RN wanting to to be a FNP

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2011

I am about to graduate nursing school in like a week and in the end want to be a FNP. I'm only 25 and people are telling to wait and work for 3 years, preferably in the ICU. And then go to NP school. Is that helpful for me in the long run? I don't wanna stop because I'm in the "school mode" right now. I don't have any kids and I'm not married. Also the state or whoever is changing the degree to a doctorate degree to be a FNP by 2015 I hear. If I go now, I can make that deadline and hopefully be grandfathered in. Also what books or other things can I read to get a head start on the type of studying / work I will be doing? I loved NCLEX comprehensive review books and such, but what does a NP use? I'm the type that will study like I'm in the class a semester before it even starts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

There is no requirement to have an MSN by 2015 if you wish to be an NP without the DNP. People have speculated and discussed such as requirement, but nothing is mandatory as of yet.

Also, you say that people are recommending ICU to you for RN experience. However, have you considered what sort of pt population you wish to work with as an RN? While ICU experience is very valuable in and of itself, unless you are going to be an acute care nurse practitioner, many of the ICU specific material will probably not apply to your NP role.

curtRN · Jul 20, 2011

Which setting would you suggest? I like the Family NP role because you can care for patients across different ages.

missvictoriat · Jul 21, 2011

I agree with ChristineN, in that if you want to be an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or an Adult Nurse Practitioner, then working in the ICU or ER would be valuable.

If you want to be a FNP, then any hospital experience would be worthwhile. Some programs REQUIRED 1-2 years experience as a RN first. However, there are some Direct Entry programs that require no RN experience to begin a NP program.

But I feel like experience only HELPS your application to grad school, your confidence in deciding if you truly want to become a NP, AND most importantly what TYPE of NP you want to become. There are several types of NPs. So do your research, decide if you want to work in mostly hospitals or ERs or urgent care settings or clinics, do you want to work with pediatrics, women, adults or family?

Its never bad or at a disadvantage to have experience under your belt. I graduated in 2009 and also have no kids or responsibilities. So I understand about wanting to get back into school and keep going. I have 2 years experience in Medical/Telemetry/Oncology and I am beginining a FNP program this fall. I don't regret waiting for 2 years and getting little experience as a nurse first though. And I feel like I have a solid amount of knowledge and experience, but I'm also not TOO FAR out of school to be uncomfortable going back.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2011

If you want to be a FNP, then any hospital experience would be worthwhile. Some programs REQUIRED 1-2 years experience as a RN first. However, there are some Direct Entry programs that require no RN experience to begin a NP program.

FNP's can also work with children, too, I believe.

I went to my PCM the other day who happens to be an FNP. We were just talking and she asked what I do, and I told her. She asked what I wanted to be when I grow all the way up lol; "For example, I went on to become an FNP." I told her I was seriously considering the NP route, whether it is FNP or ACNP, but I told her I want to wait at least a year or two and get experience with my BSN first, and she told me she highly recommends doing that. So many people graduate with their BSN and then right back to school to get their NP, but people don't realize that becoming an NP requires a lot of the baseline knowledge you obtain from working a year or two as a nurse, and you just don't have that right when you graduate. She also emphasized that people don't hold your hand as an NP when you go through and even when you're done, that's it; unlike med school with interns. Again, going back to that baseline knowledge thing. I personally would wait a year or two before going through an NP program.

curtRN · Jul 21, 2011

Thank all of you so much! I needed the input! I'm going to get more experience and do the research. Hopefully they don't change the rules by then.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2011

I was told as long as you're in an NP program before 2015, you'll just be grandfathered in because of the changing requirements.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I was told as long as you're in an NP program before 2015, you'll just be grandfathered in because of the changing requirements.

See my post above. There are no set in stone changing requirements. As 2015 is only a few years away, I find it doubtful they will pass something.

FNPdude74 · Jul 25, 2011

Also, you say that people are recommending ICU to you for RN experience. However, have you considered what sort of pt population you wish to work with as an RN? While ICU experience is very valuable in and of itself, unless you are going to be an acute care nurse practitioner, many of the ICU specific material will probably not apply to your NP role.

