NP w/no desire for RN?

Specialties NP Nursing Q/A

Well, not so much NO desire...but are there any NP's out there that wanted to become (and had their sights set on being an NP from day 1) an NP with no real 'drive' to be an RN first? My cousin is finishing up her RN-MSN program and never really wanted to become an RN, but she really wanted to become an NP, so she went the RN route to become an NP (which I know you have to do).

I know this is somewhat rare, but wondering are there any other NP's out there that looked at RN as kinda pre-NP school/clinical stuff in order to become an NP? Like, they may not be real thrilled with what they are doing (RN) but they know they have to do it in order to become an NP. Keep in mind I'm not saying you would hate being an RN or hate RN's or anything to that affect, but you dream has been to become an NP and RN school/work is a sort of necessary 'not the most enthusiastic' hurdle?

i WANT TO BE A PSYCHIATRIC/DETOX/REHAB NURSE. No one will hire me without med surg experience. I don't want to work med surg, so I am going for my MHPNP masters. Opinions? Krisssy RN MA MHPNP 2 be

They probably won't hire you because of that "mind-body" thingie. The patients you want to work with also have sick bodies.

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
originally posted by krisssy

i want to be a psychiatric/detox/rehab nurse. no one will hire me without med surg experience. i don't want to work med surg, so i am going for my mhpnp masters. opinions? krisssy rn ma mhpnp 2 be

i'm a little confused right now, krisssy. are you saying noone will hire you because you have no experience as as rn and cannot get a position in the psychiatric/detox/rehab unit? so, you have decided to get your np (with no rn experience) with hopes/plans to work in that unit?

You are still going to need experience to work in that unit. The MSN will not make any difference. They want hosptial experiece, pure and simple.

And this goes for any that are in NP program,s if there is no hopsital experience as an RN before, it is going to be much more difficult to find a hospital based position later on, at a facility that youreally want to work at.

Clincal hours for the NP are nothing like the clinical hours for the CRNA. Most CRNA programs that are front laoded, have 60 hours per week, for their clinicals of 19 months. There is no other NP program that has that.

i'm a little confused right now, krisssy. are you saying noone will hire you because you have no experience as as rn and cannot get a position in the psychiatric/detox/rehab unit? so, you have decided to get your np (with no rn experience) with hopes/plans to work in that unit?

yes that is what i am attempting to do. i have two years of experience as a school nurse teacher, 25 years experience as a classroom teacher, and 6 weeks experience in a refresher course with clinicals in an acute care medical setting with two days on psych. i was offered a job in ortho-nights. that is the only thing they thought i could handle. i didn't take it, and i decided to try an online course for a mhpnp. the course just started, and i am having so much difficulty, because my computer skills are so below what is expected. i did very well in the refresher course. if that had gone on for two years, i would have been in fine shape. lol but this is ridiculous. i haven't even been able to start learning about nursing theory, because i can't do anything on the computer that the course expects. so now i don't know what to do. i was thinking that maybe i should drop this course, and maybe try volunteering, then possibley moving on to a psych tech and then maybe a nurse if the hospital has a good orientation or reentry program. i could use any advice from experienced nurses and nurses in administration or education that i can get. i have no nurse friends-just this site. so please say whatever you think. i need your advice. i am a little down right now that i have paid for this course, gone through all the trouble of getting accepted, and now can't do the computer part of the course. now you are telling me that this wouldn't help me get a job anyway? i am about to cry. don't get me wrong. i am not blaming you. i was the one who decided to give up my nursing career for teaching when i always wanted to be a nurse! krisssy rn ma ?

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
yes that is what i am attempting to do. i have two years of experience as a school nurse teacher, 25 years experience as a classroom teacher, and 6 weeks experience in a refresher course with clinicals in an acute care medical setting with two days on psych. i was offered a job in ortho-nights. that is the only thing they thought i could handle. i didn't take it, and i decided to try an online course for a mhpnp. the course just started, and i am having so much difficulty, because my computer skills are so below what is expected. i did very well in the refresher course. if that had gone on for two years, i would have been in fine shape. lol but this is ridiculous. i haven't even been able to start learning about nursing theory, because i can't do anything on the computer that the course expects. so now i don't know what to do. i was thinking that maybe i should drop this course, and maybe try volunteering, then possibley moving on to a psych tech and then maybe a nurse if the hospital has a good orientation or reentry program. i could use any advice from experienced nurses and nurses in administration or education that i can get. i have no nurse friends-just this site. so please say whatever you think. i need your advice. i am a little down right now that i have paid for this course, gone through all the trouble of getting accepted, and now can't do the computer part of the course. now you are telling me that this wouldn't help me get a job anyway? i am about to cry. don't get me wrong. i am not blaming you. i was the one who decided to give up my nursing career for teaching when i always wanted to be a nurse! krisssy rn ma ?

