Experience?

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How much experience does one need as an RN before trying to get into a nurse practitioner school, particulary Yale and Upenn?

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Specializes in CTICU.

Depends on the school's admission requirements. Have you checked their websites?

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I have, but couldn't find anything on experience requirements. Would 4-5 years RN experience probably be enough?

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

Many NP programs do not require any RN experience. Unlike CRNAs which require 1-2 years minimum critical care experience, NPs do not all have that.

I have checked out a number of schools out here in the west that have no clinical experience listed in their admission requirements.

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probably call them. I went to the "birthplace" of NP school here in Denver and I started NP school in Aug 05, started working as a RN Sept. 05... So... a lot of schools do not require any experience.

You will get 2-3 yrs RN exp. while in Grad school any how as most ppl work.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

i agree with EMTneel! good luck!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

Same here, I only had one year of RN experience when I started my acute care NP program in August 2006. My grad school did not require a certain # of years experience, especially since there is also a Graduate Entry Program at my school, along with the traditional Master's program I did. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in CTICU.

http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/admissions/graduate/Pages/frequently_asked_questions.aspx#q7

Q: Is RN experience required for admission?

A: The following programs require RN experience:

  • Adult Health Nurse Practitioner: Advanced Practice Oncology Nursing – 1 year in oncology with chemotherapy
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – 2 years in a level III NICU**
  • Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner – 1 year in a pediatric setting**
  • Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner – 1 year in a pediatric setting**
  • Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner – 1 year in a pediatric oncology setting**
  • Nurse Anesthesia – 1 year (in addition to orientation/probationary period) in an ICU setting

** RN experience must be met prior to the start of the clinical sequence (non-clinical courses may be taken while completing work experience)

RN experience may be suggested for other programs at the individual program director’s discretion

http://nursing.yale.edu/Academics/Masters/admission.html#admission

Google knows everything!

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One additional thought -

I have 'heard' in some geo areas that NPs w/o prior RN experience (those whom grad from a MEPN program) are not nearly as sought after as 'seasoned rn->np... also depending on how your school of choice divides up slots for specialties among MSN vs MEPN applicants you might have a MUCH better chance at getting your specialty of choice by gaining RN experience first...

that was the case at my state u of interest.... the NP roles were 95% slotted for current RNs while the Nurse Leader specialty was left for the MEPNs to fall in on.

Good Luck!

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probably call them. I went to the "birthplace" of NP school here in Denver and I started NP school in Aug 05, started working as a RN Sept. 05... So... a lot of schools do not require any experience.

You will get 2-3 yrs RN exp. while in Grad school any how as most ppl work.

Which school is that, if you don't mind sharing?

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Which school is that, if you don't mind sharing?

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

I've had a lot of interviews in person and on phone and most only care about your NP experience or your clinical experience as a NP student. Most don't even ask about RN experience as they find it irrelevant. You can use it as leverage if you want a specific type of job, say Cardiac, and you've always been a cardiac RN.

For example my 1st job i got at a childrens hospital, and i think it did help that I had been a Peds RN for the past 3 years (but on the other hand the south is so desparate for NPs that they would have hired me even without Peds experience)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Agree that experience needs varies tremendously with area of the country.

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