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?

Hey CGFNP..............congrats on being in the top 1% of the NP pay scale, and for recognizing you didn't need to spend the better part of your life taking orders, but rather thinking for yourself. This is definitely an accomplishment, and I believe anyone who thinks otherwise is simply green with envy....not just about a good salary, but that you didn't buy into the "I've got to be a hospital slave and work my way up, for I am not good enough or smart enough yet." Again, PA's aren't handed this line of thinking, why do NP's need to follow it? Oh, and if you add in the clinical hours for undergrad work, NP's and PA's come up with about the same number of clinical hours.

Yes, congrats for being in the top 1% of the NP pay scale. Did anyone in your class congratulate the person who had the highest GPA?

Might this be considered a slap to the "slaves," I mean floor nurses? I was a floor nurse (again) on an acute med-surg unit up until a few months ago because I thought it would be good experience before getting into NP school. So far, I seem to have been correct.

Everyone takes orders...even those at the top.

You don't have to work your way up, but at least one year of experience will make you "better" and "smarter"..and give you better insight in the NP role. Even a physician who has worked as a CNA has gained some useful experience.

I thought I'd use a metaphor. Why would someone who only wants to learn how to ride a bike be forced to suffer working as a bike maker for a long time after they already know the basic idea ( ie know how the pedals go around, what to do if the chain falls off) before they can be accepted as a bike rider. NPs and RNs are not one thing that is better than another, they are DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS wouldn't it make more sense to get lots of experience as an NP to learn how to be a better NP then to get experience being an RN when you have no desire to use those skills in the future ( of course this would vary depending on the type of NP you want to be)..

does anyone follow me on that?

Yes, I follow you, but would one year of experience as a bike maker give you valuable insight over someone who was not a bike maker. You don't have to be a schizophrenic to treat them, but according to a schizophrenic doctor, she has greater insight into her patient's condition.

Think about what you learn as a floor nurse that would be useful as an NP...lot's right?

PA's aren't required to 'do time'; why should nurse practioners be required to do such?

Actually, this isn't true. According to the American Academy of PAs 2004 New Student Survey, only a third of newly-enrolled students had no prior direct pt care experience. More than half had over 3 years experience.

It is the trend, though. The 2000 New Student Survey showed that only 15% didn't have prior experience.

And for what it is worth, PAs with experience give prospective/new grad PAs who have no experience a hard time. You NPs who think that prospective NPs should work as nurses first play much nicer :)

Who says I take part in this health system? I don't have anything to do with it. See a patient, wait 6 months to find out you didn't check the right box so they won't pay you the $12 you had coming for talking to a geriatric patient about their multiple health problems and 20 medications for 45 minutes. No thanks...

How are you not a part of this health care system?

Look, the only mistake you made (which you've already fessed up to) was generalizing.

Did I say I was generalizing?

Doesn't really matter, as all I'm doing is making a living so I can comfortably figure out how to make real money. Aren't we all???

Nope, making money doesn't mean what it used to. But I can understand someone going for that goal.

who says i take part in this health system? i don't have anything to do with it. see a patient, wait 6 months to find out you didn't check the right box so they won't pay you the $12 you had coming for talking to a geriatric patient about their multiple health problems and 20 medications for 45 minutes. no thanks...

i know the salary ranges too. i also know that survey represents about 1/4 of the practicing nps who probably actually make up the lower end of the $$$ because they were dorky enough to take the time to fill that survey out in the first place. of course, one could argue the same about a stupid web forum... look, the only mistake you made (which you've already fessed up to) was generalizing. for the most part, you're exactly right. doesn't really matter, as all i'm doing is making a living so i can comfortably figure out how to make real money. aren't we all???

i have no quarrel with anyone who wants to earn a nice paycheck, but if money is your primary motivation, i think you will be seriously lacking whether you get a year of experience or not.

if you can so easily belittle and demean other nurses, how will you deal with that dorky rag-tag, semi-compliant, needy bunch of folks known as patients?

wealth plus condescension equals poverty.

I have no quarrel with anyone who wants to earn a nice paycheck, but if money is your primary motivation, I think you will be seriously lacking whether you get a year of experience or not.

If you can so easily belittle and demean other nurses, how will you deal with that dorky rag-tag, semi-compliant, needy bunch of folks known as patients?

Wealth plus condescension equals poverty.

Helping people isn't worth mentioning to me as I think if you're in this profession, it's a given. I have a hard time believing anyone that says they'd rather work in any role than spend time w/ their family and do what they like to do (golf, fish, boat, etc etc etc). If you have a hankering for helping people then you can use your skills to volunteer if money is no object. But since money is an object (for me and my family at least) I choose to make the most of it I possibly can doing what I think is good and helpful. I don't think it's greedy to want my daughter to do without like I did when I was growing up.