hello, krisssy,:balloons:

i feel your frustration throughout this post and from cyberspace.

you have been out of nursing school for many many years and i think you are feeling this lack of rn experience.

why not take a position in a unit even if it is not psych related and gather some rn experience? this would greatly help you to brush up on your rn experience. now, you will see many on here who think rn experience is not necessary for np school. i am one who disagrees with this.

you are feeling, i think, a little overwhelmed about the entire np program, not just the lack of adequate computer skills.......yes?

have you considered working as an rn for a little while just to gain experience in physical assessments, medication administration including the myriad of drugs available, gaining an astute insight into critical thinking, brushing up on the patient plan of care, sharpening your diagnostic skills.

i would not volunteer for this will never get you the experience you need and would not be something that would carry weight on your resume under experience.

most institutions/entities/hospitals will want the np after graduation to have a concrete background as an rn. but, they all do not require this. you could get lucky and unpon completion of your np program find a job like you want right off the bat. but, why take the chance?

these ideas are just my opinion. i cannot even advise you to shelve your np program for now. only you know in your heart what you really need to do.

i do wish you much luck in whatever you choose. you are a determined individual and i admire that. :icon_hug:

hello, krisssy,:balloons:

i feel your frustration throughout this post and from cyberspace.

you have been out of nursing school for many many years and i think you are feeling this lack of rn experience.

why not take a position in a unit even if it is not psych related and gather some rn experience? this would greatly help you to brush up on your rn experience. now, you will see many on here who think rn experience is not necessary for np school. i am one who disagrees with this.

you are feeling, i think, a little overwhelmed about the entire np program, not just the lack of adequate computer skills.......yes?

have you considered working as an rn for a little while just to gain experience in physical assessments, medication administration including the myriad of drugs available, gaining an astute insight into critical thinking, brushing up on the patient plan of care, sharpening your diagnostic skills.

i would not volunteer for this will never get you the experience you need and would not be something that would carry weight on your resume under experience.

most institutions/entities/hospitals will want the np after graduation to have a concrete background as an rn. but, they all do not require this. you could get lucky and unpon completion of your np program find a job like you want right off the bat. but, why take the chance?

these ideas are must my opinion. i cannot even advise you to shelve your np program for now. only you know in your heart what you really need to do.

i do wish you much luck in whatever you choose. you are a determined individual and i admire that. :icon_hug:

hi siri,

yes i am frustrated. i haven't even gotten to the nursing part of the course yet. i am sure i could handle that. first i got a quiz on apa format which i have never used. it is open book, and i am still totally confused. then we got an assignment to do a computer library search on a subject i never heard of and then rewrite the journal article in apa format which i can't figure out quickly enough. the apa book is over 400 pages long. then we have to send the quiz and the article apa style as an email attachment to the professor which i can't figure out how to do. meanwhile the groups start next week, and i am still trying to figure out apa format. i emailed and phoned the teacher, and i received no answer. i emailed the person i was talking to when i was applying. she always answered me immediately. now she has not answered. i am sure i could figure this out eventually, but i just can't do it this fast. do you think i should just quit or forget the last two assignments, and try to work with the group i am assigned to?

as far as nursing in a hospital, i just don't feel like i am ready. i would need to find a reentry program that is structured and long enough. i need a really good mentor. i would never work unless i felt competent. i am a perfectionist, and i don't think it would be fair to patients to have an incompetent nurse.

yes, i am a very determined person, but i am getting frustrated as you picked up. maybe it is just too late for me! thanks krisssy

Hi Siri,

Yes I am frustrated. I haven't even gotten to the nursing part of the course yet. I am sure I could handle that. First I got a quiz on APA Format which I have never used. It is open book, and I am still totally confused. Then we got an assignment to do a computer library search on a subject I never heard of and then rewrite the journal article in APA format which I can't figure out quickly enough. The APA book is over 400 pages long. Then we have to send the quiz and the article APA style as an email attachment to the professor which I can't figure out how to do. Meanwhile the groups start next week, and I am still trying to figure out APA format. I emailed and phoned the teacher, and I received no answer. I emailed the person I was talking to when I was applying. She always answered me immediately. Now she has not answered. I am sure I could figure this out eventually, but I just can't do it this fast. Do you think I should just quit or forget the last two assignments, and try to work with the group I am assigned to?

As far as nursing in a hospital, I just don't feel like I am ready. I would need to find a reentry program that is structured and long enough. I need a really good mentor. I would never work unless I felt competent. I am a perfectionist, and I don't think it would be fair to patients to have an incompetent nurse.

