BSN-DNP Advice

sweetdreame, BSN, RN · May 22, 2014

You need bedside experience, preferably in critical care/ED. You need to be able to develop your nursing skills very well before you start treating patients completely independently.

In my opinion, all schools should require at least one year of experience... probably more.

If you want it bad enough, you will go back to school and it won't be harder... if anything it will be easier because you will have real experiences to relate to what you are learning.

I went back to school after being a nurse over 4 years. If it is what you want, you will do whatever you need to do to make it happen. Good luck with your decision.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 22, 2014

Welcome!

Thread moved fr best response

zmansc, ASN, RN · May 22, 2014

You will get many answers, most of which is personal opinion. There are many programs that take someone all the way through without having the students work as RNs. They have to get their RN to continue in the program, but they don't have to work as an RN. I liken it to when I came out of RN school and many told me I had to work in Med/Surg before going to work in the ER. I didn't, and I don't think I missed anything other than a year of frustration at working in an area I don't enjoy.

There are many things I have learned while working as a RN, and for that matter while working as a MA during nursing school that I have been able to apply toward my NP education, in that vein, I believe my experience has helped me to be able to apply things I'm learning in my NP program to real life situations. I think this has helped me to both pick up didactic materials better and to apply it to actual clinical presentations. It has also helped me to feel more comfortable in the clinical setting because, well, I've been in the setting before, just not in this exact role.

Having said that, if the program you choose is use to having student who have no clinical experience, I have to believe they factor that into their program, or their students wouldn't be successful. It would certainly be something I would ask them about before I applied to a program though.

Finally, in the end this is a decision you need to make based on your comfort level with your experiences and your ability to apply the information in a real life setting. Another option, might be to get a job, and start school, but do it part time. That would give you time to gain experience as you continue to move along in your education process and not take a break from school. If the schooling is one year longer, well then you get the same amount of experience as if you had worked a year and then gone back to school, but you give yourself more time to absorb the materials in class as well.

AlwaysStriving · May 23, 2014

Thank you both for your input. I've seen a lot of people say that the experience is important and some people say they were ok without it. I think going back to school and doing well requires more than just a desire to do it, especially if you want a family. So much to think about!

Peaceem · Feb 5, 2015

I just read your post and I was wondering if you ever ended up going right away for your DNP? I'm in the process of considering the same decision at a school that has a specific program for BSN students to continue their education right away. It starts part time so I would have some opportunity to get experience. I would love to hear how everything is going for you and if you would have done it differently. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

Thank you!!!!

stpollard · Feb 7, 2015

I'm also trying to do the same thing! Nervous that I will only have ~6 months experience by fall (if I get accepted), but I am in the same boat as you in that I'm worried that if I don't go now, I never will. Keep us updated! I'm glad I'm not the only one worrying about this.