Can You Become A FNP Too Quickly?

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I am brand new member to this online community, but I have been reading various posts on this site for a while now and find them very informative. I am in my 3rd semester of nursing school in a 5 semester ADN program, and I will graduate May 2011. I have a Bachelor of Science degree (in a non-nursing field). My goal after graduation is to immediately start a RN-BSN-MSN program or possibly a RN-MSN program (while working as an RN) to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. My question is can I be a qualified and competent FNP without several years of nursing under my belt? I work really hard in school and clinicals to absorb all of the information I can and work as a student nurse in a local ER which helps a lot. Most NPs I talk to say go straight through and get done which is encouraging, but some say I need those several years of experience as a nurse first. By the way, I already have all of my prerequisites finished in order to start my next educational step after the ADN program. Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for any feedback.

Specializes in Occupational health, Corrections, PACU.
NP programs do not contain near enough clinical time to become proficient without previous clinical time.

If you don't want to spend at least a couple of years at the bedside, consider PA programs.

(Before I get flamed: I'm not suggesting that NP programs are inferior. However, they do generally contain less clinical time than a PA program. There's nothing wrong with this if you have several years of clinical experience as a bedside nurse. However, jumping as quickly as possible into being a NP is dangerous to both the NP and their patients. IMO.)

I have been to school with and worked with a LOT of NP's and PA's. I could not agree more. Well stated! However, I will be a little less politically correct. I believe that PA's get a superior education as far as a mid-level provider goes, and this is why. (Caveat here, I think this applies to all EXCEPT Ped. NP's-who get the superior education in that program.) I believe I have posted this before-but here goes. NP students get more theory, more research, more wellness and public health teaching opportunities. Great. HOWEVER, PA students get the same classes as med students (at first) AND they get to do Gross Anatomy/Cadaver dissections which adds untold value to your educational level AND they get radiology classes. (It is so nice when your mid-level provider has a CLUE as to what they are looking at when they look at an X-ray!) If I had to choose my career path again, and I was 25 years younger, I would go to PA school.

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I have been to school with and worked with a LOT of NP's and PA's. I could not agree more. Well stated! However, I will be a little less politically correct. I believe that PA's get a superior education as far as a mid-level provider goes, and this is why. (Caveat here, I think this applies to all EXCEPT Ped. NP's-who get the superior education in that program.) I believe I have posted this before-but here goes. NP students get more theory, more research, more wellness and public health teaching opportunities. Great. HOWEVER, PA students get the same classes as med students (at first) AND they get to do Gross Anatomy/Cadaver dissections which adds untold value to your educational level AND they get radiology classes. (It is so nice when your mid-level provider has a CLUE as to what they are looking at when they look at an X-ray!) If I had to choose my career path again, and I was 25 years younger, I would go to PA school.

I'm on the fence regarding the NP vs PA debate. I do think PA curriculum is better suited to the requirements of being a mid-level provider. However, I do think that with enough experience, a NP student can come out with the same education.

That's why I think, personally, 5 years should be required for entrance into NP school, and I believe at least 2 of those years should be spent in the ER or ICU, especially ER. The ER really will prep a nurse for the kinds of stuff he or she will see as a FNP since many people think the ER is their PCHP. ;) Also being in the ER you have a lot of autonomy as a nurse. You get a lot of exposure to radiology films and CT scans, but that, in my mind just doesn't replace a radiology course.

But, that's just my opinion.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
np programs do not contain near enough clinical time to become proficient without previous clinical time.

if you don't want to spend at least a couple of years at the bedside, consider pa programs.

(before i get flamed: i'm not suggesting that np programs are inferior. however, they do generally contain less clinical time than a pa program. there's nothing wrong with this if you have several years of clinical experience as a bedside nurse. however, jumping as quickly as possible into being a np is dangerous to both the np and their patients. imo.)

i agree. people tend to forget that the np programs have counted on their students being knowledgeable, experienced nurses to begin with. there just isn't enough clinical time to teach everything you should have learned before you start an np program. in years past, it used to require five years of nursing experience before you could apply to an msn program, and that was considered just a good start. nowadays they're cranking out nurse practitioners who have not only not mastered the basics, but don't even realize how little they've actually learned.

one year of experience and an msn aren't nearly enough to make one a competent nurse practitioner. in years past, i've preferred nps over mds as my primary healthcare provider, but with the inexperienced nps they're cranking out now, there's no way i'll ever go to one again unless i know personally that she knows what she's doing. far too many of the nps i've met lately know far too little.

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OK, here's my 2 cents worth. I'm looking at the same opportunity as the OP, but one thing we all have to remember is that come 2015, the only way you will be able to become an "NP" of any kind is to get a doctorate (DNP). So would it be in my best interest to get more experience before I apply to get my MSN (NP), ABSOLUTELY. But am I under a time constraint to get my NP license without having to go through a doctoral program? ABSOLUTELY.

So while I feel that I may be a bit inadequate experience-wise going into the program, am I going to let it hold me back from moving forward with the MSN program after I graduate nursing school, no way. I do plan on getting my doctoral degree as well, but I want to be able to practice as an NP while I'm doing it.

With the way my semester time is structured and all falls into place as I plan, I will be graduating from my NP program (MSN) in the fall 2014. I understand that there will some "grandfathering" in for people who are in the program in 2015, but I don't want to be all caught up in red tape wondering if I'm going to be affected by it or not. I hope to finish my DNP by fall 2016/spring 2017.

Some of you may be asking why the rush? Well one because I love school and two because I'm currently 40 years old and still only a nursing student. This will be my second career and I have goals I would like to meet.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth: don't forget that 2015 deadline otherwise you will be in school for another 5 years to get that NP.

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OK, here's my 2 cents worth. I'm looking at the same opportunity as the OP, but one thing we all have to remember is that come 2015, the only way you will be able to become an "NP" of any kind is to get a doctorate (DNP).

False.

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Fribblet, can you expand on what's false about that statement? Have I been given incorrect information?

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I know in Phoenix they are phasing in a doctorate only NP program and phasing out the masters.

I too heard that soon NP's have to have do a PHD course to become an NP. I dont know how this will effect current NP's who dont have their PHD.

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At this time, the proposal that the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice, NOT a PhD) become the mandatory minimum for advanced practice is a proposal by a few of the academic nursing organizations, not a requirement. While bunches of schools are in the process of converting their MSN programs to DNP programs, many other schools are NOT doing this and this is nowhere close to being mandatory (despite what a lot of nursing academics would like you to believe -- I don't know whether they're really that uninformed about their own field, or just pushing some personal agenda by spreading the misinformation).

The only group that has really embraced the DNP idea so far is the CRNAs -- and their proposed date, at this time, is 2025. The other advanced practice groups have not yet climbed on this particular bandwagon. There is a great deal of controversy about this in the larger nursing community and it is certainly not a "done deal." The NLN just recently came out against the proposal.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

In my opinion you need some experience under your belt before taking on this task. You will not learn what you need to know in nursing school and you will only get those skills with hands on practice. Patient assessment is key and you won't get that skill unless you are actually working at the bedside. I suggest a very busy med surg area or a very busy ED so you can get experience with high volume. If you are planning to do OB patients as well, you should also get some OB experience. I urge you to do this or I feel you will be at a great disadvantage and your learning curve as an ARNP will be steep.

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