How do you get the experience for NP program?

Updated:   Published

I want to pursue my studies to become an acute care NP. Everybody is saying don't go without nursing experience for two years at least! How should I have it if I don't know the rationale behind the orders and there is no one to ask? I don't see the doctors or the mid=level providers and when I ask they don't answer!  I'm working night shifts, and there are no doctors except the ones on call who usually don't know the patients well. If I'm going to learn by reading the notes why should I wait two or three years? 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

I just started an NP Program, so I'm not sure yet how much I know. ?  For me a lot of my experience is learning what medications patients take and the effects it has on them. It is knowing what interventions I'd expect for whatever the symptoms are. It is finding a new illness that I'm not familiar with, and reading about it and their treatments. While my courses have thus far been more theory, next semester is pathophysiology. Part of the concept of advanced practice nursing is that we have practiced, and have advanced knowledge. Not all of that will be books, and I'm not sure 500 or so "hours" of clinical will be enough.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Hey I just graduated from my acute care NP Program. I was working as a nurse for two years before I started school, and I was working full time as a nurse while going to school part time - took me about 2 1/2 years to finish. 

I think the reason they say to wait, is because it takes at least a year to make a nurse. We come out of school thinking we know everything and once we start working we realize we know absolutely nothing LOL. I worked step down (turned ICU during covid) for 4 years and I'll tell you it took me at least a year to start seeing patterns in patients presentation, or just plain life experience as a nurse to hone my skills and be a good nurse. 

I feel like just like building a house - you need a strong foundation before you build on it, and before adding on more knowledge, responsibility, and skills as an NP you need to have a strong foundation as a nurse. 

For example, you can study alllllll you want about septic shock in a text book but until you have your first patient who is decompensating and then goes into shock etc. it won't teach you or stick with you like experiences will. 

I was not an ICU nurse in school, so basically teaching myself vents and drips was difficult and my ICU nurse classmates definitely had a leg up on me in school. So imagine what going through NP school without much experience in general would be like. 

You can definitely do what you want, but they usually say that because its better for you, and I feel like it can also make you a better provider if you have more basic experience under your belt. Hope this helps good luck! 

 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I had 10 years ED nursing in a level 1 trauma center plus a couple of years ICU exp prior to APRN school.  Experience is never wasted. You don't need to know all the meds you are going to prescribe as a provider. 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Post Acute, Med/Surg, ED, Nurse Manager.
On 10/19/2022 at 4:00 AM, CalicoKitty said:

I just started an NP Program, so I'm not sure yet how much I know. ?  For me a lot of my experience is learning what medications patients take and the effects it has on them. It is knowing what interventions I'd expect for whatever the symptoms are. It is finding a new illness that I'm not familiar with, and reading about it and their treatments. While my courses have thus far been more theory, next semester is pathophysiology. Part of the concept of advanced practice nursing is that we have practiced, and have advanced knowledge. Not all of that will be books, and I'm not sure 500 or so "hours" of clinical will be enough.

Read the H&P, monitor labs and correlate what you are seeing. The experience with hands on care is so important. It will benifit you as an NP later

 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 10/18/2022 at 11:23 PM, olaswaisi said:

If I'm going to learn by reading the notes why should I wait two or three years?

So you have more time accumulated reading notes and correlating with how patients respond to things? You can read on your own at home, too. You can make job/career moves that give you additional learning opportunities between now and then?

According to your post you're basically asking why you shouldn't just become an NP now since you don't know anything now and apparently don't plan on knowing anything more in a few years. It seems like the better question would be what can you do now to improve your knowledge base.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment