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.
There are a LOT of people who read this site, and don't understand the hostility. People simply ask questions regarding this topic, but get no answers... just ranting about how terrible of a practitioner they'll be because they decided to enter a direct-entry program.
Believe it or not, but the nursing world has probably lost some very caring, intelligent, and driven people that were thinking about being NPs through a Direct-Entry channel, but after reading some comments ON THIS PAGE by nursing colleagues completely bashing the program... shifted to the PA world.
I personally think that experience is beneficial prior to going the NP route but also realize that some will do fine with direct entry.
But experience never hurts. At the studentdoctor site, you hear about practicing NPs who do not know things I learned a long time ago and consider to be elementary knowledge...and I'm not an NP yet.
coreO - I agree that even as a new grad CNS, it was continually brought up that the physicians and other mid-levels liked the idea that I had done more than nursing.
I agree with this. The one place that I see a difference in is surgery. This is really a young person's field. I worked in the OR in my 30's. I am not sure that I could keep up anymore in my 40's.
coreO - I was in the same boat in the ER! I moved from the ER at the age of 47 and I still love the ER! However, I couldn't see myself at that pace in my 60's! lol
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
coreO - I agree that even as a new grad CNS, it was continually brought up that the physicians and other mid-levels liked the idea that I had done more than nursing.
The above is good to know and has been true for me. I became an RN when I was 45 and I've almost completed 3 years as an RN at the bedside...(acute rehab...others think med/surg light.... though it is not "light" most days....) I'm halfway through a part-time ANP program and I am just beginning my clinicals. I've found that even as an RN, all that "life experience" is counting for something as I head toward my 50s. I went to school originally as a teen, received a BA in Communications disorders (Speech and Hearing), never worked as a Speech Pathologist (since a Masters was needed), learned sign language, volunteered with deaf kids as a teacher's assistant, and interpreted for deaf adults at my church, worked for a law firm doing data entry, worked at the State Department in D.C. as a clerk typist and doing administrative assistant work (before the internet, and e-mail...we used "white out" to make corrections and typed on IBM Selectric Typewriters) Married, raised 5 kids (3 biological, two adopted as older kids, 6 and 7, who both turned out to be bipolar....now all are adults, except my youngest who is 16) and as a mom and wife was cook, chauffeur, PTA mom, etc, etc. I told someone today I remember working from home doing data entry for the law firm, typing at 2am in the morning as I rocked my son to sleep in his rocker seat, by using the heel of my foot on the rocker seat's edge as I typed (he turned out fine and is a freshman in college....loves the sound of computer keys though.... :) I originally made the decision to go to graduate school after having 6, 7, etc patients at a time and missing lunch, etc due to the fast pace. One day, after checking a pulsox at work by placing it on myself and discovering my heart rate was 145, I realized I may not be able to keep up this pace forever.... I thought my age would be a hindrance and a disadvantage to becoming a nurse, but it appears to be working to my advantage that I'm in my middle age years....... I'm hoping and praying that I can survive at this fast pace as a bedside nurse and graduate from the ANP program in Dec 2007. And I'm hoping that this advantage as an "older nurse" with past experience continues as I strive to become an NP.....
mom and nurse - I think you will have a distinct advantage. I became a nurse at 32, am a military wife, lived in Japan, Spain, Korea, Alaska, Las Vegas, etc. and have seen a lot. I've worked as a med transcriptionist, worked full time nights as an LPN while going to school full-time days for my RN and oh did I say that I also was wife and mother.
That bit of experience forced me to become very organized and that has held me well as a nurse.
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
mom and nurse - I think you will have a distinct advantage. I became a nurse at 32, am a military wife, lived in Japan, Spain, Korea, Alaska, Las Vegas, etc. and have seen a lot. I've worked as a med transcriptionist, worked full time nights as an LPN while going to school full-time days for my RN and oh did I say that I also was wife and mother.
That bit of experience forced me to become very organized and that has held me well as a nurse.
TraumaRUS - I'm sure being a military wife made you very organized :) My mom was a military wife and she raised I and my siblings as we were sent to the Philippines, California, Virginia, Texas, the state of Washington, Washington D.C., with pit stops in Oklahoma where most of her family lived. . I appreciate more of what she went through after I became a mom and stayed basically in the same area as my kids grew up. I dreaded the experience as a child...8 elementary schools, a couple of junior highs..... But I cherish the memories now as an adult, ...especially since most of our travelling was done by car and we saw the U.S.... Wow. You worked full time nights as an LPN while going to school full time days for your RN...and you were a wife and mom too. And I thought I had it rough when I was an undergrad in nursing school and a stay at home mom with 5 teens at home...... I send claps your way.... :yelclap: And I'll see my clinicals as an NP student as another adventure...I've had many....Guess this is just another one. Yep...guess life experience does count....
You cannot teach experience! Most of skills I learned and needed to become an NP were gleaned from years of experience as a nurse-the education as an NP and the certification, etc. were icing on the cake. I sure wouldn't want a direct entry MD-to imply that people with non nursing education and experience could be of the same caliber as a seasoned nurse and educated Np is an insult to all NP'S.
Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
You cannot teach experience! Most of skills I learned and needed to become an NP were gleaned from years of experience as a nurse-the education as an NP and the certification, etc. were icing on the cake. I sure wouldn't want a direct entry MD-to imply that people with non nursing education and experience could be of the same caliber as a seasoned nurse and educated Np is an insult to all NP'S.
I agree. Of all the experiences I've had, yes my experience as a nurse would have to be the most valuable in order to practice as an NP.....
I sure wouldn't want a direct entry MD-to imply that people with non nursing education and experience could be of the same caliber as a seasoned nurse and educated Np is an insult to all NP'S.
I will not be applying to a direct entry program, but would if one were offered in my area...
I agree that direct entry NP's are probably less knowledgable than experienced nurses who move on to NP, but I have to say...aren't MOST MDs direct entry? Everyone I know that went on to medical school did so immediately following their college graduation. If that's not direct entry, I don't know what is.
You cannot teach experience! Most of skills I learned and needed to become an NP were gleaned from years of experience as a nurse-the education as an NP and the certification, etc. were icing on the cake. I sure wouldn't want a direct entry MD-to imply that people with non nursing education and experience could be of the same caliber as a seasoned nurse and educated Np is an insult to all NP'S.
I am not sure I understand you here. What do you mean by a direct entry MD? Are you referring to someone who hasn't finished internship?
Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
I am not sure I understand you here. What do you mean by a direct entry MD? Are you referring to someone who hasn't finished internship?
David Carpenter, PA-C
Can I jump in here? The previous posts means that med students and direct NP students aren't that different. IE, direct entry NP programs do not *require* previous healthcare experience. Neither does medical school. So, in a way, med students are similar to direct-entry NP students. Neither requires experience.
Yes, I realize that med students are required to do a rather long internship, and nurses are not technically required to do that.
zenman
1 Article; 2,806 Posts
I personally think that experience is beneficial prior to going the NP route but also realize that some will do fine with direct entry.
But experience never hurts. At the studentdoctor site, you hear about practicing NPs who do not know things I learned a long time ago and consider to be elementary knowledge...and I'm not an NP yet.