Experience?

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

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.

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.

i agree with EMTneel! good luck!

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! :)

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!

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?

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)

I think I stumbled upon this conversation long after it was done, but re; the question of experience . I realize everyone is eager to "get out of the RN role", but after being an acute care NP for 10 years, and an RN on a very acute unit for 15 years, I realize that most of my clinical acumen, and what I know about patients comes from the 15 years of reading progress notes and participating in rounding w/ theMDs and hearing residents get pimped for that many years. I already knew the management of most of what I would see as a ACNP from that experience as an rn, differential dx was the primarily added info that was gained in the curriculum. I work with several people "fresh" out of school and they have no clinical judgement, little experience to base their judgements, and they just order lots of unnecessary tests . I'm not saying you need 15 years first, but I personally feel someone should have at least 5 years on a fairly acute unit to be able develop. I can walk into a room and immediately realize someone is likely hypercarbic (based on what I know about them, and prior experience), all my inexperienced colleages recognize is "theyre unresponsive" and order a litany of tests. Remember these are humans who will be in your care.