New nurse with old academic history haunting me. Chances of admission to ADN-ARNP?

[Medic362]

I originally went to college fresh out of HS and obtained my Bachelors Degree in Poli Sci with a dismal GPA of 2.59. Post college I went onto become a Firefighter/Paramedic and have been working in EMS for 6+ years. I went back to school to do science courses then completed a Paramedic to ADN-RN transition program with my last 54 credit hours being a 3.54 with something like 12 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs and a bunch of Satisfactory in lab courses.

I have been looking at ADN to MSN programs but haven't really had much luck. I exchanged a few emails with an Advisor from a local state school with an ADN-MSN-FNP program and it sounded like she thought the idea of me getting in with my academic history was absurd. I thought maybe a significant uptrend along with my diverse EMS background would set me apart from many of the applicants. I don't want to pull the Male card but I was told throughout school that Male NPs are few and far between so that might help admission chances.

I was really trying to bypass BSN due to money and spending another year in school prior to an FNP program. Should I just bite the bullet and sign up for a BSN program? I spoke with UCF a few times and they have a program that lets people do RN to FNP with only taking a few courses prior if they have an unrelated Bachelors but I don't know how poor my chances are.

Some of these online schools seem kind of scary to me. I really want to be prepared for practice in the ER with adequate training.

Right now I am about to get into the ER as a Paramedic Clinical Instructor so I can do some networking and meet some ARNPs while getting paid and learning. I am trying to get Instructor certs in ACLS and PALS through my fire dept as well. I don't have any nursing exp and have had a hard time finding any per diem work and am unable to do a new grad program due to my fire department job.

[BVFD 333]

Medic,

Your past GPA is/ will hurt you. A BSN would give you the chance to bring your GPA up significantly. It is not that difficult to get a high 3 or even 4.0/4.0 GPA in a RN to BSN program if you do what they ask you to do. In my personal opinion that should absolutely increase your chances of getting in to a graduate program. Also in my personal opinion you need to get nursing experiences during that time.

I am also surprised that you have problems finding a prn job as a nurse. You already know people in the ED, start networking when bringing in pt to the ED, talk to your medical director from the Fire Department,….

That was how I got my first job, I pointed out that I just took the NCLEX to the ED nursing director. Nobody had even an idea that I was in nursing school. The rest was just formality with HR.

Of Course I do not know what your furlough days are but I now numerous Paramedics working on a fire department and also have a part or even full time schedule in the ED as a RN (I was one of them).

Good luck!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Being male doesn't help you get through the academic and clinical rigor of grad school. You can put that card away for awhile.

You really have two options: get an RN job and build up some RN experience or get a BSN and hope your grades come up and your EMT/P experience fills the rest of the gap with grad school.

Sent from my iPhone.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

1) While male NPs may be few and far between, I seriously doubt that is going to help your admissions, of course my school started in midwifery, so my opinion on that may be biased! lol

2) What is your GPA now? There are plenty of ADN-BSN programs that can be completed in 1yr, getting a 4.0 in those classes should increase your overall GPA, show the programs you have the academic chops, and open your options up significantly as well as give you a good year of RN experience which will help you to apply the material while your in your program.

That year while your in your BSN program will also give you time to network with providers. This will help you in multiple ways:

1 - When it comes time to apply you will have several providers who will be willing to write you amazing references, at many programs these will offset your still lower than average GPA.

2 - When it comes time to find preceptors, these will be the folks that will be willing to precept you, or will help you make other contacts with their friends who will precept you.

3 - When you eventually graduate, here you go again, reference letters and potential job offers will be coming from these folks.

Never underestimate the power of a strong network!