Is this the best career route for me?

DrCOVID, DNP · Aug 10, 2016

The clichÃ©s are correct; Everyone has their own way. You will know when it's time. I first thought I was going to be a CRNA when I became a nurse. 7 years later life twisted and turned and I have a completely different view of nursing.

For me, the reason I know I have to go into advanced practice is because I feel stagnant. I just don't really learn anything new or am really that challenged by floor nursing. It can be demanding yes, but the work is not hard. After 2 years of working the floor I think you will have a solid foundation as a nurse. It will give you time to be in the field and learn practice well, learn how to work with people, and meet and see some NPs in action. In the last few months I've met at least 3 other NPs.

I would recommend getting at least a bit of exp as an RN before you get your Master's.

MedicineAndMuscles · Aug 10, 2016

I agree with everything you just said. However, I'll be getting my BSN while working. Essentially, I'll have 2 to 2 1/2 years of experience working as an RN prior to starting my masters, regardless. Do you think that is enough from a personal standpoint? I appreciate your input though, thank you!

DayDreamin ER CRNP · Aug 10, 2016

I think it depends on the type of experience you are getting and what type of masters you are going for. If you (a collective "you") are only getting experience on a med-surg floor or in a clinic, you will not be as prepared for an acute care program as you might be for a family practice program.

I think there is also a lot to be said for life experience. To be a successful NP, I think you also need to know how to talk to people and relate what they are telling you about their medical problems. Too many times I see PA students or fresh-out-of-school RN to MSN student just ask questions as if reading from a list. There is no expanding on the answers or addressing what is NOT being said. Experience is where this will help the student. As an NP student myself, I see a lot of inexperienced nurses in NP school really struggle with this and with some aspects of school. I can always tell which NP students go straight through school vs the ones with experience when I'm working with them in my job.

Basically, everyone is different but I would strongly suggest at least 2 solid years of acute care / critical care experience for anyone going into NP school.

mcleanstrong · Aug 11, 2016

I have a few thoughts here....

Since it sounds like you'll be working during school, and it'll take you a few years before you complete all of the schooling for the NP, you'll be accumulating experience during that time. So it's not like you're gonna be an NP with no nursing experience.

In my experience, age is not as big of a factor as you might think. Generally speaking, some of the most excellent healthcare providers (NPs, PAs, RNs, even physicians) have been on the younger side, and some of the ones I haven't cared for as much have been the older ones. I'm definitely not trying to discriminate against the older crowd, but my point is that younger doesn't necessarily have to equal bad. I think you can find or be a great practitioner at any age.

I guess my question for you would be, do you know at this point what sort of NP you'd like to be? I know that's a struggle for people to identify early on, and the tracks are relatively specific. Plus, employers and state boards of nursing are getting more specific about NPs practicing within their scope, so hospitals (at least where I live in Michigan) are starting to phase out hiring FNPs in favor of Acute Care NPs. It makes sense, but in the past, employers haven't seemed to care as much about which specific certification you had, they just wanted to hire an NP. So I think now more than ever, you really have to have a clear vision of where you want to end up, or at least where you want to begin your career as an NP. You can always to back and take a few more classes to get another certification if you start out as an FNP and eventually want to do inpatient, or vice versa.

I just finished my NP program (FNP) and took (and passed! yay!) my boards a few days ago. There are lots of things that I feel like I fumbled my way through that I wish had been made clear to me in the beginning. For example, I started out in an Adult-Gero Primary Care track but after one semester someone pointed out to me that if I ever wanted to work at an urgent care, ER, or even a family practice office that sees kids, that I wouldn't be hired because that track doesn't have a peds course. So I switched to FNP because I felt it had a more broad range for potential jobs after graduation. I worked in the hospital as a staff nurse for about 10 years, taught clinical in the hospital for a local nursing school for about 5, and I felt that I'd had my fill of hospital employment (at least for now).

So good on you for being so motivated and knowing early on that you want to continue your education!! I hope you find the right track for you that takes you to where you want to be, but I wouldn't let your age stop you or make you hesitate if you know that's where you want to be. :)