Become a NNP process from start to finish

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

The RN is the license. The BSN is the degree. I hate the way schools advertise RN to BSN programs. You are the exact same RN whether or not you have an ASN degree or BSN degree.

You can start by becoming an RN. You go to school, complete the prereqs, then apply to a nursing program. You will either earn an ASN at a community college, or a BSN at a 4 year college. Then you take the NCLEX and if you pass, you become an RN.

Most, but not all, masters programs require a couple of years of nursing experience. You apply to a post graduate MSN or Phd program and become a nurse practitioner.

Some schools have direct entry masters programs but i woukd advise against them against because it's tough to find an NP position without any nursing experience.

I would get your BSN, become a RN, work for a year, then apply to NP school. It's the best way to go.

Buyer beware, BSN · Oct 18, 2016

The RN is the license. The BSN is the degree. I hate the way schools advertise RN to BSN programs. You are the exact same RN whether or not you have an ASN degree or BSN degree.
You can start by becoming an RN. You go to school, complete the prereqs, then apply to a nursing program. You will either earn an ASN at a community college, or a BSN at a 4 year college. Then you take the NCLEX and if you pass, you become an RN.
Most, but not all, masters programs require a couple of years of nursing experience. You apply to a post graduate MSN or Phd program and become a nurse practitioner.
Some schools have direct entry masters programs but i woukd advise against them against because it's tough to find an NP position without any nursing experience.
I would get your BSN, become a RN, work for a year, then apply to NP school. It's the best way to go.

Thank you NurseGirl525,

This yougster is exactly what the for-profits are looking for.

It is a shame but they would promise her the Earth, Moon and Stars and leave her stranded by the wayside.

I can't help but blame Nursing leadership and greed for not getting the word out.

I understand nursing instructors have to make a living but to work for a for-profit and compartmentize your complicity in luring in young people into this mess is unethical to say the least.

The word is out, hiding in plain sight, but overridden by those who are blinded by their dreams and many in faux education willing to take advantage of these babes-in-the-woods.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Oct 18, 2016

To clarify, when you say NNP do you mean Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, or are you asking about nurse practitioners in general?

Regardless, to start you have to become an RN, which requires either an associates degree (ASN) from a community college, or a bachelors degree (BSN) from a four year college. There are pros and cons to each route, and there are literally hundreds of posts on this topic already AllNurses (just search 'ASN BSN' or 'associates bachelors'). I think that most (if not all) NP programs require you to have a bachelors prior to starting, since NP degrees are either masters or doctoral degrees. You can either start out with your BSN, or as NurseGirl stated, you can get your ASN, begin working as an RN, and do an BSN program part-time.

A handful of NP programs will allow you to start without bedside RN experience, although it's highly recommended (and will make it easier to land a job). Nearly all reputable Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) programs require at least 2 years of RN experience in a Level 3 or Level 4 NICU before applying. NICU can be a hard specialty to break into, especially as a new grad RN, so expect to put out a lot of applications, and do everything you can to make your resume stand out. For some people, it can take a few years and job changes to finally get a NICU RN position.