NP programs that do not require RN Experience/LOR's?

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What are some good, accredited NP programs that do not require past RN experience or LOR's? My goal is to gain/attain RN experience working full-time while being enrolled in a part-time NP program. It's going to take me atleast 4-5 years to obtain my DNP so i'll have 4-5 years of experience as a RN before actually practicing as an APN. I haven't made any connections with my prof's so I don't really have anyone to ask for a letter. An online DNP program would be ideal.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Imagine what it would take to do such a study. It's impossible because NP's function in such a variety of roles and specialties and vary wildly in responsibility.

I went to an Ivy League school and I'm so sorry that it has become such a weak program in my specialty.

I attended an Ivy League program that is well known for having a tough, rigorous program. It is also v. proud of having invented the concept of the direct entry program (for non-nurses) several decades ago. I attended as a traditional, experienced RN student, and I'm not a fan of direct-entry programs. However, I've not heard of any problems or c/os about the school's direct-entry grads. (The school also provides all the clinical instruction by full-time or adjunct school faculty -- none of this "find your own instructor" hogwash).

There are plenty of NP schools out there that do not require past RN experience but of course, it is always preferred but it doesn't mean you can't get in the school. I had a few classmates in NP school that were new BSN graduates no experience and went straight to NP school. there are a few schools in my state that are doing the same thing. Also, new FNP school programs tend to accept more applicants without past RN experience because they are brand new and they need students.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

If FNP students are so desperate that they accept students with no experience, perhaps this is a symptom of too many FNP programs.

If FNP students are so desperate that they accept students with no experience, perhaps this is a symptom of too many FNP programs.

There is no specific study saying that if you have no past RN experience and then you become an NP, that you will fail or do badly at your job or in NP school either. I'm not saying that those NP schools that I am referring to are ONLY accepting RNs with no past experience either. Its a mixture of experienced and non experienced RNs. I'm pretty sure that if you are not experienced, the expectations in schoolwork are just the same as with an experienced RN. Getting in school is probably not that easy either you may have to have a stellar resume with volunteer activities, excellent grades, and perhaps an degree in something else that makes you more competitive if you are inexperienced.

Its like you are either a NP who does their job well or an NP who does not do their job well (and trust me I've met NPs who have tons of past RN experience and I still wonder how in the world did they pass that certification exam and NP school). Just like you are a good student or you are not.

Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

The thought of being a NP without first being a RN is baffling to me. How can you be an advanced practice nurse without first being a nurse? I never imagined there being a program that doesn't require clinical hours prior to admission (at least to clinical courses). Do these programs require more hours for these students?

Just curious. My program required 2000 clinical hours of RN experience before being allowed in the NP clinical setting.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

There is actually very little literature on the topic; that that does exist favors that, objectively, prior RN experience does not correlate with competency in the NP setting.

To most nurses there are obvious benefits to prior RN experience in transitioning into the NP role. There are also some challenges. Anecdotally my most challenging student was an RN with more than 20 years experience, on the other side, I have had to fail two students without prior RN experience d/t a dangerous event.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

By the time a person gets to NP school, they should already know how to read a 12 lead EKG and should have to spend money or valuable time learning something so basic in GRADUATE school. This is just an example of what a new grad RN is lacking. The second thing is judging what a sick person looks like. People just don't have enough clinical experience in school to learn discernment skills. Can a new grad pick out the dialysis patient from across the room? I suppose if NP's don't have to take care of sick people but just do H and P's and order tests off a list, one doesn't need any experience. Maybe I don't understand what it is they do.

Specializes in Emergency.
By the time a person gets to NP school, they should already know how to read a 12 lead EKG and should have to spend money or valuable time learning something so basic in GRADUATE school. This is just an example of what a new grad RN is lacking. The second thing is judging what a sick person looks like. People just don't have enough clinical experience in school to learn discernment skills. Can a new grad pick out the dialysis patient from across the room? I suppose if NP's don't have to take care of sick people but just do H and P's and order tests off a list, one doesn't need any experience. Maybe I don't understand what it is they do.

So should the school test prospective students ability to read EKGs then? I know many a 20+ year RN who couldn't tell you if the EKG was right side up, let alone read it. I'm just saying "requiring x years of RN experience" does not equate to "having clinical skills" as your post assumes. I tend to agree that it is helpful and accelerates the learning experience for a NP student to have certain clinical skills, and certainly a base knowledge in A&P that is not always there. But I'm not sure you can assume x yr as RN will give you that or the converse, that not having that experience will always mean that you do not have that base knowledge. I think direct entry programs and other programs that are designed to take either non-RN or new grad RNs must take into account that the majority of their students will not have this core knowledge and build that into the program. Other programs that ask for a certain amount of experience will probably assume that many of their students will have this core knowledge, but must have a way for students who do not to gain it.

As a side, my program only requires 2 years of RN experience, and from my interactions with other students, I would guess that many of the

Thanks, subee, I agree and yes bad things do happen. You're right that NPs that are former nurses have a lot of insight. I am a definitely against any NP program that does not require at least 1 year of RN experience before acceptance in a NP program. Of course remember assuming the RN works while going to school, they will most likely have about 3-4 years minimum of RN experience before passing NP boards. Of course others can disagree, this is America. I am very proud to be an NP and take pride in my past experiences that make me the NP I am today. I realize we do need more primary care providers and direct entry NP programs are becoming more popular. I did my graduate work on this topic in 2013. Some states are offering medical students 3 years of med school if they will agree to go into primary care after residency. The problem I have with this philosophy is that if the nursing profession continues this path, then NPs and PAs will pretty much have about the same clinical experience. The ultimate key here is experience. I have worked with great PAs before, don't get me wrong. I just have more respect for an NP that has done everything from bathing patients to critical care nursing while continuing to further their education to become an NP. These are the NPs that am proud be a part of and the younger RNs that take care of patients everyday highly respect.

Jeremy Garrard, ]MSN, ANP-BC, RN, ONC, CSFA, LSA

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