Nurse Practitioner-Questions

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Hi there -

I am considering applying to nursing school. Long term, I am looking into becoming an nurse practitioner. I was wondering if it matters whether I get my BSN to start with or if I start with an AS and then work towards a BSN once I've started working as a nurse? Does it make a difference when applying to np programs?

As well, I had been looking into both NP and PA and from my research have found that NP sounds as though it would be a better fit for me. Any advice on what I can do starting out to help my chances of being accepted into an NP program? I know that PA programs are highly competitive, how do NP programs compare?

Thanks for you help!

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi denstar,

Welcome to allnurses!! In answer to your question about which route to go, I think it all depends on you and what you can handle and which would be a better fit. I too plan on working towards becoming an NP when I get done with the ADN program. I don't know that I would have gone straight into going for a MSN, simply because my grades in HS weren't that good and I had not been to college previously. I needed to go the community college route first to get some sort of GPA going. Also, I plan on going for an extern position at my local hospital when I am done with my first semester of the ADN program so I can work. The added bonus is that the MSN program is all online (which I love!) so I don't have to spend all my time in a classroom!!!

As far as competitiveness to get in to the NP program, it all depends on where you are. Here in East Texas, there is one local university that offers an MSN program and from what I hear, it is pretty competitive. They have 2 other campuses around here (within about 40 miles) that I hear are a little easier to get in to, but the local campus is the most competitive (where I would have to go!)

The best advice that I can give you is to get very good grades on your pre reqs. Don't overburden yourself trying to get through them to hurry into the program. I have very good grades, but I don't carry a 4.0, and it may come back to bite me in the booty trying to get into the MSN program!!

Good luck in whatever you do~

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Hey guys, I want to become a nurse practitioner, and I also had a hard time deciding which track to go. I won't tell you which track I chose, because I think it has to be a personal choice, but I can point you in the right direction. This site explains all the tracks and their benefits and tradeoffs: http://www.nursingprograms.com/RN-to-BSN. (That's just one of the articles, but there are more in the side menu that you should check out too).

Good luck!!!

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i don't really think it matters. i'm currently doing an ADN. one of the universities here is now offering an RN to MSN degree here, but one of the pre-reqs is that you have at least 2 years of working in a clinical setting. i think that's a great track for me because first of all i want work experience and second of all i can save money for grad school. :)

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i don't really think it matters. i'm currently doing an ADN. one of the universities here is now offering an RN to MSN degree here, but one of the pre-reqs is that you have at least 2 years of working in a clinical setting. i think that's a great track for me because first of all i want work experience and second of all i can save money for grad school. :)

I am pretty sure that you need a bachelors degree to get into a masters program.

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Specializes in LTC.

If you haven't already, check out the Advanced Practice Nursing section. It seems like 80-90% of the posts in the Nurse Practitioner area are about NP vs PA. There is a ton of great info there.

I also want to be a NP. I am getting my associates degree first because the RN-BSN program at the university is online except for clinicals. I can get the required 2 years of full time RN experience while I am completing my degree. Then I will be able to apply for Graduate program.

You should send for info from the Grad school you want to go to. I sent for info at several different schools just so I could compare requirements.

Good luck. I hope I was able to help you out a little bit.

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