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.
I have to jump back into this thread because it has been very informative and interesting, even though my original post unfortunately won't be applicable to me anymore.
Regarding Columbia, yes, you can go straight through the program (it was the program I was looking into).
A large part of the focus of this thread seems to be looking at RN experience vs no healthcare experience at all. There was a brief discussion about what I had asked about, but I haven't seen much since. Having worked as a paramedic for 20 years, I would like to think that would give me a pretty respectable foundation in terms of patient assessment and care. I certainly do not claim that this is nursing (RN) experience, but skills regarding pt. assessment, tx, hx taking, etc. are all a part of my job and certainly requisite skills to become an NP. I respect the nursing profession and understand why some nurses feel that RN experience should be mandatory to enter an NP program. It is similar to my belief that one should have experience as an EMT before attending paramedic school. However, although I believe that is the better path to follow to become a paramedic, I would be hard pressed to prove it is a necessary requirement. Interesting stuff being discussed here. I have learned alot following this thread.
Blurrr156 - I hope I can address your comments about your paramedic experience. I am a pre-hospital RN in IL (one of the few states with this type of license). I also have 10 years experience in a level one trauma center. I have worked with many paramedics both in the ER and in the field. I also know several paramedics that have gone on to be an RN.
1. Good paramedics have excellent "across the room" assessment skills. In 60 seconds, they can size up the situation and be accurate.
2. Some good paramedics that I know have gone on to school and all say that it is the more in-depth knowledge that they lack. The finesse of knowing drug interactions, in-depth physiology, etc..
3. The focus of a paramedic versus a nurse centers more in an in-depth assessment and in-depth knowledge. This is the way it should be because the paramedic shouldn't be on scene for 30 minutes trying to get an in-depth history and physical. They should do a focused assessment and go on from there.
4. The paramedics that I have had the pleasure to work with have my respect. They have been (with few exceptions) professional, compassionate and have excellent assessment skills.
5. I think your paramedic skills and experience will serve you well in nursing school - no matter which route you take.
And...although I don't work in the ER any longer, I still consider myself an ER RN. Take care and stay safe.
I totally agree with the advice here for checking on your state. For example here in California, the state with the toughest regulations and schooling, Excelsior lost it's accrediation a few years ago so if you do get your degree thru them you cannot practice in California as they will not acknowledge the degree. Good luck to you though on which ever way you decide to go.. :)
I am a new NP and had a couple of students in my class who had no nursing experience and one with nursing experience but not in our specialty. They both have had a difficult time getting jobs, unlike the rest of us in the class.
Thank you traumRUs for the kind comments. I agree about the broader and deeper aspects of a nursing education. Some medic programs (like mine, also depends on instructor) teach some pretty detailed stuff regarding A&P, Patho, etc. Plus, I tend to me a bit of an academic when it comes to this stuff so I try to read alot. Regardless, as you said, I think I will be ready regardless of the route I pursue. I think a big aspect of any type of medical training is being comfortable in a patient care environment in the first place. For people who have no healthcare experience at all to take an advanced program I think definitely has its' own challenges. Thank you again for the comments. And yes, "staying safe" is always at the top of my list...
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
I am a new NP and had a couple of students in my class who had no nursing experience and one with nursing experience but not in our specialty. They both have had a difficult time getting jobs, unlike the rest of us in the class.
I'm an NP student and I am just curious. You say that one has nursing experience but "not in our specialty." What is your specialty?
Trauma suggested that I call a few nursing recruiters at the major hospitals in Chicagoland, and they all told me that they would NOT hire a Nurse Practitioner without a minimum of 3-5 years clinical experience. The recruiters don't see how or where graduate students are getting clinical experience, and without that, they aren't going to hire a new grad as an NP.
Did the recruiters want the NP to have experience as a RN or NP? My experience in the RN role and NP role are not interchangeable. My scope of practice is completely different (with far more liability) as a NP.
Are the hospitals in Chicago only hiring Acute Care/Trauma NP's to practice in the hospital setting? Do they have outpatient clinics for FNP's to work?
I'm an NP student and I am just curious. You say that one has nursing experience but "not in our specialty." What is your specialty?
I thought that it was mandatory for all NNP's to have a minimum of 2 years neonatal nursing experience before sitting for the national boards. I'm not sure when that went into effect, but I'm positive that I read it somewhere.
I totally agree with the advice here for checking on your state. For example here in California, the state with the toughest regulations and schooling, Excelsior lost it's accrediation a few years ago so if you do get your degree thru them you cannot practice in California as they will not acknowledge the degree. Good luck to you though on which ever way you decide to go.. :)
I almost made the mistake of attending an online/distance program that wasn't recognized in my state. The best thing to do is contact your state Board of Nursing before entering a program. Also, remember that even though you are licensed in one state, that doesn't mean you can get licensed in another. So, attending some of those programs may be convenient, but in the long run, you're better off going with an established program.
OK lets look at three scenarios. One is a nurse that has 4 years med-surg experience, one is a nurse that has 4 years ICU experience and one is a nurse that has 4 years of inpatient psych experience. They all have four years of nursing. Are they all equal? Do they all have the same exposure to disease conditions and illness? This is my point here. The assumption seems to be that all nursing experience is equally valuable. I would assert that it is not just the type and quality of experience but the way the nurse processes that experience that matters.
David Carpenter, PA-C
I have worked in all of these areas and they are not equal in preparing you for an advanced role in another field. I guarantee you that a psych NP with prior psych experience as a RN will be far more capable as a psych NP than one with ICU experience. The ICU experience would help prepare someone to practice as a NP in the Acute Care role.
Mission
240 Posts
I believe Columbia, UCSF, Yale and NYU all allow you to go straight through without working. I'm sure there are other schools.