GN to NP in <1yr

Nurses General Nursing

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I read a recent post regarding new graduates who cannot find work jumping on the NP bandwagon.

At work the other day, a new grad co-worker (less than 5 months experience) launched into a bitter tirade against a well known school for having the gall to expect her to have 2 years experience, have been involved in EBP, Committees and to have precepted before being allowed to even apply to join their ACNP program.....

Mind you, this nurse can barely handle her assignment... what makes her think that the NP is going to be an easy way out of floor nursing.... The courses take time and dedication and contrary to popular belief, graduation and subsequent employment are not a given..:whistling:

This is essentially what my RN-BS/MS-FNP program is aimed at. You need at least 1-year experience in the inpatient setting before you apply to the program, and you must maintain at least part-time employment while you complete the program in order to maintain your nursing skills and experience in the field. I find that this is increasingly common and I do not disagree that this is a good way to balance the two!

I don't know if agree with this. The programs that force employment are usually part-time, and I don't think part time is the correct path to becoming a provider of any kind. I think immersion works better, so that concepts stay fresh in your mind as you build on them. I am very concerned by those that become NPs taking one class at a time for 6 years - how will they remember the stuff from semester 1 by semester 12??

In addition, I wonder if doing clinicals as an NP while still working as an RN might lead to role confusion? How can someone switch back and forth between two completely different roles in the exact some environment so quickly? Add on to that the fact that working means less study time and I just cannot see how working as an RN during NP programs is beneficial. Just my two cents!

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

My program is primarily a full-time program, although it does have a part-time option. The part-time option is an 8 credit-hour semester option, and that is typically the equivalent of one specialty area with a clinical component.

I haven't started the FNP clinical component yet, but I do not see it leading to role confusion. During my time in my ADN program, many of my classmates worked as CNA's, and there didn't exist any role confusion for those individuals. As for your concern for regarding study time, that's an individual factor. I have no children, nor am I married, so my life consists of 3 12 hour shifts and my time spent in class and studying. I have chosen to make that my life and have been successful. Individual factors have to be a concern when engaging in these programs. You cannot generalize us all.

Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

People are misinformed if they think that since they're unable to find a RN job that they should pursue the NP track. The NP track is tough and like the majority of nursing...those seeking to hire a NP want someone with experience. Lacking nursing experience and becoming a NP is akin to just ripping up your nursing license. I'm in school now to become a family ARNP and thank God for the nursing experience I have because it's saving my life.

I go to school full-time and work part-time. I am currently in my 2nd semester of the clinical component for the NP program. I go to clinicals everyday basically and work 2x/week. I am not experiencing any type of role confusion. I know what to do depending on the setting. If anything I believe the knowledge I'm gaining from the program is improving my practice as a bedside nurse.

Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

@Susie2310

I'm glad you're happy with the care you've received from your provider. Personally, I love to see PAs and NPs. I have never met my doctor in all the years that I've been going to his office. I have only seen his wonderful NP. The training that a MD vs. NP/PA definitely don't compare. However, NPs do not present themselves as medical authorities since we are still nurses. If there wasn't a shortage of primary care doctors, there would be no need for NPs...but with so many physicians specializing (where the money is) and neglecting primary care...many would be left without access to healthcare.

To each his own....but like it or not, the way that healthcare is going...there will be one MD "supervising" 20 NPs...and you'll be lucky to see your doctor.

Specializes in Eventually Midwifery.
Wrong again.

Study Shows Fertility Decline Begins in Late 20s - Scientific American

"Female fertility starts to fall off gradually around age 27 before dropping more dramatically after age 35."

And don't call me "dear." It comes off as rather condescending, particularly when one is completely unaware of the facts.

You should have read further, " "Although we noted a decline in female fertility in the late 20s," Dunson notes, "what we found was a decrease in the probability of becoming pregnant per menstrual cycle, not in the probability of eventually achieving a pregnancy." He estimates that it would take women in their late 20s or early 30s a month or two longer to become pregnant than it would have required in their early 20s."

