How should I approach Nurse Practitioner before 2015?

[ggryz]

I'm just wondering if anyone has some advice for me. I'm an undergraduate student studying psychology and will be graduating in the spring. Although it's taken me a while to figure this out, I want to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I'm trying to figure out the most cost and time efficient way to approach this. Originally I was planning on applying to a program with a combined BSN-MSN option second degree program like John Hopkins or bridge to MSN like UIC. However now I'm realizing that as of 2015 most programs will be converted to 4 year dnp programs to become a nurse practitioner. I'm not sure if I were able to obtain a masters in pediatric nurse practitioning before 2015 if I would be grandfathered in or if I would find if difficult to get a job if I did not have this DNP. I'm willing to do the 4 years, I'm just concerned about the money. Paying for a BSN-MSN and then for DNP is going to add up quickly, so I'm not sure it's the most cost efficient. I know that actual experience is very important also which is why I thought I would need to work for a few years before my DNP. I know that as of now there are 2 year DNP programs for those who already have a masters and I'm wondering if those will be eliminated by 2015. If so then getting a masters degree may seem pointless? Is anyone else confused by this?

[ggryz]

Can you explain further how the program works at Vanderbilt? I received my BA in business administration, although, I began as a pre-med student with hopes of medical school... so I have taken anatomy, micro, physi, chem, etc. I'm still considering medical school, but I have kids now and NP seems more family friendly. Am I understandly correctly that a non-nurse with a bachelor's degree can enroll straight into an NP program??

The requirements for most masters multiple entry route, so for people like us with non-nursing undergrad degrees are :

3 semester hours of Lifespan Development

11 semester hours of Natural Science which must include

- Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II

- Microbiology

3 semester hours of Statistics

2-3 semester hours of Nutrition

This is straight from the Vanderbilt website, but most programs like it have very similar requirements. I was also pre-med for three years of undergraduate so that curriculum gave me most of these requirements except for the nutrition, and lifespan development. This program is 6 semesters long: 3 semesters pre-speciality +3 semesters speciality (like pediatric NP). So technically I believe you are enrolling straight into an NP program, however when you're schooling is finished up you can't just begin right away as a nurse practitioner because you need experience in the field. This is what gets confusing to me, I'm wondering how long you work as an RN before you can start as a NP, and when if necessary to go back to school for a DNP or post-masters degree, does anyone know about this?

Some other programs you should look at are Rush, Depaul, UIC GEP program , John Hopkins baccalaureate program, Univerisity of Michigan's second degree program.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

After you pass boards you can work as a RN. For Vanderbilt that would be after the first year. You could work the entire 2nd year (possibly) while doing the NP part. I would go on their website to see because I am wondering how you would fit in clinicals. I know with Vandy you can do clinicals outside of TN in your home area. However, currently I am doing clinicals for my program but I am finding it hard to work. I have clinicals 5 days a week but my MD preceptor set it up that way. I am with her in the mornings, when she goes to the hospital I study. It works out. I will be looking for a short term travel assignment to fit in at the end of summer so I will not need any cash or student loans for fall (hopefully).

[SaraStrong]

http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/options.html

http://www.nursing.emory.edu/admission/masters/msn.html

These are a couple of the schools I would check out if I were you - seems to be possible within your time constraints.

[xInspiredx]

When will the final decision be made on requiring NP's to go the DNP route (in 2015+)? I've done some online research, and nothing seems concrete yet. I am just worried now, since I was planning to apply near that time.

[funfunfun550, BSN, RN]

I know a Vandy grad that went straight through for her NP..walked away from her first job and had trouble having a 2nd...so it was probably her work history that had most of the bearing on finding a job...imho

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

As far post master's in oncology... I don't know of programs for this... usually the programs are specific to a certain population... i.e. peds, adults, acute care, family, crna, etc. THEN you can specialize in a certain area, but you would need to be trained in your specialty. I think it would be awesome if once you get the NP, if we could then get certificates in certain specialties, i.e. oncology, cardiology, derm, etc. That would really awesome. But as of now, I don't know of these existing?

Those are the traditional post-master's you listed, but there are some new ones coming down the pipeline including oncology (UNC-Chapel Hill has a good program), palliative care, emergency medicine. I personally am looking into an ER or ACNP post-masters for once I finish an FNP