible? Is this what most people do? Or is it recommended to not work or work part time while in a program?

2. I have seen many online NP programs. Are these reputable? (Maybe I'm a little old fashioned and skeptical about online degrees?) Do you think it is better to attend an in person program or an online program?

3. Is it difficult to get into an NP program? What do they typically look for? GPA, extracurriculars, experience?

4. Do people usually go to NP school right after getting their BSN? Or do they work and get experience first?

NP school seems so far away right now, but I thought I would ask anyways. Anything and everything would help! Thank you all so much ?

[CRNA2BKY]

Here's my thoughts:

1. Yes, many nurses work full-time while going through an MSN-NP program. When it get's to clinicals, some nurses will choose to drop down to part-time or PRN to concentrate on their clinicals (this is pretty common).

2. There are many very good and reputable online MSN-NP programs. They have to follow the same criteria to get their certification as brick-and-mortar schools. I wouldn't discount online programs at all. Some people do better sitting through live classes, while others can study more independently with online programs.

3. Most NP programs will look at your Total GPA, Nursing School GPA, Science GPA, and your nursing experience. Some schools will favor the GPA's a little differently, such as some will look mainly at your Nursing School GPA, or the last 60-credits GPA, etc. Most will also want a written essay about why you want to become an NP, and most also will want some recommendation letters.

4. Most nurses will choose to get some experience under their belt before applying to NP programs. Often schools want their applicants to have some RN experience before applying, and it helps to have "real-world" nursing experience before going through an NP program.

I wish you the best of luck, and keep striving for your goals. It's definitely a worthy goal!

[dazywhale]

2 hours ago, CRNA2BKY said:

Here's my thoughts:

1. Yes, many nurses work full-time while going through an MSN-NP program. When it get's to clinicals, some nurses will choose to drop down to part-time or PRN to concentrate on their clinicals (this is pretty common).

2. There are many very good and reputable online MSN-NP programs. They have to follow the same criteria to get their certification as brick-and-mortar schools. I wouldn't discount online programs at all. Some people do better sitting through live classes, while others can study more independently with online programs.

3. Most NP programs will look at your Total GPA, Nursing School GPA, Science GPA, and your nursing experience. Some schools will favor the GPA's a little differently, such as some will look mainly at your Nursing School GPA, or the last 60-credits GPA, etc. Most will also want a written essay about why you want to become an NP, and most also will want some recommendation letters.

4. Most nurses will choose to get some experience under their belt before applying to NP programs. Often schools want their applicants to have some RN experience before applying, and it helps to have "real-world" nursing experience before going through an NP program.

I wish you the best of luck, and keep striving for your goals. It's definitely a worthy goal!

Thank you so much for your answers! I really appreciate it! Now that I have more insight on it, it actually seems more realistic and possible. Whereas before, I had very little info (only what I found off of Google) and it seemed like I would never be able to get there.

I will think about it more as it comes closer. Thank you so much again!

[CRNA2BKY]

No problem. I got 1 year through my FNP program, but due to some life circumstances, I had to put it on hold. I expect to get back into it and complete my last year starting this Summer. So, I am shooting for the same goals as you. Good luck!