RN to NP

[EDrunnerRN]

As a new RN, with one year of experience in the ER, I am contemplatiing on the "right" time to return to school and pursue my education goal of Nurse Practitioner. With a little over a year under my belt in a busy ER, I feel I have learned a plethora amount of knowledge. However, I am still debating if I have experienced enough to change roles from a staff RN to NP. I understand that NP school takes 3 years so that will tack on a total of 4 years of RN staff experience. On the flip side, I am a firm believer that NP's are fabulous and the reason they are fabulous is because they are nurses first. Just wanting a little feed back on what my fellow nurses feel is efficient time to develop and become ready to transition from staff RN to NP. Thank you for any feed back..

[CharmedJ7]

I think you'll find no one will give you a magic formula because really, there is no "right" answer. I think in part it depends what kind of NP you want to be - undoubtably those wanting to work in-patient or other acute/critical settings would benefit more from more experience as an RN than those wanting to do primary care. At the same time, I do think the roles are very different, and aside from gaining a knowledge of drugs, basic conditions and presentations, and getting a feel for what a pt whose going downhill looks like (which all, of course, are important), there's not a lot to be gained from added experience (ie, diminishing returns I would suspect). I still kind of think what I've always thought: An RN with 10 years experience will likely make a better NP right off the bat than an RN with 1, but an NP with 1 year RN and 9 years NP will be an even better NP - you might "hit the ground running" more if you're very experienced, but in the end I suspect it ends up evening out.

If you want a number, in other countries they have a minimum of 2 years before applying to NP school, so I'd say at least 2.

I'm curious as to what all the responses are though.

[tablefor9, RN]

I think I insulted a few people with my response to a similar thread, but, hey, maybe you didn't read that thread. I like 5. Here's why. In the 5-10 year mark, you are rock solid in your assessment skills, confident, able to process copious amounts of info rapidly and well, have intimate knowledge of disease process presentation, pathophysiology, meds and interventions, and you can teach like a dream. Ideally.

That's what I want in my NP. Not someone still tied to their Iphone apps (not knocking, I love it, too) and who can't think outside the box like a champ.

[lvICU]

I am not an NP yet...still in school but I will offer up my two cents. In school, my 9 years of RN experience have been helpful. I have a solid foundation of assessment skills and disease presentation and critical thinking skills that have been helpful. That being said, the NP role is very different than the RN role so no matter how much experience you have, you will still have a lot of learning to do. If you are going to go to NP school part time and still work as an RN then I think you will be fine to go ahead and start looking at programs and getting the ball rolling.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I waited longer than I needed to but had a total of 14 years as a nurse when I graduated with the APN.

[Christen, ANP]

I think it really depends on the person. I started out in critical care as a new grad nurse, gained a lot of independance and experience in a few short years, and started NP school 4 years after I graduated with my BSN. I think most people know when they're ready to go back to school. When you get to the point where you are really itching to go back and expand your knowledge base, then it's time. If you're still struggling with time management, appropriate management of patients, and critical thinking, things of that nature, then it's probably not time yet. Like you mentioned, you'll be in school for a few years while you're working, which technically gives you more nursing experience. But, I found that I went to work at that point for the $$ not to learn - I was focused on the advanced practice stuff, not learning more about bedside. It's a very different knowledge level.

[lvICU]

One more thing to add. Depending on the school you apply to, you may have to get the admission process going at least a year prior to actually starting a program. For example, you may need to take GREs and write a statement of purpose, etc. I started looking at schools in June of 09, took GREs in September and sent my applications in by Dec. 1st of 2009. I got my acceptance letter in March 2010 and classes started this August. My point is, this is a process and it takes a while. Keep that in mind.

[Christen, ANP]

Yup, a good point to consider. My program was pretty easy to get into, not too competative. I applied and started school within about a month! NOT the norm, though! :)