I disagree. Having any type of RN experience such as ICU experience is good even for the FNP route. Getting experience in the ICU will allow you to develop critical care skills that you may use later on as an FNP and you're more likely to see cardiac rhythms there than in other departments other than the obvious (telemetry, ER, etc). When you develop those skills as a ICU RN, youll know how to react in certain situations that may require immediate attention. It would also allow you be familiar and be able to explain to a patient if they want to know, with what happens in an ICU because a noncompliant patient took beta blockers for years and stopped cold turkey.

FNPdude74 · Jul 25, 2011

FNP's can also work with children, too, I believe.
I went to my PCM the other day who happens to be an FNP. We were just talking and she asked what I do, and I told her. She asked what I wanted to be when I grow all the way up lol; "For example, I went on to become an FNP." I told her I was seriously considering the NP route, whether it is FNP or ACNP, but I told her I want to wait at least a year or two and get experience with my BSN first, and she told me she highly recommends doing that. So many people graduate with their BSN and then right back to school to get their NP, but people don't realize that becoming an NP requires a lot of the baseline knowledge you obtain from working a year or two as a nurse, and you just don't have that right when you graduate. She also emphasized that people don't hold your hand as an NP when you go through and even when you're done, that's it; unlike med school with interns. Again, going back to that baseline knowledge thing. I personally would wait a year or two before going through an NP program.

I just finished the FNP program this summer and we do see kids. if you can work and go to FNP school at the same time, that would be ok if you handle that as some of my classmates did. As for the baseline knowledge as an RN, we did have a few who went straight from BSN, RN, to msn, FNP and although they were criticized for not having experience in the past by their classmates, they did their own studying and were academically successful. For skills, they did extra hours at clinical sites and always asked the RNs for help in refreshing their RN skills. At home, they would read up on stuff in MD consult, medscape, listen to podcasts in iTunes, read prescribers letter, read all the required readings for class. Pretty much had no life. Their medical knowledge base shot up! :eek: I'm not saying RNs don't have the knowledge, it's the scope of practice that is vastly different from a FNP. For example, RNs in the ER don't assess dizziness (after other critical diagnosis are ruled out by a provider) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with a Dix-hallpike maneuver because it's usually not their responsibility to do that and make diagnostic decisions. So while having RN experience for at least 1 year is recommended, it's usually not required for many institutions. I'd say do whatever you want and feel is right for you. If you decide to go to FNP school without RN experience, let your preceptors know and they'll help you.

Another thing I want to mention is, how many RNs who have been working in all areas of acute care for many years like over 10-20 years told me about struggles of role transition? Many. Those who worked for at least 1 year made the role transition easier. This is obvious as newer RNs were in their previous roles for a shorter amount of time. Nonetheless, don't worry about if your classmate has more experience than you do because you're all in the program together and your goal is to graduate and not make fuss of "you don't have the knowledge like I do as a seasoned nurse", which I have unfortunately heard some of the seasoned RNs in my class tell the fresh new BSN students in the msn FNP program. I can't tolerate that.

So I'm just saying that it's what you make out of your education. FNPs also work in ERs and trauma centers as appropriately trained within scope of practice.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I disagree. Having any type of RN experience such as ICU experience is good even for the FNP route. Getting experience in the ICU will allow you to develop critical care skills that you may use later on as an FNP and you're more likely to see cardiac rhythms there than in other departments other than the obvious (telemetry, ER, etc). When you develop those skills as a ICU RN, youll know how to react in certain situations that may require immediate attention. It would also allow you be familiar and be able to explain to a patient if they want to know, with what happens in an ICU because a noncompliant patient took beta blockers for years and stopped cold turkey.

Perhaps. But an ICU nurse will not be as familiar with preventative measures, routine surgeries, etc. The ICU nurse will be great at worst case senarios, sure, but if you are working in a family practice clinic hopefully you will never have a pt on a vent, etc.

I think the pt education, pre/post-op care, diabetes education, and more that I have experienced as a floor nurse will be invaluable to me as a FNP.

curtRN · Jul 26, 2011

Thank you soooo much! I love the info you've given me.