Advice/Questions for prospective AGACNP student

[ICUMurse21]

Hey everyone!

My name is Noah and I am finishing up my BSN in December and just accepted an ICU residency position at a major magnet hospital in the midwest starting in February. I have been working in a MICU (Covid ICU now) for about 2 years as a nurse extern, so I do have pretty significant ICU exposure with RN shadowing shifts. My ultimate goal is to start an AGACNP program and become an NP working in inpatient critical care, bone marrow transplant inpatient or clinic, infectious disease or possibly urgent care! I have some general questions regarding that process:

1. How long should I work bedside before starting an NP Program? How early could I start applying? - I know there are some people that discourage starting NP school early in the nursing career, which I totally get. I, too, think that bedside nursing is critical to getting experience, and I do intend to do AT LEAST* a year on the ICU before doing this. My ultimate goal has ALWAYS been NP, and I know that's what I want to do and I don't want to wait too long and end up not doing it. 

2. How does NP school work with simultaneously working as an RN? I know that the majority of schools are now online with "immersions" my question is, how do I know if that program will work with my job? Does it matter if the NP school is out of state? Is there anything that would prohibit me from attending an online program from a school out of state that would prevent me from getting licensed? 

3. How do clinical placements work for online programs? For example, if I attend an online NP Program with a very good reputation but is out of state, how hard is the process to get a local clinical preceptor, and how does that work? Will the NP Program help me do this, or is this totally my responsibility to find a clinical myself? 

4. How is NP school compared to BSN? I could never in my wildest dreams see myself working full, or even part time as a nurse while attending my BSN program. Is the content of NP school more spaced out/easier to juggle than a typical BSN program? How do you manage your school/work schedule? I am single, no kids, no other responsibilities other than work and school. 

5. Is the workforce TRULY becoming saturated with NP's? I hear lots of people saying that it is, and people are struggling to find jobs once graduated. I can totally see this happening just due to how many people go to NP school, how relatively easy it is to do, and bedside burnout. However, I always see tons of NP job openings.

Please tell me anything else you think I should hear, or would want to know! I appreciate anyone out there for reading this, willing to give advice, answer some questions for a new nurse! I appreciate you all, and stay safe! 

[Guest1144461]

3. They won't help you find preceptors, it's on you. Online NP school is essentially teaching yourself, no matter where you go. Same with finding preceptors.

1. If you are smart, RN experience is a non-factor IMO

5. Yes it's saturated, which is why contract nurses are making double my salary now. There is 0 barrier to get into NP school

6. DO a residency if you can. You'll likely have to move and it pays pennies but 100% worth it. NP school quality is poor and you'll need the support.

Yes the numbers are out of order, yes I am an ACNP, yes I did a residency, and yes I went to two well-known state schools.