Career Advice for Career Switcher

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2016

I think that there are significant consequences to skipping RN experience on the pathway to an advanced degree. Unfortunately you are experiencing one of them. I wish that schools did not market or even offer an advanced nursing degree to those who have no nursing experience. It just doesn't make sense to me.

allnurses Guide · Mar 22, 2016

The acute care component is going to be a major hurdle for you unfortunately. Without any direct experience you won't be very attractive to hospitals or to the parents of super sick kids. Maybe some others will have ideas how you can get some experience and get your foot in the door. Perhaps volunteering with a rural medical outreach or something?

loriangel14, RN · Mar 22, 2016

Maybe just work as an RN? I agree with the others. Being an NP with no nursing experience is a bad idea. How do they figure you can be an effective NP with no patient care experience?

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2016

I am a new PNP and I am currently working in a Pediatrician's office (primary care) where it's just me and the pediatrician and most times I am alone (not liking it one bit). I would like to work as a PNP in the hospital setting for various reasons (3-day work week, more opportunities to learn from various members of the team, better benefits), but I have no RN experience, since I did an accelerated BSN/MSN program and went straight through. I have submitted my resume to hospitals but not getting as many calls as I do for private practice. Any suggestions? Advice?

I am not surprised that you do not get much response. An Advanced Practice Degree implies somewhat that there person practiced nursing (IMO) - outside of just clinicals. I do not even understand why they allow programs like that.

Of course you do not feel great in your role - you lack all the basic nursing experience.

I have read somewhere about fellowship programs for NPs in the hospital setting. I think they require some first experience as a NP. Perhaps check that out? Or look for a pediatrician's office that is large and has more physicians and NPs - that way, you would not be alone and could be supervised better for a while.

MamaPedsNP · Mar 27, 2016

Thank you all for your responses. Bedside nursing was what got me into Nursing in the first place but for several personal reasons chose to not go pause to work. I regret that now but not much to do about that at this point but fix it.

I have been thinking about and leaning towards your recommendation, loriangel14. And I have been wondering how to strategize and 'market' myself myself to hospitals. I got my RN license in 2013 and haven't used it work ever. Also do I leave out my NP education, license and experience off my resume?

I don't mind having to start and work my way up as an RN but I want to do it right. Any suggestions will be really helpful.

MamaPedsNP · Mar 27, 2016

Btw, I don't know if this is helpful but I'm in NY and don't want to do primary practice till I have some hospital-based experience...

MsBruiser · Mar 28, 2016

I would take some of this advice with a grain of salt. Thousands of PA(s) graduate without any inpatient / floor experience beyond maybe shadowing or volunteering. You do not need to work as a floor nurse to be an effective NP. That said, you will have to find a way to network your way into an inpatient environment. Perhaps a formal fellowship program is the way to go. My employer offers them in a variety of fields for new PA(s) and NP(s) and people relocate from all over the country to intensively learn a particular field for 12 months. Or join some local societies and start meeting the right people. If you know the right folks they can set you up safely to do whatever you want.