How does working as an R.N. beforehand help in being a nurse practitioner?

heron, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Not an NP here, but I seem to recall that the operative word in the title is "nurse". The credential was originally created to capitalize on the clinical experience of seasoned nurses and expand the ability of nurses to practice nursing more automatously.

You're essentially asking how to become a nurse without actually becoming a nurse.

Perhaps physician's assistant would be more your cup of tea. Or clinical social work/ psychology degree that would allow you to provide psycho-therapy.

But if you want to be able to prescribe meds or manage severe psychotics, you're stuck with getting a credential that will allow you to do so: MD, NP or PA.

OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Not an NP here, but I seem to recall that the operative word in the title is "nurse". The credential was originally created to capitalize on the clinical experience of seasoned nurses and expand the ability of nurses to practice nursing more automatously.You're essentially asking how to become a nurse without actually becoming a nurse.Perhaps physician's assistant would be more your cup of tea. Or clinical social work/ psychology degree that would allow you to provide psycho-therapy.But if you want to be able to prescribe meds or manage severe psychotics, you're stuck with getting a credential that will allow you to do so: MD, NP or PA.

This. So much of this.

And believe it or not, but being a nurse is so much more than handing out meds and helping people brush their teeth. When I was in the ED I worked with psych patients a lot. If I wanted to go on for my NP in psych my backround as a NURSE would be invaluable to me, because of what I learned working with that population.

Wuzzie · Jun 28, 2016

I want to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner however I don't think R.N. duties would give me experience that would help me in that career ex: giving insulin, giving pills, helping patients brush teeth. The two career paths I could take is either getting a BA not in nursing and then doing an accelerated MSN program in which I won't have to be an R.N. or I can get a BSN, be a nurse and then pursue my MSN. Although I would really love to avoid being a nurse beforehand in what ways would being a nurse beforehand help in a NP career, specifically psychiatric?

Is that seriously what you think we do? If so you have absolutely no idea what nursing is all about and frankly I find your viewpoint to be insulting.

OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Is that seriously what you think we do? If so you have absolutely no idea what nursing is all about and frankly I find your viewpoint to be insulting.

Yea, that too. I'm kinda waiting to see how long it takes for her to get flamed.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

RN experience will be IMPERATIVE to your career as an NP! Being a nurse, while it certainly does involve getting your hands dirty with tasks yot seem to feel you're above, is about so much assessment and evaluation. RNs spend a good chunk of time giving medications and watching how they effect the patient, and can recommend dosage changes or notice if the patient is having adverse effects. Their assessments are also invaluable in determining what comorbidities, psychiatric or otherwise, a patient is experiencing, because treatments for a variety of disorders can be tricky when considering medication interactions and the like. Being an RN is absolutely fundamental to becoming an NP, as it hones your observation skills, your communication skills, and your familiarity with the treatments and therapies available to your patients. Also, RNs spend a ton of time educating and reinforcing the teaching done by other professionals with their patients, which is another piece of your job as an NP.

I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your post comes off as rather condescending, like you find the work of an RN to be futile and boring. I'd like to recommend that you volunteer at a mental health facility and shadow both an RN and NP if possible. I think that would give you a wealth of insight into the tasks involved in both roles, and help you make am informed decision about your career path. I genuinely wish you the best of luck in finding a career that suits you.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Do you realize that psych patients also have medical problems which may still need to be addressed while in an inpatient unit? They may have diabetes, hypertension, a colostomy bag, or any other number of problems which the psych NURSE will be responsible for addressing. They may be taking psychiatric meds that have the potential to cause serious physical adverse reactions. If the NP has actual experience with and competence in patient assessment and delivery of nursing care, she will be a better NP than one who only has theory to revert to when addressing the patient's needs (that may go well beyond the psychiatric).

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Yea, that too. I'm kinda waiting to see how long it takes for her to get flamed.

I don't consider answering in kind to be flaming. The original post was condescending and insulting to the specific audience to whom it was directed.

However, I'm guessing that the poster is young and idealistic and misguided, so I'm willing to make allowance for that. Perhaps he/she will learn something from these replies.

BSN16 · Jun 28, 2016

What about working as a psych nurse. That is more beneficial than anything to become a NP in that field.

But with that type of mentality i'm not sure if you would like nursing school lol

sarahnp2b103 · Jun 28, 2016

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult any RNs out there. You're right in that I really don't know that much about nursing which is why I made this post; I am trying to learn more about what nurses do and what type of experience they gain.

sadiemae1123 · Jun 28, 2016

I agree with most of the above posters. Even if you only want to deal with psychiatric issues, as a provider you're going to need spot on assessment skills to work with this population.

How else will you be able to differentiate between a mental illness, adverse reaction to a medication, or a new onset somatic issue? Especially since many patients with mental illness have a difficult time articulating what is wrong.

I strongly suggest you shadow a few different types of mental health professionals in order to get a clear idea of what you may be getting into.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 28, 2016

I was a nurse in cardiac critical care and I learned how to titrate vasoactive drips, recover patients from open heart surgery, identify post op complications early before patients deteriorated, recovered them from hypotensive episodes and interpreted ABGs, as well as performing CRRT, monitoring IABPs and therapeutic hypothermia. As an acute NP student I will find that experience invaluable when I come to be an NP in a critical care unit. Without that experience I'd be completely lost.