PharmD student - pursue FNP afterwards?

[BSNtoPharmD]

First let me provide some background info:

I graduated with my BSN in May and now I am pursuing a PharmD degree at an accelerated 3-year school (a PharmD is the educational standard to be a pharmacist).

I'm already thinking about further education after 2012, there are certainly many options: One of which is to pursue an FNP degree - which would be prudent to get done ASAP before that entry level DNP requirement kicks in. Now here's the pie in the sky: If I am licensed as both a nurse practitioner AND pharmacist, could chain pharmacies with those walk-in clinics (eg. "Minute Clinic") employ me simultaneously in both the clinic and the pharmacy? This sounds like an ingenious idea for them, but I've never heard of it. Heck, I'd be willing to run the pharmacy and the clinic at the same time!

Your thoughts?

[tentay87]

I am almost 100% sure that all NP programs require 1 yr of experience, 2 yr+ preferred. I can't think of why someone would invest in an NP program without testing if they liked nursing first. With me, I'm a first-year nursing student and I'm planning on working 2-3 years as a nurse after graduation and if I like it, I'll apply to get a masters. If I don't, I'll either look into PharmD or law. I know several people who do this ( leave nursing for another profession after

Anyways, kudos on doing a BSN and PharmD consecutively i am soooo ready to get out of school.

[mfrancisco]

I am from the Bay Area, and there are schools out here that offer FNP programs with no experience.

[sethmctenn]

I'm an education junkie too...just do one thing at a time and give yourself permission to change your mind at any point. You would probably be an incredible nurse practitioner with the added knowledge of a pharmacist! Blessings to you on your journey, wherever it leads you!

[questionsforall]

The FNP programs I've looked at do not require clinical experience as an RN. If that's such an important requirement, why doesn't it become a standardized pre-requisite requirement for accreditation? (As is the case with CRNA programs). Furthermore, consider the fact that physician assistant programs don't require nursing experience, heck they don't even have standardized healthcare experience requirement. Since I'm taking 203 credits over three years, year-round, you can imagine I have my reasons for not having RN experience.

These credentials could be something very, very different - a rare combination to say the least. I'm in my fourth month at pharmacy school and I can't even begin to tell you how much my BSN has helped me! I firmly believe that FNP + PharmD are credentials that could have remarkable synergy. Not to mention I'd serve as the peacekeeper each time a nurse calls down to pharmacy complaining their Maalox hasn't been sent up yet, while the pharmacist is at the laminar hood preparing a chemo drip.

In reply to this comment, there are FNP programs that do not require experience. However, try finding a job as an FNP after you finish your degree without any experience as a nurse. It will be very difficult and I have known people to try and the FNP with nursing experience will always win out. I know people who graduated with an FNP program (straight from their BSN) who have not been able to get a job as an FNP until they have worked as an RN for a couple of years. I don't blaim people for not wanting to hire an FNP without any nursing experience.

There are far more FNP's out their with experience that would be better fit for FNP job than you. Nursing is beyond what you learn in school. Of course we don't expect you to work while you are achieving all those credits, but maybe it is a good idea for you to gain experience in between degrees so you have a chance to see that actually working in those areas is not as easy as you may think.

Second, a PA is not a nurse and is a separate program. They are trained differently and can not be compared in that regard. However, I will tell you that a nurse practitioner has more autonomy than a PA.

Of course your BSN program has helped you with your Pharm D education because what you learn is related. My degree in neuroscience helped me with my BSN because they are related. However, each role has it's own focus. How will you mediate between two roles that you know nothing about? Don't you think that is what the heads of each department are for?

I can tell you what a synergy between a FNP and a PharmD......MD. Why not just go to medical school and be done with it. Or, you can just work as a PharmD in an ICU and act as an advisor.

[lost_ielts]

hi all,,,,

which is better at the field of sales in general ,to get a Pharma D degree or MBA for a nurse and how easy to get an acceptance to do so ?am coming to canada soon and want to find a good program as in my country nurses are paied like 350 dollar for a snior incharge:) lovely right