How much/best experience for FNPs/ACNPs...

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

We've heard the debate about whether experience is necessary to become an NP, but how much is enough? For those of you in school or the profession, what are your thoughts?

FNP: _______years; __________ Useful areas (ED, Tele, Peds, L&D, etc.)

ACNP: ______years; __________Useful areas (CVICU, MSICU, etc.)

PNP: ________years; ___________ Useful areas (IP Peds, OP peds, PICU, etc.)

Thanks in advance!

CrazyPremed

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Specializes in ICU.

Good question! I'm kind of interested in seeing what some of our APRNs have to say!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I'm going to respectfully ask that this not turn into a debate about NPs and PAs. We have threads for this already.

Please, lets just stick to what the OP has outlined: How much/best experience for FNPs/ACNPs/PNPs. The OP is not debating if experience is necessary only how much.

If anyone wants to discuss if experience is necessary to practice as NP, please see this thread: Becoming an NP with little to no nursing experience??

Thanks.........:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
We've heard the debate about whether experience is necessary to become an NP, but how much is enough? For those of you in school or the profession, what are your thoughts?

FNP: _______years; __________ Useful areas (ED, Tele, Peds, L&D, etc.)

ACNP: ______years; __________Useful areas (CVICU, MSICU, etc.)

PNP: ________years; ___________ Useful areas (IP Peds, OP peds, PICU, etc.)

Thanks in advance!

CrazyPremed

It's going to be difficult to put an exact number to what your looking for. It's going to very based on accuity of unit and how well and how hard you work on become the competent provider in that area. You could spend 10 years in a low accuity ICU and never learn anything beyond r/o AMI and GI bleeds. Or you could spend 1-2 years in a high accuity teaching facility and in become a well rounded provider, but if your lazy and don't take the time to learn from what's in front of you, you could spend 10 years in a high volum accuity unit and not learn anything. In whatever area your in, get the core curriculum for that area and study hard.

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It's going to be difficult to put an exact number to what your looking for. It's going to very based on accuity of unit and how well and how hard you work on become the competent provider in that area. You could spend 10 years in a low accuity ICU and never learn anything beyond r/o AMI and GI bleeds. Or you could spend 1-2 years in a high accuity teaching facility and in become a well rounded provider, but if your lazy and don't take the time to learn from what's in front of you, you could spend 10 years in a high volum accuity unit and not learn anything. In whatever area your in, get the core curriculum for that area and study hard.

I agree. I'm still a student but from what I see it's not the number of years or the area per se, but what YOU do with where you are and the time you have. Though if you want to do peds it would be natural to work in peds, etc. because if you like it enough to become a PNP that's probably what attracts you as an RN.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

It seems like some are saying that the experience as an NP may be more beneficial than the experiences as an RN before NP school (barring the specialty niche - Peds RN -> PNP or ICU RN -> ACNP).

I'm wondering if I should start an FNP with limited experience (9 months tele LPN, + 1 year tele RN at start of masters's), or should I take a couple of years, hit the ED, ICU, dabble in peds, etc. and build up the RN experience, then apply.

It sounds as though there might not be much need to wait. Is that the general consensus?

CrazyPremed

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

crazypremed - I think the experience that you get as an RN, especially if it is varied; leads you down a better path for which NP to pursue. I was an ER RN in a busy (65k visit) level one trauma center. I was able to care for a wide variety of patients. So....that is more what helps you choose what you want to do. Does that make sense?

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Specializes in critical care.

FWIW I have been an ICU nurse for 7.5 years and I am going to a FNP program. I am clearly lacking in the peds and women's health areas. However at this point I do not see the advantage for me to work in acute care peds or OB/postpartum. I think I will have to study more in these areas and let my clinical experience guide me.

D

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Specializes in ICU.
I'm going to respectfully ask that this not turn into a debate about NPs and PAs. We have threads for this already.

Please, lets just stick to what the OP has outlined: How much/best experience for FNPs/ACNPs/PNPs. The OP is not debating if experience is necessary only how much.

If anyone wants to discuss if experience is necessary to practice as NP, please see this thread: Becoming an NP with little to no nursing experience??

Thanks.........:)

Whoops. I wasn't trying to do that. :mad: After re-reading my post I decided to delete all that stuff. I was mostly attempting to bring up the need for bedside experience in that field. Guess I was too tired to post accurately.

Bring on more NPs with replies! I'm kinda interested to see where every has worked before becoming APRNs! :up:

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Specializes in ICU.
FWIW I have been an ICU nurse for 7.5 years and I am going to a FNP program. I am clearly lacking in the peds and women's health areas. However at this point I do not see the advantage for me to work in acute care peds or OB/postpartum. I think I will have to study more in these areas and let my clinical experience guide me.

D

I've worked Neuro since becoming a nurse 3 years ago. I'm definitely lacking the peds and women's health areas as well. However, since my FNP clinicals have begun, it's become crystal clear that Family Practice won't be the place for me. I won't mind offering primary care within a specialty group but the parade of clients in the FP office setting isn't my thing.

I'm very much looking forward to clinicals in the Fall when I can specialize. :up:

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thanks, yellow finch;)

I have to agree with CraigB on this. It is very difficult to say with any degree of certainty, how many years RN experience are necessary for each specialty area.

I am a strong advocate for RN experience (as stated in the thread I provideded above) and normally advise at least 3-5 years experience before beginning an APN program.

As for what type of experience, I can speak for the FNP; ED and ICU/CCU. If possible, peds and OB. But, the first 3 are areas wherein the RN can really apply to the FNP career.

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I'm curious why ICU/CCU would be recommended for FNP and not just general med-surg?

Do most FNPs also round on inpatients? I had had the impression that some FNPs only saw outpatients, covering the routine stuff and referring the more complex cases to the MDs.

Is ICU/CCU recommended for the increased depth of comprehension of the pathophys that one can't often get on a chaotic med-surg floor where several patients compete for the nurse's attention?

Am I totally off base and confused with my questions?

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