Best route to NP for me?

[musicisforus13]

Hello and thanks for the time to read this. I will be brief. I work in speech pathology and hold my BS. I am motivated to become an NP. I am familiar with other aspects of the job through my work, prior experiences and other family members. I have considered other career options including PA, MD & DO and believe NP is right for me.

With my current BS I have all the pre-requisites for a BSN program. I have a family but am able to take off work for some time if needed.

I am not opposed to working as an RN first, nor am I opposed to trying to work as a RN while completing my NP degree and/or trying for a direct entry NP program. I would prefer to complete most my classes on-line but can attend a campus as well.

I have been looking all throughout the internet and talking to RNs and NPs and getting various answers. My questions are such:

1) Is there a program where I can get both my BSN & MSN? If so is it better to do online or local? Any examples of such programs?

1.5) Is it better to get my associate's in nursing and then do the online BSN program (and work as an RN through it) or skip the A-RN and go straight to BSN?

2) Do you recommend getting my BSN first, working as an RN & then applying to NP, or getting my BSN then immediately applying to MSN school? If I do so, how much can I realistically work as an RN while obtaining my MSN?

3) Is there a better route I have not considered? I sincerely appreciate the advantage of working specifically as an RN (I say this as I work in medicine but in the far less "clinical" field of speech pathology) but I also am interested in becoming an NP ASAP. I understand this will give me a steep learning curve.

I think ideally, I would like to get my NP the fastest but also work as an RN for a year or two "along the way," if this is feasible. If there is some type of program where I can get my BSN then immediately start in on my NP, that would be terrific.

Sincerely appreciate the time anyone takes to help me out with this!

[RegularNurse]

Find a direct entry MSN-NP program at a private school.

You have no real desire to be an RN, so you would just be wasting your time doing so. You can probably be an NP within 3 years if you start in the fall. Best of luck going forward :-)

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Find a direct entry MSN-NP program at a private school.

You have no real desire to be an RN, so you would just be wasting your time doing so. You can probably be an NP within 3 years if you start in the fall. Best of luck going forward :-)

It's a waste of time to "be an RN" along the way to practicing as an advance practice RN? Unusual thought process.

[Atl-Murse]

You need onsite clinical part of RN portion of MSN to be completed. That would be aleast 1 year.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Please consider the likelihood of actually getting an NP job with absolutely no nursing experience. My organization employs a lot of NPs in all types of settings. All positions require a solid clinical background. NPs engage in advanced nursing practice. This is not possible without competence in basic nursing practice. NPs are expected to function in autonomous roles - without the advantage of direct supervision and assistance. It is simply not safe to expect a rank beginner to fly without a net.

Nursing competence is primarily focused upon mastery of cognitive, psychomotor & affective learning. Didactic knowledge is not enough to support clinical reasoning. Practitioners must also be able to apply knowledge to unique clinical situations. The only way to master physical skills is practice. Expertise is developed over time. Although some people can learn very quickly, achieving clinical competence will take time.

Currently, hospitals in my area are only hiring new grad BSNs. Rare exceptions are made if the individual has a unique skill set or is on schedule to obtain a BSN in a very short period of time. Therefore, if hospital experience is an essential qualification for an NP program, you will need a BSN to obtain it. Whether you could start an NP program "immediately" after obtaining a BSN would depend upon the program's requirements. From a practical standpoint, exposure to acute care settings can help determine what type of NP to pursue.