Becoming an NP with little to no nursing experience??

[Blurr156]

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.

Thank you for any guidance you can provide.

[ANPFNPGNP]

NPs positions are in demand at this time. My concern is that like many other professions, the cycle of TOO MANY NPs will be in the near horizon. My current class number is 200+, while the ACNP program is under 100. The new RN grads are having a hard time finding jobs. Will I face the same hardship when I graduate with my FNP in 1 1/2 years? Cause me to wonder what the ratio of PAs to NPs is?

The direct entry to NPs may have undesirable effect to the ANP profession in the long run.

There are several places where NP's can't find employment b/c of oversupply. In my area, there is a 100% online program that is dumping NP's on the market like crazy. None of the new grads (from Fall & Spring semesters) have been able to find jobs locally. I've been a NP around here going on 5 years and I've seen the wages for midlevels (NP's AND PA's) drop every single year b/c of the oversupply. So, unless you're able to locate, I certainly wouldn't waste my time/money going the NP route!

[ANPFNPGNP]

We are in very high demand across the country.

Speak for your neck of the woods, NP's are overly abundant in many areas of the country and can't find jobs.

[Carolbknits]

I wonder how much experience is enough? I am registered nurse, although off the floors for 11 years, out of practice for 3. I was in the ICU/CCU for 4 years. Is that considered enough expereience? Thanks

love hugs and prayers

Carol

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

And...as Medicare/Medicaid cuts reimbursement and "bundles" care, mid-level salaries will cont to decline and/or stagnate. In my area, (central IL) there are no jobs for new grad RNs and no mid-level positions either.

[Carolbknits]

Hi,

What do you consider midlevel? I'm in a refresher course to go back to work but am waiting for the last clinical part. I am an experienced RN but out of the field 3 years and off the floors 11 years. Thanks

love hugs and prayers

Carol

[ANPFNPGNP]

Hi,

What do you consider midlevel? I'm in a refresher course to go back to work but am waiting for the last clinical part. I am an experienced RN but out of the field 3 years and off the floors 11 years. Thanks

love hugs and prayers

Carol

A midlevel is either a PA, NP or CNS. I suppose a CRNA is also a midlevel.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Yes, I apologize - I was referring to PA, NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA.

[FNPdude74]

I've heard many different thoughts and opinions about this issue. I myself, am a new Spring 2009 BSN graduate from a University. I received my RN license around July 17 (around that date) in the mail after taking the NLCEX on July 3rd and passing on first try at 75 questions (I know this doesn't mean anything). I received a admission notice around May for the Master's FNP program starting this Fall 2009.

I made a post earlier this year about how some of the nurses at a large medical center told me, while I was in the icu staying with my aunty who was admitted, that I shouldn't have gone to FNP school so soon. They insisted that I get experience first of at least 2 years as a bedside RN. They also said there are no jobs for NP's in Hawaii and they make less than staff RN's. However, I found out from actual NP's, that as they gain experience as a NP like 3-5years+, they would make more than a staff RN working 40 hours a week. Also that staff RN's have the potential to make more than an NP because of overtime hours, otherwise NP's make more working the regular 40 hours a week. My motivation was NOT solely because of money, it may be part of it, but I found out there are long term benefits of being an NP since I really WANTED to practice as a NP.

The scope of practice is vastly different compared to a staff RN. This is what motivated me the most, the type and scope of practice of FNP's and how I can possibly expand the scope of practice by completing more training such as residencies or fellowships which I found out they do have some because I searched for them on the internet.

So there. I am still willing to get the bedside experience as a staff RN but I will ultimately end up practicing as a FNP possibly in acute care after I obtain the training such as in ER. I know some FNP's here in Hawaii and I know of some in california who work in the ER and practice almost like a physician. Diagnose and treat medical conditions. I was going to join the Air Force active duty and get into the Nurse Transition Program (NTP), work as a staff RN for 1-2 years, then they'll train and transition me into a FNP since I'll already have the degree and license as a FNP by then. Though I will get this in writing of course and I've been told by different healthcare professionals in the military that they're also desperate for NP's. I'll stay in probably for about 6 years active duty and go into air force reserves and stay back at home in Hawaii. So i guess going into FNP school with no nursing experience isn't bad at all with the plan I have for myself.

[JDCitizen]

i've heard many different thoughts and opinions about this issue.

there are many :-)

i myself, am a new spring 2009 bsn graduate from a university. i received my rn license around july 17 (around that date) in the mail after taking the nlcex on july 3rd and passing on first try at 75 questions (i know this doesn't mean anything). i received a admission notice around may for the master's fnp program starting this fall 2009.

oh i still remember my boards :-) congratulations!

i made a post earlier this year about how some of the nurses at a large medical center told me, while i was in the icu staying with my aunty who was admitted, that i shouldn't have gone to fnp school so soon. they insisted that i get experience first of at least 2 years as a bedside rn. they also said there are no jobs for np's in hawaii and they make less than staff rn's. however, i found out from actual np's, that as they gain experience as a np like 3-5years+, they would make more than a staff rn working 40 hours a week. also that staff rn's have the potential to make more than an np because of overtime hours, otherwise np's make more working the regular 40 hours a week. my motivation was not solely because of money, it may be part of it, but i found out there are long term benefits of being an np since i really wanted to practice as a np.

