FNP

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Can you be a FNP with only psych nursing experience? I haven't worked on a medical floor. My plan was to do FNP and then get a post masters in psych. Has anyone done this path before?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Considering that there are a kazillion "direct-entry" FNP programs that take people with previous degrees and no nursing/healthcare experience at all and turn them into competent practitioners, it appears that TPTB have decided that previous nursing experience isn't necessary.

Yeah or the schools are driven by the money, ya think? Are they actually turning them into competent practitioners? Only time will tell and I'm not optimistic.

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Yeah or the schools are driven by the money, ya think? Are they actually turning them into competent practitioners? Only time will tell and I'm not optimistic.

I don't doubt that money is a factor for the schools -- however, they couldn't offer the direct-entry programs if they couldn't get them accredited and the graduates weren't eligible for certification. And, while I'm no fan of the whole direct-entry concept, DE programs have been around for at least 30 yrs now. I tend to think that, if there were significant problems or deficiencies with DE grads as a group, that would have become apparent by now. How long a period of time would you consider a fair evaluation?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I don't doubt that money is a factor for the schools -- however, they couldn't offer the direct-entry programs if they couldn't get them accredited and the graduates weren't eligible for certification. And, while I'm no fan of the whole direct-entry concept, DE programs have been around for at least 30 yrs now. I tend to think that, if there were significant problems or deficiencies with DE grads as a group, that would have become apparent by now. How long a period of time would you consider a fair evaluation?

I'd say 10 years but I wonder if we are talking about two different things. Are you certain there have been many Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner Programs for 30 years? I really think we are going to see a new animal as the all the number of NP programs especially online and direct entry continue to increase at the present rate.

For the two universities I work for and two universities of colleagues who I have discussed this with it totally is about the money. In fact one well known, huge teaching hospital has made no bones about encouraging undergraduate students to stay in school for the DNP and minimizes the need for actual nursing experience with retention and income as the driving force. Accreditation isn't all that impressive to me because as we all know there are accredited schools who are known for putting out inferior products.

I have had this discussion with more than a few respected NP colleagues, who aren't naturally as cynical as I am, and they share my concerns. Look I know the online programs and plethora of new NPs they are cranking out is something we have to live with but it really makes me wonder about the quality of providers. Some of the new NPs I have come in contact with are woefully unprepared. My guess is there will need to be residency programs put in place.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

What about becoming a psych NP? That's a whole speciality by itself.

I'm planning on going to NP school and after attending some open houses at local schools they said they love to see candidates with medical experience (like working on a med-surf floor or telemetry) as well as ER/urgent care experience. One potential candidate said she works in a highly specialized area (ophthalmology or so,etching like that) and asked if that will hurt her chances of getting into the program and the advisor said yes but it's still possible.

So to answer your question it is possible. I would really make yourself stand out somehow in your personal statement (if the school you're applying to requires one) or having some sort of volunteer experience under your belt.

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I'd say 10 years but I wonder if we are talking about two different things. Are you certain there have been many Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner Programs for 30 years? I really think we are going to see a new animal as the all the number of NP programs especially online and direct entry continue to increase at the present rate.

For the two universities I work for and two universities of colleagues who I have discussed this with it totally is about the money. In fact one well known, huge teaching hospital has made no bones about encouraging undergraduate students to stay in school for the DNP and minimizes the need for actual nursing experience with retention and income as the driving force. Accreditation isn't all that impressive to me because as we all know there are accredited schools who are known for putting out inferior products.

I have had this discussion with more than a few respected NP colleagues, who aren't naturally as cynical as I am, and they share my concerns. Look I know the online programs and plethora of new NPs they are cranking out is something we have to live with but it really makes me wonder about the quality of providers. Some of the new NPs I have come in contact with are woefully unprepared. My guess is there will need to be residency programs put in place.

When I was in graduate school >20 yrs ago, my school had been offering direct-entry advanced practice programs (CNM and several different "flavors" of CNS and NP) for over a decade. I don't know how many programs have been around for that long, but I doubt they were the only such program in the entire US all that time. So, yeah, there have been direct entry NP (and other advanced practice specialities) programs turning out graduates for 30+ yrs.

However, I agree with what you're saying about all the lower quality NP programs that have been springing up in recent years; but I'm not sure that isn't just as much of a problem for traditional programs that take only licensed RNs. There are a growing number of programs that don't require any experience and take people fresh out of their BSN programs. Those are not, technically, direct entry programs, but are they really that different? Is there some way that "direct-entry" grads are questionable and potentially deficient that new graduates of BSN programs who then went directly into grad school are not?

The original concept (and implementation) of the NP (all the advanced practice roles) was that these would be experienced, seasoned RNs building on their existing knowledge and experience -- but that model has gone the way of the horse-drawn buggy.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

The original concept (and implementation) of the NP (all the advanced practice roles) was that these would be experienced, seasoned RNs building on their existing knowledge and experience -- but that model has gone the way of the horse-drawn buggy.

Exactly and I'm just guessing but bet there will be a rough road ahead.

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