High school student, help! Want a nursing career, advice?

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Okay, so i'm a sophomore in high school and i know i want to become a nurse. i did my research and goodness i didn't know there were so many different types of nurses! after many hours of surfing the web i came down to one, an NP (nurse practitioner) but then i saw there was a DNP. so my first question is what is the difference between the two, NP and DNP?

second question is after i graduate high school, in 2014, how do i get my career started if i wanted to be a NP, and how long does this take?

third question is same thing but for DNP how do i become a DNP, and how long does it take?

i am so confused! help help!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

It makes me very happy to see that you are interested in nursing as a career choice.

First of all, I would encourage you to take as much math and science as you can while you are still in HS. If you have a chance to take AP or college credit courses, do it while they are still free!. This will boost your chances of success in college. Nursing is not a college 'major'. You begin by taking your pre-requisite basic science courses (pre-nursing) and then apply to be accepted into a nursing program (Jr & Sr year). Entry into nursing programs is extremely competitive, so you will need to really focus on achieving a high GPA in all courses. This will also maximize your eligibility for scholarships and grants. I hope you're OK with becoming a 'Nurd' (nurse-nerd) - LOL.

Secondly, take it one step at a time. There are a wide array of career paths for RNs who wish to continue their formal education. Start by completing your BSN and passing your professional boards (NCLEX) to become licensed. Become comfortable and confident in your nursing practice and decide which clinical area interests you. Nurse Practitioners are educated in a specialty area and you will need to figure out which one to choose. "DNP" jsut refers to the degree granted as a result of the NP educational program. Currently, NPs have to have an MSN, but by the time you arrive at this point, this may have increased to the DNP (Doctorate in Nursing Practice).

This will not be a quick journey. Expect to spend about 5 years getting your BSN, then another 2 years for your NP - longer if DNP is required. If you add in a couple of years between degrees, you can see that it will take the better part of a decade to reach your ultimate goal. But the end result will certainly be worth it for you.

Best of luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress.

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Thank you so much! cleared up a lot!!

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