Do you need hospital experience to function as a NP?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 19, 2009

Personally, I think hospital experience would only enhance your FNP skills. Plus, since FNP is all ages, you might find that working with a younger set of pts helps you to develop those assessment skills. Assessing a child or teen is far different than assessing a NH pt whom you've cared for for years.

VivaRN · Mar 19, 2009

I would get hospital experience if you are thinking ACNP.

menetopali · Mar 19, 2009

I'm agonizing over accepting a job offer at a hospital or staying at the nursing home where I've worked for years. I mean it's kept me up at night. I can think of good reasons do or not do either one.
Bottom line, if I'm, going to work as a NP (FNP/ACNP) do I need to have hospital experience, or is the nursing home good enough?

i definitely recommend hospital experience - specifically ED experience (FNP) or ICU experience (ACNP)

Sarcolemma · Mar 19, 2009

ED experience would be great to get some skills. high turnover with every patient under the sun, an NP's assessment skills and intuitive critical thinking/decision making need to be top notch.

The great thing about ER is you get to see a wide array of disease processes presenting at their worst, with all the signs and symptoms that you may not see on the floor once they've been stabilized.

i hated dealing with the nutty families, so i bailed to ICU.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Mar 20, 2009

I don't know the requirements for FNP programs but majority of ACNP programs (with the exception of direct-entry perhaps) require acute care nursing experience in a hospital setting prior to admission.

butch228 · Mar 20, 2009

I think it depends on the type of patient population you want to manage. However, I think it would only benefit you ....on how an acute hospital manages patients in terms of antibioitc treatments and quick discharges to home , rehab, or skilled nursing facilitity.

Jo Dirt · Mar 20, 2009

If I was going to be a FNP I think I would be happy to have a small clinic in a very rural area (maybe near an Amish community) and be that little place that could take care of your UTI or where the truckers go for their yearly physical.

But sometimes, when I've done my work and I'm sitting at the nurse's station in the evenings bored, I think about how I would also like to be very busy and where the action is. I was so bored tonight I was excited that the drug man brought me 60 meds to put up on my hall because it gave me something to do.

The other nurses complain and gripe and carry on but I'm like, this is fun!

Isn't that pathetic?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 20, 2009

What that tells me, Jo Dirt is that you need to move on and challenge yourself.

MP5PDW · Mar 24, 2009

It does not appear that any hospital experience is required. There are direct entry NP programs. And while TECHNICALLY hospital experience, albeit, not patient care experience, I have seen many an operating room nurse go to NP school with no real patient care experience. While it might be a good idea.. it is by no means an iron clad requirement.

So it would appear the real answer is.. no you do not.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 24, 2009

Yes, technically, you may not need hospital experience in order to become an FNP. However, we are saying that it will only enhance your skills.