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Discussion

Becoming an NP without relevant nursing experience

This is about a friend I graduated with. She is currently enrolled in an RN-BSN program and will continue on to an FNP program. She quit her first (and only) nursing job on a med-surg unit after only a few weeks because she realized she hates bedside nursing and has difficulty managing more than 2-3 pts. By her own admission, she is extremely slow and I even remember in clinicals how she would perform tasks in a painstakingly slow fashion. Without relevant experience and only an ADN, she doesn't qualify for much else (or anything where efficiency plays a large role).

Her goal is to become an FNP with her own private practice eventually. She has found schools that will accept students without nursing experience. But my question is: will she ever be taken seriously and actually be considered for such positions without having worked as a nurse in any capacity?

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    Short answer is yes. There are direct entry FNP programs that requires zero nursing experience

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    Short answer is yes. There are direct entry FNP programs that requires zero nursing experience

    But the real question is will she ever find work?

    OP, there have been a couple of interesting threads on this subject lately. My personal is opinion is that I would never want to report to a supervisor who had no nursing experience. I also don't understand the rationale behind offering such a degree, unless it is for transitioning into research, informatics, etc.

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    My organization employs a lot of of FNPs - but does not consider any employment applications from candidates without at least 2 years of advanced nursing experience in a relevant setting - ED experience is preferred. If they're going to be working with a large pedi population, they need pedi experience. These folks have to function very independently. We're not going to compromise on patient safety.

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    But the real question is will she ever find work?

    OP, there have been a couple of interesting threads on this subject lately. My personal is opinion is that I would never want to report to a supervisor who had no nursing experience. I also don't understand the rationale behind offering such a degree, unless it is for transitioning into research, informatics, etc.

    While you or I may not like it, I know a least 4 FNPs with good paying jobs , they all started with no nursing experience. I share your concerns but the market trumps all our feelings

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    While you or I may not like it, I know a least 4 FNPs with good paying jobs , they all started with no nursing experience. I share your concerns but the market trumps all our feelings

    It's not that I don't like it, it's that I'm concerned for her. She is a very dear friend and I don't want all her years of schooling to be for naught. She is very aware of her short-comings when it pertains to certain things like time-management and quick thinking a nurse has to do when working bedside. However, she is incredibly intelligent. Sometimes I can learn more from her than I can from seasoned RNs I work with because her knowledge is so extensive. Unfortunately, it just doesn't translate into tangible, efficient tasks a nurse must perform in an acute care setting.

    While I do believe she needs a foundation before leaping into an APN role (and she knows my opinion on this as we've discussed this at great lengths), I truly hope it works out for her in the end.

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