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

AspiringNurseMW · Jun 28, 2016

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

I'm over here sitting with a drink and some popcorn, this will get interesting.

Also, OP, you might want to change your username if the np part refers to being a Nurse Practitioner.

Only those who have actually attained such credentials are allowed to list them as part of their username. Hence, my username, I am not yet a Nurse Midwife, but it is my goal.

Extra Pickles · Jun 28, 2016

an important thing to remember when considering becoming an advanced practice nurse is that you must become a nurse and master the basics in the first place. if your goal is to practice psychiatry without going to medical school and you believe that the best way to do this is to become an RN then I think you need to do some really hardcore reconsidering. You will do nursing and a lot of nursing before being competent enough to be allowed anywhere near your dream job.

there are direct entry programs to cut out general ed courses sure but you will first have to survive those years of core clinical assignments and that means lots of nursing education that you would probably hate. I say this based only on what you just said about your feelings toward becoming an RN. Even those who do have a passion for nursing can find it extremely wearing on the body and soul (nursing education and clinicals, I mean). I think if you're smart you'll give a whole lot more thought to this!

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

I'm over here sitting with a drink and some popcorn, this will get interesting.

Being that yesterday was Monday, I have started my diet over again (yet again), so I have my no butter, low salt popcorn. If it were Thursday, or if I was being really good and had waited till Friday to say screw it, I'll start over again next Monday, I'd have to good stuff, but since it's only Tuesday.... *sigh*

roser13, ASN, RN · 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.

Actually your post came across as quite dismissive of the nursing role. In fact you said "Although I would really love to avoid being a nurse beforehand." But whatever, thanks for sticking around and continuing the conversation. I think what most of us want to impress upon you is that if you already (prior to any experience whatsoever) feel that it's unnecessary or undesirable to be a nurse, why do you think that you would enjoy being an advanced practice nurse?

I think the suggestion of exploring the PA role is great. Unlike NP's, there is no prior role in which experience is expected/required. PA is based upon the medical model, rather than the nursing model. That might work better for you.

*and to reiterate what a previous poster said, please change your username. You have not earned the title.*

HelloWish, ADN, BSN · Jun 28, 2016

Assessment, critical thinking, problem solving, intervention, assessment, assessment, and assessment....

I really wouldn't want an NP to treat me or my family without first gaining experience as a nurse, if they chose to be an NP. If they are a PA, it is different as you are trained differently. But nurse practitioners are nurses however at an advanced practice level!

Dogen · Jun 28, 2016

As a newly minted psych NP, I'll reiterate what Horseshoe said above. Psych patients have medical issues and if you start a psych med that interacts with something they take for a medical condition or exacerbates that condition then 1) that's your own malpractice, and 2) you're hurting the people you're supposed to help. For instance, I had a transgender patient who was on "an androgen blocker," but couldn't remember the name. They also had frequent nightmares. My preceptor started them on prazosin, which treats nightmares but is also a blood pressure medication. The patient started fainting. Turns out they were on spironolactone, which is an androgen blocker and a blood pressure med. The patient wasn't harmed, but could have been. My experience in med-surg has helped me avoid drug interactions or exacerbating someone's heart failure or diabetes more times than I can count.

You could also work in psych as an RN and that would be beneficial. It will allow you to observe psych symptoms and recovery, drug dosages, side effects, etc. I worked inpatient psych while I was in grad school specifically for that reason and it helped a lot. Now when I have a patient decompensating I can ask myself if they present like the patients I saw admitted to my inpatient unit and decide if I need to send them to the ER or if I can safely treat them outpatient.

Dogen · Jun 28, 2016

Also, PAs are uncommon in psych. If a person wanted to get into psych then suggesting PA school may be doing them a disservice.

DeeAngel · Jun 28, 2016

You learn almost as much your first year working as a nurse as you do in nursing school. If you want to just be a psychiatric nurse then by all means go straight through school. If you want to be a well rounded nurse capable of managing your psychiatric patient's other medical issues then get some practical, real world experience before going to an advanced course.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 28, 2016

Thread moved to Student NP forum

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Also, PAs are uncommon in psych. If a person wanted to get into psych then suggesting PA school may be doing them a disservice.

Oops, sorry. I did have that question flit through my mind as I was posting (what is the PA role in a psych facility?) but I ignored it.

Lisa.fnp · 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?
P.S. I don't really have a passion for nursing I just want to practice psychiatry without actually going to medical school and being psychiatric nursing practitioner seems right for me.

Your opening title was a question, a good question for posting on this site.

How does working as a RN help beforehand of being a Nurse Practitioner?

But then you messed up and continued typing, and what you type wasn't questions but disguised insults to the profession of Nursing. If you really want to go the easy route become a PA or a Psychologist.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Nurses have responsibilities, not duties. Everything we do requires observational and judgement skills. Sometimes, it is contraindicated to brush a patient's teeth. Consider the amount of expertise it takes to make THAT judgement.

I found my time as a psych nurse was invaluable. I learned how to observe human behavior and had to use all my skills to properly treat the psych patient. Nothing like hands on!

Best of luck with your journey.