Should I pursue NP school?

ArkansasFan · May 13, 2009

I would concur that PA does seem to be filled with miscellaneous healthcare schools. If you want to learn about real medicine with (nursing theory thrown in the mix) and how to do it I'd say you have no choice but to become an NP. I'll probably get some irrate reply, but let's look at this realistically.

MtAloy10 · May 13, 2009

I'm not exactly sure what you mean....???

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · May 14, 2009

I am pursuing my BSN currently, and just reading some of the posts, I wonder if it is worth it to pursue becoming a FNP. It seems that new grads are having difficulty landing jobs, and after all the hard work and tuition, I do not want to be in that position. I am located in central PA (rural) if that helps...it seems to me that this area is becoming somewhat saturated with NP's... Also, what type and how much experience as an RN is considered "sufficient" to enter into FNP programs and pass boards/practice? I am currently considering a small ICU/tele unit...(Previous stats: RN Supervisor-LTC,140 beds; 6 months Med-Surg/Tele; 4 years as a CNA) versus home health...I am a male too, if that makes any difference (I am posting on my wife's account for now...)
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You'll have to check with prospective schools about their requirements as far as nursing experience. Some programs do not make a big deal about previous nursing experience and as you know, there are even direct-entry programs that accept non-nurses. For your own benefit, it's always best to have a well-rounded experience in the healthcare field as a Registered Nurse before being a nurse practitioner. I think it helps in getting a perspective of how the healthcare system works by being exposed to different acuities of patients and realizing the continuum of healthcare from seeing a patient who is managed at home to the extreme opposite end of a patient who is critically-ill. Realize too that as an FNP, you may not really be seeing hospitalized patients and will be working in primary care so that's an altogether different animal than caring for hospitalized patients. I have no idea how primary care docs select an ideal candidate for a primary care NP position in terms of previous RN experience. However, in the acute care setting, most NP employers do prefer candidates who have previous experience that matches the specialty setting they are hiring for or at least have enough well-rounded acute care experience to function in a high acuity setting. Just a suggestion though, have you looked into working in an ER or Urgent Care? I think that would be a better fit for a future FNP.