How much RN experience?

Jules A, MSN · Jun 9, 2017

On this side of the country RN experience in new grad NPs is getting rarer and the desire for more experience from employers seems to be increasing, at least at the three facilities where I work, as they recognize many of the new NPs have no RN experience and limited ability to practice to their certification upon graduation. That said especially if you work part time during school I think you are probably in good shape to be competetive.

Something that did stick out to me is the thought that you'd only make $20,000 a year more as a NP. Are you sure thats accurate? I would not take on the cost of a graduate degree and increase in responsibility/liability for a mere $20,000 a year, especially because you will like lose at least that much income each year you are in school. Good luck with whatever you decide.

amzyRN · Jun 10, 2017

On this side of the country RN experience in new grad NPs is getting rarer and the desire for more experience from employers seems to be increasing, at least at the three facilities where I work, as they recognize many of the new NPs have no RN experience and limited ability to practice to their certification upon graduation. That said especially if you work part time during school I think you are probably in good shape to be competetive.
Something that did stick out to me is the thought that you'd only make $20,000 a year more as a NP. Are you sure thats accurate? I would not take on the cost of a graduate degree and increase in responsibility/liability for a mere $20,000 a year, especially because you will like lose at least that much income each year you are in school. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I'm not sure what new grad NPs make in CA. Some of the postings I've seen in clinics were kinda low paid. I make more as an RN in a hsopital than what they were offering. I think it depends. They would probably start me on the low end at firs, but I wouldn't want to take a pay cut.

kadphilly · Jun 10, 2017

My health system will hire an NP if they have at least two years experience as an RN prior to entering their masters. Most of the NP students I precept are still working as RNs throughout grad school as well. I actually find that the students who have 15 + years experience as an RN have a harder time with the autonomy of the NP role. I find that the students who enter their masters with 3-5 years experience to have the best balance of some experience, and the ability to be comfortable with making autonomous diagnosis and treatment plans.

I was only an RN for one year when I entered my NP program about 20 years ago. I worked throughout my masters. I do not feel like was any less prepared For my NP career.

Jules A, MSN · Jun 10, 2017

I'm not sure what new grad NPs make in CA. Some of the postings I've seen in clinics were kinda low paid. I make more as an RN in a hsopital than what they were offering. I think it depends. They would probably start me on the low end at firs, but I wouldn't want to take a pay cut.

Definitely get some solid salary info before you invest your time and money. You need this to make an informed decision.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Jun 10, 2017

The whole idea of the nurse practitioner role grew out of and advanced role for an EXPERIENCED registered nurse. This is why the programs "appear" to have limited education when compared to PA programs. The student was expected to have had experience that education would "grow" on. Today, schools are in the business of making money (whether they are public or not) and are now willing to take students in within little to no experience. I believe this is going to bite the profession in the butt! I see many physicians throw their hands up and choose a PA over a NP because the NP was not able to provide adequate professional experience. As Jules points out, many new grads have "limited ability to practice to their certification upon graduation".

amzyRN · Jun 10, 2017

The whole idea of the nurse practitioner role grew out of and advanced role for an EXPERIENCED registered nurse. This is why the programs "appear" to have limited education when compared to PA programs. The student was expected to have had experience that education would "grow" on. Today, schools are in the business of making money (whether they are public or not) and are now willing to take students in within little to no experience. I believe this is going to bite the profession in the butt! I see many physicians throw their hands up and choose a PA over a NP because the NP was not able to provide adequate professional experience. As Jules points out, many new grads have "limited ability to practice to their certification upon graduation".

How much experience though? Would you recommend 5 years, 7 years, 10 years? I have 5 years but only 1 in the ED so far, wanting to aim for 2 at least.

kadphilly · Jun 10, 2017

How much experience though? Would you recommend 5 years, 7 years, 10 years? I have 5 years but only 1 in the ED so far, wanting to aim for 2 at least.

In my experience in preceprong students with anywhere from direct entry (no experience) to 40 years experience, and everything in between, I have not found a strong correlation between greater than say 3-5 years experience, and a better prepared student at graduation. I have found far more of a correlation between the students ability to think critically, have the ability to act autonomously, and the strength of the NP program.

A student with strong critical thinking skills from a strong NP program who has two years prior RN experience will quickly catch up with someone with someone who lacks those skills, in particular if they are at a weaker program.

I have had serious concerns about 3 students in the past 15 years in terms of their ability to practice safely as an NP. All three had at least 10 years experience and we're enrolled in weaker programs.

My current NP student has two years experience as an RN, and attended a top BSN school, and is now is in a top MSN school. She is by far the strongest student I have had.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 10, 2017

How much experience though? Would you recommend 5 years, 7 years, 10 years? I have 5 years but only 1 in the ED so far, wanting to aim for 2 at least.

In the past, when the NP role was brand new, the criteria for admission to an NP program included "at least 5 years" of experience as an RN at the bedside. I think five years is fine. If you continue to work while going through your program, you'll have more than two ears in the ER.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 10, 2017

I'm not a NP but I am in California. Most of the Psych NPs I knew who recently graduated ended up moving out of state for their first NP job. Perhaps the market is better for NPs in other specialties.

I just searched my organization for NP jobs and found less than a handful of postings. In fact, two of the positions posted don't actually require a NP for the job because I had done those jobs. Well, I couldn't legally prescribe meds, but everything else in those two positions isn't specific to the NP scope.

Jules A, MSN · Jun 10, 2017

In my experience in preceprong students with anywhere from direct entry (no experience) to 40 years experience, and everything in between, I have not found a strong correlation between greater than say 3-5 years experience, and a better prepared student at graduation. I have found far more of a correlation between the students ability to think critically, have the ability to act autonomously, and the strength of the NP program.
A student with strong critical thinking skills from a strong NP program who has two years prior RN experience will quickly catch up with someone with someone who lacks those skills, in particular if they are at a weaker program.
I have had serious concerns about 3 students in the past 15 years in terms of their ability to practice safely as an NP. All three had at least 10 years experience and we're enrolled in weaker programs.
My current NP student has two years experience as an RN, and attended a top BSN school, and is now is in a top MSN school. She is by far the strongest student I have had.

Do I understand you correctly in that the students you are describing had some actual RN experience? If so that makes sense and I definitely don't think years and years are required but definitely enough time to see and become comfortable with the sixth sense most of use get regarding different presentations and different medication reactions.

I'd have to agree that even 2 years of solid full time experience, especially in the specialty is enough for someone sharp. My biggest concerns and personal experience involve those with either zero RN or zero Psych experience who are not able to pick up on the subtleties of diagnosing and prescribing. For those who go on to work in the outpatient areas they often remain weak because there are no checks and balances they are largely prescribing in a silo...until their patient decompensates ends up on my inpatient unit with a ridiculous medication regimen and inaccurate diagnoses.

LadysSolo · Jun 11, 2017

In NE Ohio, most new grad NPs make about $20,000 more than an experienced hospital RN. That was about what I made when I first started as an NP, and am currently making about $80,000/year with 12 years' experience as an NP and 23 years as an RN prior to becoming an NP (35 years total experience in nursing.) Yes NE Ohio doesn't pay well compared to other areas of the country. YMMV.