Yes, I am a very determined person, but I am getting frustrated as you picked up. Maybe it is just too late for me! Thanks Krisssy

Hi Krissy,

I've seen many of your posts and I don't think its too late for you! I think that you should be very persistent in trying to contact the course head or someone at the nursing school that can give you pointers on the computer skills. Maybe you could consider taking a community computer skills course. In my area, these are offered for adults at local libraries and schools. Do you have any "computer people" in your family that could help you with the basics?

APA style is difficult to get used to, but it will come eventually. I can't imagine trying to learn this over the computer though. That's why I'm a bit wary of some online programs. I think it is fine to take courses online, but there should always be an actual place or person that you can go to for help.

I do think you need to jump in and get some RN experience, even if it's not in psych. Noone is entirely competent when they first start nursing. It's expected that you don't know everything. What is important is safety and as long as you are able protect the safety of your patients and yourself, you will learn the skills. I am going to graduate soon and I would not describe myself as fully competent. However, this would never stop me from getting a job as an RN so that I can become competent.

Hi Krissy,

I've seen many of your posts and I don't think its too late for you! I think that you should be very persistent in trying to contact the course head or someone at the nursing school that can give you pointers on the computer skills. Maybe you could consider taking a community computer skills course. In my area, these are offered for adults at local libraries and schools. Do you have any "computer people" in your family that could help you with the basics?

APA style is difficult to get used to, but it will come eventually. I can't imagine trying to learn this over the computer though. That's why I'm a bit wary of some online programs. I think it is fine to take courses online, but there should always be an actual place or person that you can go to for help.

I do think you need to jump in and get some RN experience, even if it's not in psych. Noone is entirely competent when they first start nursing. It's expected that you don't know everything. What is important is safety and as long as you are able protect the safety of your patients and yourself, you will learn the skills. I am going to graduate soon and I would not describe myself as fully competent. However, this would never stop me from getting a job as an RN so that I can become competent.

Hi Katy,

You have always been so supportive -thank you.

Regarding the computer, my son is good at it, but he doesn't live with me. I could take a computer course on Webct, but I would have to drop this course first. I simply cannot keep up. I did write a letter to my instructor telling her, in detail, what is happening here. She ignored my first email and my phone call, so this time I sent a copy to my advisor and then forwarded the whole thing to the Coordinator of Student Affairs at the School of Nursing. She was so helpful when I was applying, but I emailed her yesterday, and she did not answer. Someone from this board goes to this school and warned me that this teacher does not put much effort into the course or helping the students and that complaints were made last semester about this teacher and this course. Maybe it was the wrong professor to start with. In a regular nursing program, how do you learn APA Format? Is there a class or do you just learn by doing? She just gives this precourse quiz and expects us to know this from undergraduate school I guess. But there was no such thing as APA format when I got my BSN and my MA.

As far as getting a job, I should have worked in a hospital in 1969 when I got my BSN. It is so many years ago that I graduated that I can't be considered the same as a new graduate. I really need a good reentry program, but I don't know of any in my area. We will be moving to Fla. for half the year, so maybe I can find one there.

Anyway, I wrote a long letter to the school asking for advice. The question that we started with still remains. Can I learn enough from this course to work as a nurse? Would I have been better off with an in school master's program or just go back to searching for a hospital reentry program? I have posted all this so many times that I am getting bored with my own problems. Maybe I should just forget the whole thing! Signed- a frustrated old RN with no experience!

PS I read that there are lots of nurses my age and older going to nursing school for the first time. But I have not read about anyone graduating in 1969, working in a school for two years and going back to it now. Even the other nurses in my refresher class had some hospital experience. That's why I am finally thinking of just forgetting the whole thing and letting a dream remain a dream!

I could take a computer course on Webct, but I would have to drop this course first. I simply cannot keep up.

Hire a teenager...they know everything about the web. They can get your computer skills up to par.

Put the APA book down and go here http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html for examples on how to use the APA format. You'll also learn computer skills at the same time!

That's why I am finally thinking of just forgetting the whole thing and letting a dream remain a dream!

Your world is as you dream it.

Hire a teenager...they know everything about the web. They can get your computer skills up to par.

Put the APA book down and go here http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html for examples on how to use the APA format. You'll also learn computer skills at the same time!

Your world is as you dream it.

What do you mean? Krisssy

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
What do you mean? Krisssy

I think he means young people normally know how to utilize a computer better than us oldies-but-goodies and whatever you dream, so shall you be.

I think he means young people normally know how to utilize a computer better than us oldies-but-goodies and whatever you dream, so shall you be.

Couldn't said it better myself:coollook:

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