Curious about RN to FNP transition

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Hi everyone! My name is Chris and I currently work in a Cardiac ICU. I have recently been accepted into an MSN-FNP program to begin this August. I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share your experiences with me regarding how you handled the transition from the "RN thinking" style to thinking more like a provider. Also, if there are any references you would be willing to share with me concerning how to think more like a primary provider I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Chris :coollook:

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Specializes in med/surg.

I wanna know too...BUMP

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Hi Chris,

I'm not sure how much help I can be since I just graduated, but I can give you a little perspective :) It is a difficult change to go from Expert RN to Student/Novice NP. Your mindset does have to change, but you will see that the change occurs naturally as you progress thorugh your program. Your ICU history will also help you more than you might think (the ER and ICU nurses seemed to have an easier time making the transition imo).

I found that the case studies we did were especially challenging early on in the program, but they were instrumental in helping me to think like an NP vs an RN. The same case studies that took hours and hours at the beginning of the program took just a few minutes at the end. The transition will happen seamlessly and you'll start wondering why they don't teach most of this in nursing school :)

As for resources - I strated reading Margaret Fitzgerald's certification exam review book about half way into the program and I'm glad I did. She gives a great rationale to processes that didn't always 'click' the first time for me. Good luck!

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If you dont mind, could you please tell me how long is it going to take you to finish or if u r already finished, then r u working as an NP already?? Thanks in Advance...

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i just posted this somewhere else, but I believe this thread is the best place for my question. I am just starting my nursing program and I was wondering if anyone can help me. Do I have to go to a school that specifically has a NP program or just a Masters program? Also what are the steps should I take to ensure I am on the correct path to be a NP?

Thank you,

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Specializes in Level II Trauma Center ICU.
i just posted this somewhere else, but I believe this thread is the best place for my question. I am just starting my nursing program and I was wondering if anyone can help me. Do I have to go to a school that specifically has a NP program or just a Masters program? Also what are the steps should I take to ensure I am on the correct path to be a NP?

Thank you,

You have to be enrolled in a MSN program that has a specific NP focus, ie FNP, ACNP, ANP, WHNP, etc. NP programs have to include advanced coursework in pathophysiology, pharmacology, etc along with at least 500 clinical hrs for their graduates to be elgible to sit for certification as a NP. Just having a MSN will not make you eligible to be certified as a NP.

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