More RN experience = better NP job outlook?

[DesertSky, BSN]

Based on many of the threads I have read on AN and the anecdotal fact that it seems about 50% of my coworkers are pursuing their FNP, I am concerned about pursing my FNP only to find there is a glut of FNP's and struggle with gainful employment. I am perfectly open to moving to another area of the country if need be in order to find a good job.

Because there are no uniform requirements for NP programs in terms of RN experience, do you find RN's with more experience fare better in terms of job outlook as new NP's? For example, would a RN with 5 years of critical care/CVICU experience who wants to work in a cardiology practice as a FNP have more opportunities based on their RN experience than someone who spent a year at bedside or did a direct entry MSN?

Please understand I am not questioning a RN's ability as a NP if they had minimal bedside experience prior to becoming a NP, I am just trying to gauge if employers and the market would distinguish between the two.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and opinions in advance!

[Jules A, MSN]

It varies but surely can't hurt to have experience and professional contacts in the specialty you will be pursuing. Personally I think it shows poor planning to have no experience or professional contacts in the specialty where you want to work as a NP. In my situation I have heard of opportunities and gotten offers due to my connections in this specialty which came directly from my RN experience. At one interview the executive director told me the medical director "drooled" when he saw my resume because I had years of inpatient psych experience.

[DesertSky, BSN]

It varies but surely can't hurt to have experience and professional contacts in the specialty you will be pursuing. Personally I think it shows poor planning to have no experience or professional contacts in the specialty where you want to work as a NP. In my situation I have heard of opportunities and gotten offers due to my connections in this specialty which came directly from my RN experience. At one interview the executive director told me the medical director "drooled" when he saw my resume because I had years of inpatient psych experience.

Thanks Jules A. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I agree that professional experience and contacts can only open more doors when transitioning from RN to NP.

[orangepink, NP]

That helps a lot but work ethic is just as important. It doesn't matter how much experience a nurse has if he/she is lazy

[Sha-Sha RN]

That helps a lot but work ethic is just as important. It doesn't matter how much experience a nurse has if he/she is lazy

But someone who is lazy may get hired based on his/her RN experience on paper- you can't see laziness on paper; this usually gets discovered later.

When I was searching for my first NP job, I got a lot of interviews based on my RN experience and many of the questions asked during the interviews focused on my role as a RN. No one asked my about my experience during my NP clinical rotations, other than the job I ultimately accepted and they really didn't ask either. I mentioned to them about my experience and exposure at a outpatient Diabetes clinic during my last clinical rotation.

[DesertSky, BSN]

But someone who is lazy may get hired based on his/her RN experience on paper- you can't see laziness on paper; this usually gets discovered later.

When I was searching for my first NP job, I got a lot of interviews based on my RN experience and many of the questions asked during the interviews focused on my role as a RN. No one asked my about my experience during my NP clinical rotations, other than the job I ultimately accepted and they really didn't ask either. I mentioned to them about my experience and exposure at a outpatient Diabetes clinic during my last clinical rotation.

Sha-Sha RN - Good to know your impressive RN resume helped you to stand out to potential NP employers. Thanks for sharing!

[lauraross1]

But someone who is lazy may get hired based on his/her RN experience on paper- you can't see laziness on paper; this usually gets discovered later.

When I was searching for my first NP job, I got a lot of interviews based on my RN experience and many of the questions asked during the interviews focused on my role as a RN. No one asked my about my experience during my NP clinical rotations, other than the job I ultimately accepted and they really didn't ask either. I mentioned to them about my experience and exposure at a outpatient Diabetes clinic during my last clinical rotation.

I am a new grad NP and had the same experience while interviewing. The majority of questions asked were about my RN experience, I only had a couple of questions about my NP clinical rotations.