2 years pre-req?? HELP!

birdgardner · Nov 3, 2008

It might be possible, depending on which NP specialty you wanted. I had thought to do that with CNM. In nursing school, my focus changed. I just graduated and I've decided to work for a couple years, gain the hands on experience and then go on. I intend to take the core masters courses, patho, pharm and research (aggh research) one per semester online while working, which gives me a running start on NP program and allows for working during the early part of the program.

The hands on experience as an RN will be invaluable to you as an NP. Book learning and clinicals will not give you the same confidence, depth of knowledge and judgement. you may also find that you want that experience before you decide on a specialty. Unfortunately as an NP your scope of practice will be rather narrowly defined by your specialty, so pick well before you invest the time and money.

Some BSN programs let you take the above core courses at the MSN level.

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 3, 2008

Well, you said ANY input. My input is that you talk to NPs and find out from them how valuable some real experience would be.

You cannot learn good clinical judgement in a short time, nor in the classroom (and certainly not online!). You will find differential diagnoses much less of a struggle when you've already seen some of these sick and injured patients. You will understand the potential effects of drugs and treatments much better when you've seen those effects a thousand times. You'll know when to think and when to ACT.

Before anyone objects and says 'but doctors go straight to med school without any experience in most cases'; let me say true, but I think that is a mistake as well. I truly think the best practitioners are those that have LIFE experience and PATIENT CARE experience before they learn to do more advanced care. I think that is the reason for the greatest shortfall of many new young doctors - they know how to treat the patient's disease as a science or textbook problem, but they don't know how to treat the patient. One of the great advantages of nurses and NPs gets lost of we train advance practice nurses without requireing any real world patient care experience.

If it were up to me (and it certainly isn't!) no one would do advanced patient care before age 30 or more and before getting basic experience as a nurse, paramedic, etc. The kind of care and empathy and broad thinking an experienced person brings to their patient is irreplaceable, IMO.

Okay, off my soapbox now...(slinks away muttering to himself, the foolish senile old codger)... :rolleyes:

FA to CRNA2b · Nov 3, 2008

hi!:heartbeat i have decided i want to become a NP. I was wondering if there was anywhere where you can just continue on right after graduation for the masters degree and not have to work for two years? I just want to go straight through schooling before i have to get a job. What about online schooling? Do they require experience before you can continue? Any input would be greatly appriciated. THANKS!

You can continue right away with the core MSN classes that are required for all the specialties. That should take you at least one semester post-bac. For most specialties, you will need one year of bedside nursing before joining the program. It's a little silly to get a masters in nursing without having spent much time with patients. Nursing is not 100% academic and is an applied science. :nurse:

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2008

Part of my schools NP requirement is 2000 hours of actual nursing. That is equal to one year full time or two years part time. Coincedently the bridge program is 2 years part time. So between working and schooling you will be busy---but the bed side exp is a must in my humble opinion.

MB37 · Nov 3, 2008

None of the NP programs in my area (FL) require any experience, although I agree that it's a good idea. The only programs around here that require it are CRNA programs (and I haven't investigated CNM).

nessajune21 · Nov 3, 2008

You generally only need the 2 years experience if you have an ASN. If you have completed an BSN, you can usually continue straight into an MSN program.

However, I have to agree with most that it would be best to get that 2 year experience and decide where you want to specialize before you dive into the program.

PiPhi2004 · Nov 3, 2008

Truly, I really think you need to get some experience. Can you complete an NP program without it? Probably. However, you will have a severe disadvantage as you will not have that firm experience behind you. I also don't know who would hire you with no experience. You would have to learn how to be a new grad RN and an NP at the same time. Your critical thinking skills are invaluable to you and you won't gather that experience in a book. Is there a reason you don't want to work as an RN? What do you want to specialize in? I can't think of any area that you won't find crippling without that exprience. You can do what you like but you really should think long and hard about not getting any experience first.

CHATSDALE · Nov 3, 2008

i agree that nothing prepares you like experience

keeping on taking courses while working is tough but it gives you opportunity and confidence

good luck

jenaenae17 · Nov 4, 2008

i was thinking of doing either neonatal or acute... i am job shadowing at a hospital soon to help me make my decision. After reading everyones opinions i do think it would be a good idea to get some experience. The only thing i was thinking of is that after 2 yrs its going to be hard to go back to school but i think i can make it happen. thanks for all of your posts it was very helpful!

NeoNurseTX, RN · Nov 4, 2008

i was thinking of doing either neonatal or acute... i am job shadowing at a hospital soon to help me make my decision. After reading everyones opinions i do think it would be a good idea to get some experience. The only thing i was thinking of is that after 2 yrs its going to be hard to go back to school but i think i can make it happen. thanks for all of your posts it was very helpful!

I want to do NNP (Maybe) eventually and I don't like that you can't go straight through school without stopping for a while (hey, I like my paycheck now!), but no NICU experience would put me at a disadvantage. Also, I now say MAYBE because now that I've seen NNPs in action, it doesn't seem like all it's cracked up to be.