NP without nursing major?

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hello all,

I'm really wondering about something that someone can enter an NP program without a nursing major and experience. I'm not sure about this..is this true ?

If it is true when I get a job can i still work as an NP? or do I work as a RN ?

I think because of no working experience it can be hard to get a job as an NP and I don't mind working as a Rn at first time.

:yeah:

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

Gee I don't know. I would think you couldn't get into an NP program unless you are an RN... a NP is an advance practice registered nurse. I wouldn't think you could do any clinicals or patient cares unless you had your license.

I know the NP programs around me require that you have worked as an RN for at least a year.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

There are many Masters Entry programs of varying length that train non-nurses with degrees in subjects other than nursing to be NP's. Upon gaining the appropriate degree and license they may practice as NP's as their state law permits, along with every other NP.

FYI - this topic has been widely discussed on in the student forums. If you are a non-nurse interested in a direct entry NP program you may find it useful to search the forums.

Be advised that many posters have very strong opinions on the subject of direct entry np/cns/aprn programs. Decide what you want to do then do it. Forget the rest.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

I think because of no working experience it can be hard to get a job as an NP

This is also controversial. It strikes me that the ability to get an NP job is directly related to the supply of NPs in your area and the demand for NPs in your area. If demand is greater than supply then it should not be a prob. If supply is greater than demand, you may well have a prob.

But if you wish to gain experience as a nurse in a non-NP job, this is (as they say) a free country and you are most welcome to apply for any job you wish to.

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There are many Masters Entry programs of varying length that train non-nurses with degrees in subjects other than nursing to be NP's. Upon gaining the appropriate degree and license they may practice as NP's as their state law permits, along with every other NP.

FYI - this topic has been widely discussed on in the student forums. If you are a non-nurse interested in a direct entry NP program you may find it useful to search the forums.

Be advised that many posters have very strong opinions on the subject of direct entry np/cns/aprn programs. Decide what you want to do then do it. Forget the rest.

This is insane. How is it that we nurses have allowed the schools to take in just anyone who wants to be an Advanced Practice NURSE??? We let them crank out far more NP's than are needed. We need to take a lesson from the doctors, who allow only a very small number of new grads each year to enter their profession. That's how guilds and trades of every kind have done it - limited entry. Electricians, carpenters, plumbers, doctors, lawyers - these are competitive entry fields. That's why their pay and power are greater than that of nurses.

I think it is totally wrong to let people who have only a year or 2 of Nursing experience or who are not even nurses at all become ANP's.

Which schools do this?:madface:

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Specializes in ICU, Pedi, Education.

My brother was going to do a program like this at OSU and it worked like this:

  1. The first step is an accelerated RN program with the classes like Assessment and Patho being 5 hour courses so they are only taken once.
  2. After the NCLEX is passed, you go and work as a RN while completing graduate courses like Theory and Research
  3. After working at least one year as RN, you start your NP clinicals

I do no know of any state that would endorse a NP without a RN license.

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To be a practicing ANP, you must first be a licensed RN.

Everywhere.

Period.

You can go for a direct-entry program (as I am) but you will be taking all of the classes a BSN takes AND doing all of the clinical hours--in one year. After that first year you take the NCLEX (and pass it or you don't go on). Then the second and third years, you work as an RN and complete the masters training. I'm not shooting for the ANP but it's my understanding that ANP training is at least another year on top of all that.

The field of nursing and nursing education is evolving. It has to. But clinical experience is still key.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
This is insane.

I think it is totally wrong to let people who have only a year or 2 of Nursing experience or who are not even nurses at all become ANP's.

Which schools do this?:madface:

As I noted in my earlier post, some folks have very strong opinions on this subject.

Many top nursing schools offer a direct entry masters option. These include UCSF, U of Washington, Penn, Yale, Hopkins, Columbia, Georgetown, Mass General...

I will start at the UCSF masters entry program in nursing this June (I am not on an NP track - rather a clinical nurse specialist track in critical care). In the process of applying I extensively researched these programs. Most universities state that they have the programs to bring a different set of people into the nursing profession. It is noteworthy that the programs tend to be rather small (UCSF = 80ish students per year), so I hardly think this qualifies as "cranking out" NPs.

I strongly disagree with the notion that nurses should work to limit the number of training slots available as a means of protecting their income. Nurses advocate for patients - limiting access to care by limiting training can hardly be characterized as advocacy. A far better strategy would be to organize and insist on fair pay and on expanding access to care (this results in more jobs). Here in the SF bay area a new grad RN can expect a starting salary of about $90,000 per year. Granted, 90K does not go far in this neck of the woods, but IMO salaries are high here because nursing jobs are union jobs.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
To be a practicing ANP, you must first be a licensed RN.

Everywhere.

Period.

You can go for a direct-entry program (as I am) but you will be taking all of the classes a BSN takes AND doing all of the clinical hours--in one year. After that first year you take the NCLEX (and pass it or you don't go on). Then the second and third years, you work as an RN and complete the masters training. I'm not shooting for the ANP but it's my understanding that ANP training is at least another year on top of all that.

The field of nursing and nursing education is evolving. It has to. But clinical experience is still key.

All true. And well stated. Thank you stellasaurus.

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