the scope of practice is vastly different compared to a staff rn. this is what motivated me the most, the type and scope of practice of fnp's and how i can possibly expand the scope of practice by completing more training such as residencies or fellowships which i found out they do have some because i searched for them on the internet.

so there. i am still willing to get the bedside experience as a staff rn but i will ultimately end up practicing as a fnp possibly in acute care after i obtain the training such as in er. i know some fnp's here in hawaii and i know of some in california who work in the er and practice almost like a physician. diagnose and treat medical conditions. i was going to join the air force active duty and get into the nurse transition program (ntp), work as a staff rn for 1-2 years, then they'll train and transition me into a fnp since i'll already have the degree and license as a fnp by then. though i will get this in writing of course and i've been told by different healthcare professionals in the military that they're also desperate for np's. i'll stay in probably for about 6 years active duty and go into air force reserves and stay back at home in hawaii. so i guess going into fnp school with no nursing experience isn't bad at all with the plan i have for myself.

you will find on this site the arguments about clinical hours while in np school. true nursing as an rn is different with a different scope of practice. depending on the unit(s) you decide to work on the knowledge gained is invaluable (my thoughts) from patient care, to actual interaction with the patients and their families to interaction with professionals across the spectrum.

also a lot can/will depend on the practice you go into and the amount of teaching/instructing your new employer(s) are willing to do. research on this site will show you there is a multitude of different experiences and viewpoints on this.

as for the air force decision i might suggest visiting the government and military nursing site here at allnurses and visiting airforceots.com…

three final thoughts:

- as you gain experience as a np those will be real patients in real time that you will be working with…

- your plans for the air force is great but practicing as a rn (new degree to you now) after becoming an np (takes about two years depending on program)… lot of time for loss of taught skills even considering the transition program for nurses.

- may i suggest that you read the recertification requirements for aanp and acnp? the clock starts ticking on recertification requirements past boards.

[FNPdude74]

Three final thoughts:

- As you gain experience as a NP those will be real patients in real time that you will be working with…

- Your plans for the Air Force is great but practicing as a RN (new degree to you now) after becoming an NP (takes about two years depending on program)… Lot of time for loss of taught skills even considering the transition program for nurses.

- May I suggest that you read the recertification requirements for AANP and ACNP? The clock starts ticking on recertification requirements past boards.

JDCitizen,

Thanks for your input. Yes there are pros and cons to this situation. In response to your final thoughts, during the two years while in FNP school, I will be working as a graduate assistant at my School of Nursing with my professors in the Skills Learning Lab and the Simulation Man Lab. I will also be helping the faculty/clinical instructors in working with their students on their nursing skills by assisting and going over with them, their skills checklist and competency evaluation at their last semester. So this may be a good thing for me while I'm not practicing full-time as a Bedside RN. I think this will allow continuous exposure to what we had been taught in school. Any thoughts?

[ANPFNPGNP]

JDCitizen,

Thanks for your input. Yes there are pros and cons to this situation. In response to your final thoughts, during the two years while in FNP school, I will be working as a graduate assistant at my School of Nursing with my professors in the Skills Learning Lab and the Simulation Man Lab. I will also be helping the faculty/clinical instructors in working with their students on their nursing skills by assisting and going over with them, their skills checklist and competency evaluation at their last semester. So this may be a good thing for me while I'm not practicing full-time as a Bedside RN. I think this will allow continuous exposure to what we had been taught in school. Any thoughts?

Let me get this straight, you are a brand new RN grad with no experience in nursing and you're going to teach nursing skills to students? I'm totally lost on that one.

[FNPdude74]

Let me get this straight, you are a brand new RN grad with no experience in nursing and you're going to teach nursing skills to students? I'm totally lost on that one.

Hey sorry, what I meant to say was, I'm going to use a checklist provided by the faculty, to see if they're following the checklist step by step. Then they'll perform their skills according to the checklist in front of an instructor to be evaluated. I'm not going to actually "teach" them myself on nursing skills. If they have questions, they'll ask the instructors or other nursing faculty who had so many years of experience, in the learning lab. I will be bringing supplies into the room from the supply room, making sure people aren't fooling around, make sure the undergrads aren't missing a step on their checklist before they're evaluated, and help the faculty set up scenarios (putting mannequins on the beds with a leg wound, etc). I will NOT be doing ANY teaching because of liabilities from what I've been told. I just started orientation on this grad assistantship so i'm not very clear on what I would be able to do with the students in the skills learning lab. Probably limited though. However, I believe it may be good for me to be around them to refresh my memory on things.

In the simulation lab, I will only be running the electronic mannequins and the scenarios according to what the faculty wanted. In the simulation lab, basically I'll: restock, move around props, create a environment according to the scenario, work with the Sim man Program on the computer to run it, and make voices through the microphone acting like a patient. Very technical stuff, no teaching at all.