Taking an extra month or two to become pregnant in your early thirties is hardly a dramatic decline.

Furthermore, you have no idea what I know, you are not in my brain nor do you know any of my experiences. The source I linked is from a fertility clinic, not a 12 year old singular study of a group of less than 800 people.

I am sorry if you felt I was being condescending, that was not my intention.

Overall, I agree with your post, but you do seem awfully arrogant and somewhat angry, and stuck on your university degree status. Speaking from my academic success from tier one undergraduate and doctoral programs, I recommend you do your research on for profit and not for profit schools as it is really, at the end of the day, a business paradigm of how the revenue flows, and I say this as a faculty and administrator of a nursing school. Accreditation is the same process for both profit and non profit. Absolutely the same. I would like to move on from these discussions and proffer discussions of more unity.

Simple question, is NP training equivalent to MD/DO? A quick view of curriculum shows that it isn't even close. If I were a provider I would want the best training available to treat my patients. Now I know everyone has their own situation but to gloss over glaring facts just because outcomes may or may not be similar is not in good judgement. NPs have their purpose but nothing about their education is even close to a physician's in a medical model context. I know a NP turned DO and he said he was shocked when he got into med school regarding how much he really didn't know.

Simple question, is NP training equivalent to MD/DO? A quick view of curriculum shows that it isn't even close. If I were a provider I would want the best training available to treat my patients. Now I know everyone has their own situation but to gloss over glaring facts just because outcomes may or may not be similar is not in good judgement. NPs have their purpose but nothing about their education is even close to a physician's in a medical model context. I know a NP turned DO and he said he was shocked when he got into med school regarding how much he really didn't know.

I'm confused at the point of your argument? You almost seem to be advocating that NPs shouldn't exist, despite ample evidence that their existence has improved health outcomes. What exactly is your angle here?

"If I were a provider I would want the best training available to treat my patients." - So all NPs should be physicians? In your world, is there no role for NPs?

I'm confused at the point of your argument? You almost seem to be advocating that NPs shouldn't exist, despite ample evidence that their existence has improved health outcomes. What exactly is your angle here?

"If I were a provider I would want the best training available to treat my patients." - So all NPs should be physicians? In your world, is there no role for NPs?

They should exist with physician oversight unless improvement to curriculum and residencies are instilled to make them totally independent.

Quality of the programs varies so much you can't be sure what product you are getting with a graduate. While there is one board exam the physicians have 3. I saw a trial where NPs took the USMLE step 3 ( the easiest of them all) and most failed.

I get spammed every month for online NP schools but never for online MD schools, why is that? There is no congruity in NP education. Enough of the fluff and theory, there needs to be more relevant classes and more clinical hours.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Simple question is NP training equivalent to MD/DO? A quick view of curriculum shows that it isn't even close. If I were a provider I would want the best training available to treat my patients. Now I know everyone has their own situation but to gloss over glaring facts just because outcomes may or may not be similar is not in good judgement. NPs have their purpose but nothing about their education is even close to a physician's in a medical model context. I know a NP turned DO and he said he was shocked when he got into med school regarding how much he really didn't know.[/quote']

So you should tack on a few extra years for good measure even though it doesn't improve outcomes?

By this same argument why shouldn't beside nursing require a BSN or MSN or DNP? Why have you not gotten yours yet? I am sure you want what is best for your patients...

Again, show me a study that proves the additional education improves outcomes.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
They should exist with physician oversight unless improvement to curriculum and residencies are instilled to make them totally independent.

NPs are independent providers in 17 states, likely to be mid-20s in the next six months.

What an interesting and informative thread.

Thanks BostonFNP and BlueDevilDNP!!!

I personally find it irritating when a Nurse says that a MD is the only independent and competent enough health provider.

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