Should I work as a CNA prior to Direct Entry NP Program?

RegularNurse · Mar 30, 2017

Have you thought of working as an RN?

YoutubeTheNP · Mar 30, 2017

I always tell people you have to be a nurse before you can be a nurse practitioner. It's scary to me that a NP program is taking people off the streets with no RN experience. NPs make very complex decisions that affect the lives of people, are you ready for that? I don't know what a certified nursing assistant will accomplish for you, other than getting experience in taking vital signs and changing diapers. You really need to experience healthcare from the RN perspective to get your feet wet. Just my 0.02

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 31, 2017

I agree with Youtube,...how can you be a master at something you have never done? "We" as a nursing community need to do a better job of self regulation, stringency and consistency in our education requirements.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Apr 2, 2017

I agree with the previous posters. These direct entry programs are really killing our profession. People can't come from nothing and be a master of something without experience. As a NP, I do have to make complex choices that are very difficult, and I rely on much of my RN experience to guide my advanced knowledge to treat patients. I wouldn't ever conceive trying to make complex medical choices without a solid foundation of experience.

As for your question- I also agree that this wouldn't help you at all in your journey to becoming a provider. What CNAs do is very valuable in the healthcare setting, but this experience is vastly different from being a RN, let alone being a NP.

russianbear · Apr 2, 2017

I always tell people you have to be a nurse before you can be a nurse practitioner. It's scary to me that a NP program is taking people off the streets with no RN experience. NPs make very complex decisions that affect the lives of people, are you ready for that? I don't know what a certified nursing assistant will accomplish for you, other than getting experience in taking vital signs and changing diapers. You really need to experience healthcare from the RN perspective to get your feet wet. Just my 0.02

I honestly never knew such programs existed. No wonder we get a bad rap.

ForensicPMHNP, MSN, NP · Apr 3, 2017

RN's and NP's have very different scopes of practice and honestly the notion that one must be an RN before going for the Masters is over stated. There are direct entry programs for BSN as well, does one have to be a LPN first too? I believe that having experience with direct patient care in some capacity is going to be helpful but this notion that one must be an RN first is nothing but bitter rumblings.

YoutubeTheNP · Apr 3, 2017

RN's and NP's have very different scopes of practice and honestly the notion that one must be an RN before going for the Masters is over stated. There are direct entry programs for BSN as well, does one have to be a LPN first too? I believe that having experience with direct patient care in some capacity is going to be helpful but this notion that one must be an RN first is nothing but bitter rumblings.

I certainly beg to differ. The NP role differs with the RN, I agree with that. But to say it is nothing but bitter rumblings is nonsense. Are you an NP? What experience do you have to state such a thing?

As an NP, I utilize all the skills that I acquired from my RN experience (pharmacology, assessment, rapport, procedures, etc) I also make decisions based off of previous learned experiences as an RN that I otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to.

Have you ever read about Patricia Benner? She says you go from novice to expert. You don't go from direct entry NP school to expert by completing a 2 year program. My NP program as well as others assume you have knowledge and skills from working as an RN and use this assumption when they create their lectures. Honestly I don't know how a non medical person could even follow.

ForensicPMHNP, MSN, NP · Apr 3, 2017

Most of these direct entry programs prepare you for the NCLEX and also include several hours of clinical work in a RN capacity. If a person passes the NCLEX, aces his/her classes and does well in clinicals you would deny them the right to practice because they did not work for years as RN first? Having experience as an RN would be very beneficial as far getting a person used to the medical field but that same line of thinking could be applied to any advanced medical degree, does not mean it is sacrosanct. Plus I personally know several NP's that went through direct entry programs and honestly they turned out just fine one of them went on to have a very successful practice to boot. You make it sound like these DE programs are easy salsa dancing classes.

YoutubeTheNP · Apr 3, 2017

I would hope the curriculum is extremely difficult. But could you imagine a doctor getting thrown into practice with no residency? I feel this is quite the equivalent. No bueno. Again, just my opinion. To each his own.

ForensicPMHNP, MSN, NP · Apr 3, 2017

I get your point too but isn't that a bit of a false equivalency? Medical residencies are specifically designed for the MD scope of practice. RN's and NP's work in the medical field but in very different roles, a great RN isn't necessarily guaranteed to be a great NP as the work of an NP requires certain skills that aren't as important in the RN world (the same applies if the roles were reversed). I think that work as RN would be very good for anyone wanting to prepare for a life in the medical professional world (even prospective med school students and PA students to be honest) but I don't think it is the end all be all of the process of becoming a good NP. However I do see where you are coming from.

YoutubeTheNP · Apr 3, 2017

There are a lot of NP jobs that I know of where the NP replaces the physician, so the two roles aren't that much different. I guess those jobs are geared more to the NP with experience but NPs certainly work with plenty of autonomy and independent in almost half the nation.