NP Jobs?? help!

[bethygean]

I am about to graduate high school and am planning on going to a university and becomming a NP. I was reading though that NP's with little to no experience would have a very hard time finding a job. I don't want to go to college for 6 years then end up not being able to find a job. any advice or comments?

[foreverLaur]

Get your RN first, get some work experience, see what specialty area you like best, then look into going back to school to become a NP. There are plenty of NP job postings in my area, but the vast majority do want work experience first. You should have at least 2 years RN experience before going to NP school anyway. Worry about getting your bachelors degree working as a RN before you start thinking about a master's. You are jumping a huge step.

[SherriHayes]

I think it is best to get your baccalaureate degree first. Get some experience to find out what you are interested in. After that, take the time to explore different options for NP (ACNP, FNP, PNP, etc). Believe me, there are plenty of jobs for NP's.

[StangGang92]

I'm only a nursing student, but what I'd been advised is that if you want to go for an NP after you get your BSN is to work while going to school to get that 2 years experience under your belt.

Just what I've heard. Around here where the jobs seem to way out number the available NPs experience is desirable, but working during school seems to be enough. But thats only around here. No one wants to live in Iowa, nonetheless rural Iowa haha so they take NPs as they get em

[bethygean]

That's what I've heard. And the university that I was looking at has a very nice hospital so that is probably what I'm going to do. I've never liked the idea of taking a few years off of school. I think it'd be really hard to try to get myself to go back to school.

[seattlenurse74]

I am in an immersion BSN to FNP program. Many of my classmates do not have nursing experience and over one third have found jobs before graduation. If primary care is your goal, your nursing knowledge will help you lots. However, it is the knowledge and the philosophy that helps you tons. Having experience as a nurse is nice, but not necessary. Most of your work is the ability to diagnose and treat effectively. It our philosophy that sets us apart. Not if I can change an NG tube or not. The immersion (non-experienced) students are just as effective as the traditional BSNs. If you know that FNP primary care is for you, go for it! The jobs are there.

[dojo2]

I agree, you should concentrate on the BSN first work a few years and get your NP. The nursing experience is so valuable, it helps to develop assessment skills and critical thinking skills which are very important for an NP.