Schools push APRN immediately-$$

Your thoughts and experiences with direct entry practitioners?

APRNs who lack a few years of hands-on nursing experience don't know what they don't know; hence, some of the decisions they make and orders they write come across as wacky at best and dangerous at worst.

In addition, many of the deans of these entry-level programs are advising prospective students that actual nursing experience is unnecessary.

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

In my experience, the people making that claim are typically either graduates of direct entry programs or people running direct entry programs.

As a nurse with 2+ years experience on a medical-oncology unit preparing to begin NP studies this fall, I can't disagree enough with this claim. I have learned so much working in the field that will definitely apply to my role as an NP. Getting experience in the real world exposes you to things you'd otherwise only read about in a textbook, and of course we all know that not everything works exactly "by the book." I have learned so much about disease processes, medications, labs, and diagnostics in a real world context.

I can't agree with you more! The experience I received as a floor nurse has definitely helped make me a competent practitioner, especially at first when that was all I had to pull from!! I can't imagine not having the excellent psych background and have said it a million times but the things I learned in NP school were nothing compared to my years of hands on experience on the floor.

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Yup I'd like to see exactly who is saying that.

In addition, many of the deans of these entry-level programs are advising prospective students that actual nursing experience is unnecessary.

Yup this what they were saying today. I couldn't believe it. In fact I still can't believe they are so smug as to actually put that out there and that people are actually so naive to think they will be competent prescribers with no experience or residency.

Yup this what they were saying today. I couldn't believe it. In fact I still can't believe they are so smug as to actually put that out there and that people are actually so naive to think they will be competent prescribers with no experience or residency.

It's a travesty whenever I hear a prospective NP student saying, "The nursing department chair at my school says bedside nursing experience isn't necessary to be a nurse practitioner, so I'm going to agree with her!"

I totally concur.

It's a travesty whenever I hear a prospective NP student saying, "The nursing department chair at my school says bedside nursing experience isn't necessary to be a nurse practitioner, so I'm going to agree with her!"

I had a fellow classmate in my first NP program who had no psych experience and was a dolt. When I heard they were considering taking a very challenging job working independently upon graduation I actually asked if they thought they were ready for it and was told "well if I get hired then they are comfortable that I am ready and will do great".

Interesting because in my experience employers will ask and encourage you to do some really inappropriate things regardless of whether it endangers your license.

Sadly as it seems has become the case with grad school admissions employers are also known to be perfectly content to hire anyone who can fog up a mirror held under their nose.

It breaks my heart because I truly think there is great need and niche for NPs and APRNs of all types but as with the Clinical Nurse Leader CNL tract I believe there needs to be something other than a piece of paper indicating someone is a "master" at anything.