The dorky comment was just a joke... and if you noticed, I included myself in that dorky group as I am posting and responding to some faceless computer beings on a website.

How are you not a part of this health care system?

Did I say I was generalizing?

Nope, making money doesn't mean what it used to. But I can understand someone going for that goal.

I don't take insurance, medicare or medicaid. I think that qualifies as not a part of the system.

You didn't say your were generalizing, you just did it.

Money isn't everything, but it's what I get in return for working, so it only makes since to me to try to make the most I can.

Specializes in RN Psychiatry.
Yes, I follow you, but would one year of experience as a bike maker give you valuable insight over someone who was not a bike maker. You don't have to be a schizophrenic to treat them, but according to a schizophrenic doctor, she has greater insight into her patient's condition.

Think about what you learn as a floor nurse that would be useful as an NP...lot's right?

I think its really important to remember that a great percent of NPs and CNS's go into private practice and community health, or join practices and don't want to be doing some supervisory role in a hospital over bedside nurses, but if I did want to do that I would sure as hell want to make sure I worked as an RN for longer. But I don't , I plan to go into a community setting and/or private practice. I don't plan on standing around telling RNs with 20 years experience on the floor how to be a better bedside nurse when I have very little experience in that position. no way. Maybe that clears things up a bit. I guess what is important to ask when someone is saying they want to go right on to be an NP or CNS is if they plan to work on a floor helping to supervisise RNs if the answer is yes, I would recommend myself that they spend some time as RN's themselves, if the answer is no, well then its really not an issue, and I would tell them to do what makes them feel most comfortable.

Specializes in RN Psychiatry.
Actually, this isn't true. According to the American Academy of PAs 2004 New Student Survey, only a third of newly-enrolled students had no prior direct pt care experience. More than half had over 3 years experience.

It is the trend, though. The 2000 New Student Survey showed that only 15% didn't have prior experience.

And for what it is worth, PAs with experience give prospective/new grad PAs who have no experience a hard time. You NPs who think that prospective NPs should work as nurses first play much nicer :)

why shouldn't we play nicer, it certainly would help our proffession as a whole be more unified, would help our demands for respect be answered, would allow us to better pool our resources by relying on eachothers strengths where the other is weak, and would also help us negotiate better salaries. United we stand, that is the basis of this country.\ (or its supposed to be anyway ha!). I think nurses as a whole have to realize who we really should be battling (the healthcare system, goverment etc) instead of taking out our frustrations concerning underappreciation and economics on eachother, which ultimately doesn't help anyone.

-dz

What kind of outfit did you wear?:chuckle

red corset, black hotshorts, black kneehigh boots, and dripping in rhinestone jewelry

classy! :coollook:

lol

I am posting and responding to some faceless computer beings on a website.

LaughingHara.com

AikiTouch.us

Hello,

Could everyone summarize thier thoughts and comments for Pinoy? Pinoy will be able to take your information, digest, and to make a solid clear decision for himself and not for others. Pinoy, is in the confusion and undecided decision today. Pinoy, should gather all of his skills, knowledge, strengths and weakness, study skills, determination and movitation into consideration as well to make his clear solid decision for his career in the near future.

I will begin my conclusion as the following:

Pinoy, it is about you and not me to decide what is best for you and how you want to pursue your career. Pinoy, can place all of his eggs in one basket and repeatly apply to Physician Assistant's school each year as it come and goes. Or you can open your choices and perception to other possisbilities to reach your goal. Pinoy, applying to nursing schools for the accerated program at or any other places with the same philosophy as Drexel's program. Pinoy, only you can decide to apply and accept the challenge of an intense program. Pinoy, your abilities to make it through an intense program will be motivation, determination and committing yourself competely to the program. It will be a stepping stone to guide you to your choices of applying to physician and nurse practitoner school. After successfully, completeing school it may open the eyes others and change their decision about your application to their program of Physical Assistant's program. In addition, as you clear your mind from the all the confusion and doubtful, do something educational toward your goal. Find out if you can take classes and check to see if the credits will transfer into the college/university that selected you or yo selected to attend. Therefore, Pinoy, time is passing by each day and your goal is moving further away from you and it will be another unsuccesful goal in your life due to obstacles that you had created for yourself.

Good Luck and Best of Wishes to you. No offense or disrecpt to you and you have to go after whatever you want in life regarless it may seem far away with our skills, knowledge and determination to the fulles.

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