Do you need med surg experience to get accepted to a NP program?

[yschon, BSN, EMT-B]

I am a BSN student graduating in December. At some point I'd like to apply to a NP Program. I've been hearing that programs only accept nurses with med surg experience. Is this true? Also, would schools consider students with outpatient bedside experience? 

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

I am currently a practicing FNP and I have never been a med-surg RN. Following BSN I went straight to ER and went to NP Program from there. Also keep in mind that there are indeed some NP programs that are direct entry.. so congratulations on your upcoming graduation and no med-surg is not an absolute requirement for NP school.  

[yschon, BSN, EMT-B]

Thank you!

Do you know if the same is true for outpatient nursing. Would NP programs consider nurses that worked out patient less than they would consider nurses with hospital experience

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

7 hours ago, yschon said:

Thank you!

Do you know if the same is true for outpatient nursing. Would NP programs consider nurses that worked out patient less than they would consider nurses with hospital experience

It's going to depend on the specialty --- out patient experience is certainly not going to get you into any CRNA or Acute care program but you are not going to have any problem with most FNP, AGNP, or Peds programs. Not sure about women's health, CNM, or CMN programs.. but would recommend looking at the the entry requirements of several programs that offer the specialty that you are interested in and working your career goals with those requirements in mind. 

[londonflo]

On 5/2/2021 at 2:53 PM, yschon said:

schools consider students with outpatient bedside experience? 

Walden will take anyone but I hope you are more discriminating. The NP will get saturated and you want to not get lumped in that group.

This is not related to you OP but I used to welcome NPs as my caregiver instead of the MD in the practice. Now I want to see where the NP got their degree. Of course these NPs have passed their accreditation exam but I see too many unlicensed but graduated NPs looking for the 'perfect' book to study for the certification exam. 

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

8 hours ago, londonflo said:

I see too many unlicensed but graduated NPs looking for the 'perfect' book to study for the certification exam. 

While I don't completely disagree with your premise.. This statement is really no different than the number of recent RN graduates that are looking for recommendations on study materials to help with their upcoming NCLEX.

Even physician candidates ask the exact same question for each of their pending USMLEs. 

This is only human nature.

 

[BostonFNP, APRN]

On 5/8/2021 at 11:27 AM, londonflo said:

Walden will take anyone but I hope you are more discriminating. The NP will get saturated and you want to not get lumped in that group.

This is not related to you OP but I used to welcome NPs as my caregiver instead of the MD in the practice. Now I want to see where the NP got their degree. Of course these NPs have passed their accreditation exam but I see too many unlicensed but graduated NPs looking for the 'perfect' book to study for the certification exam. 

Even the best quality programs encourage graduates to take review courses and practice tests. This is true of any profession with board examinations. 
 

That being said, there is a marked difference in quality in NP programs from one to the next. Sure, all practicing NPs (in the vast majority of states) need to pass a national minimum competency exam (just like RNs), I don’t think any of us pick the person to take care of us by minimum competency!  Quality of education and quality of experience is important. 
 

As for the OP, most programs do not have any hard requirements for the type or extent of experience (save for CRNA programs).