Need advice for starting FNP program

[kelsBSN]

Hey y'all! So I am pretty new to this website but I always read other peoples posts and always seem to find good advice. I decided to try it out for myself. I need help/advice for starting FNP program. I keep having a battle with myself of wanting to start/not feeling it's the right time.

Let me start by giving a litte back history of myself. So, I graduated nursing school with an Associate's degree in May 2015 and went on to start my dream job in labor and delivery, where I am still currently today as a full-time staff RN. I will finish my BSN in a few weeks. The only experience I have is labor and delivery. One of my issuses is starting FNP program and not having enough experience of just being a nurse under my belt and also just having L&D experience. I know that we all didn't go into nursing school "knowing" how to be a nurse, it was taught..just as we are going to be taught to be NPs. But is that true?

A story that resonates with me and pushing me to start school is about a patient's Grandfather, who was a doctor, that told me a story about his NP. He told me that medical school teaches you about all these different disease processes and how to diagnose and treat patients, whereas nursing school teaches you how to care and emotional support patients. Then, NP school encompasses all those aspects of diagnosis and treatment. The point of the story is that he said his NP taught him so many things that medical school didn't teach him and how he admired and learned so many things from her.

That story is partly the reason I want to become and FNP, because I want to be able to diagnose, treat and care for my patients. I want to be able to give them the whole package and really be able to make a difference in their lives, but I want to make sure that I'm making the right decision at this point in my life to pursue that dream. Any advice or stories would be grealty appreciated! Thanks everyone!

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

You need to go in when it is right for you and you are sure about it (not back and forth on the idea). FNP school is no walk in the park and requires dedication. I can state personally that coming from a specialty background means you will likely have a learning curve. But it doesn't mean you can't do it. I went to school with lots of L&D nurses who did just fine in grad school.

[meaghann3]

I also graduated may of 2015 and started my NP program this past summer. I am one of the youngest in my program and probably the most inexperienced, and I also come from a specialty (orthopedics). I will say that much of what we are learning will not be impacted from having been in a specialty and I think you have enough experience that you'll be fine (I have been!). I don't see any advantage in my classes now between myself and the other nurses who have more experience except for some of the older nurses (in their 40's) are having a hard time with the technology and are not as quick of learners.

GO FOR IT!!!!! :)