Entering NP School Directly from BSN program

[Momanny4187]

Hello, I am currently a BSN student in Michigan who will graduate in may of 2011. There is an Adult Primary Care Nurse Practioner program that I am very interested in that will be accepting their last class. I have been accepted into the program. I am planning to work that summer full-time and continue to work as an R.N. through the program part-time. Do you believe this is enough experience to be offered a job as an NP after graduation?

[Vanfnp]

If its the last class, as in last class ever before the university nixes the program for the DNP, then I would consider trying to enroll in an FNP program instead of ANP if it is offered-otherwise, as an Adult NP you will be limiting your practice to those over the age of 13 which will seriously limit your future job prospects. If you can't, why not wait a year or two and go for the DNP??

If you are young and the only reason you want to go for the NP now is because its the last NP class ever-what's the rush?? In a couple years the powers that be will have it all ironed out so that the BSN to DNP will take no longer than the NP takes now. Some of us old coots will maybe get to retire and hopefully the economy will improve. If I have my say, salary will get better. Good luck, whatever route you choose....

[MERCEDES674, MSN, RN]

Honestly, It's about whether or not you think you can be successful in the program. I have 4 1/2 years of RN experience and am 1 1/2 years into my program and I can tell you that it is nothing like floor nursing. To tell you the truth you would probably do better because a lot of the things you were taught in school as far as patho and conditions, will come in handy becuase it's still fresh on your mind. If you have noticed, floor nurses just push pills, chart, and call doctors. We don't really get a chance to think for ourselves unless you are in the ER or ICU. If people who have no healthcare experience can become NPs by just having a Bachelors degree than surely you can. PA's don't need a medical background first so why should you limit yourself? If the school didn't believe you could do it then they wouldn't have accepted you....Don't let anyone discourage you, you were given the chance so take it. You will be taught what you need to know.

I agree with the poster above, FNP is a better route just to be more marketable, but if you want to go ahead and do ANP then you can still go to another school later and get a post masters- FNP.

[ktliz]

Hi Momanny. I'll be starting my acclerated BSN program as you are graduating, and I'm already considering this issue as well. From what I've gathered, adjusting to working as an RN is very stressful. For this reason, I think I'd like to wait until I am fairly comfortable in the RN role before I add the stress of grad school on top of it. It's a personal decision, of course, but stress reduction is important to me. Just something to think about. Good luck!