So what is your job like as an NP? Getting into NP school right away?

[hawaiianflowers21]

As an NP, are you able to have a M-F 9-5 job if you work at a clinic? What is your day typically like? Is it stressful? Do you get respect? Why did you become one? Do you think it was the right choice for you?

Also, I want to become a FNP right after I graduate with my BSN. I have two years of clinical experience as a nurse extern in an peds ICU at a large teaching hospital. I know that's what I want and when I want it, how can I increase my chances of getting into NP school right away? (I would be working while in NP school as well gaining experience as an RN) Thank you!

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I haven't taken a paying job yet, so I can't speak to that. Most of my NP friends are in primary care, and most work 4 days a week, regular office hours. My observation is that NPs are highly respected with rare exceptions but no one takes those people seriously, lol.

And I agree with Zenman, et al. I personally don't think new RNs should be going to NP school, and I would not be the patient of a new or relatively new NP that didn't have quite a few RN years under his/her belt. However, as it isn't up to me, I wish you the best of luck.

[Le-Lee_FNP, MSN, RN, NP]

i personally don't see the problem with going back right away AS LONG AS YOU DO WORK AS A RN WHILE YOU ARE IN SCHOOL. This has many advantages. First it allows you to stay in "school mode". you will be able to piggy back or enhance what you have just learned in undergrad instead of having to refresh like you would if you are out of school so long. plus taking tests like the GRE may be easier for you as well. Working as a RN while in school will allow you to "practice" what you are learning on your patients and be able to apply what you are learning. This most likely will require that you work part-time and attend school full time, or attend school part-time and work part or full time. If you go to school part-time that would be an even greater bonus because it will spread out your schooling, thus giving you more bedside experience once you graduate. Most full time NP programs are 2-2 1/2 years, so with going part-time you could probably finish in about 3-4 years.

Also the whole application process of getting into NP school may be easier if you do it right away because you still have close contact with your undergrad professors who can write recommendations for you and vouch for your academic ability, and you won't have to worry about taking pre-reqs over (some schools may require a retake of sciences if your transcripts are super old).

Overall I agree that RN experience is very valuable prior to becoming an NP, but just the process of going back to school may be easier if you go right away. So get the RN experience while you are in school and you are good to go. You certainly don't need 15 years of RN experience, but a few years will certainly help.

[FNPdude74]

Yes! RN experience is pretty much a must to gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills. But it'll set you back a few more years in NP school. Don't take 4 years, thats too long, 3 years is ideal. For me, I didn't have much experience as an RN since I was going full time in the FNP program. However, while I wasn't working, I read a heck of a lot in my textbooks, got my assignments done and nearly got straight A's (this makes me feel better), and ever since I got an iPad, I read medscape on my couch so much. I read articles, some guidelines, etc and try to apply it to in clinical. I must say, I had to do a lot of self-learning and this requires a lot of discipline to sit at your desk nearly 6-8 hours a day when you don't have clinical and study till near midnight. I did this for 2 years so far in the FNP program (mine is 2.5 years) and I know more textbook stuff on diseases, what diagnostic tests to order and when to order them, how to treat pts and when not to treat according to guidelines and individualization of patients than my peers who had many years of experience as an RN. At least i got trained in doing chest tube insertions, lumbar punctures, perioperative anesthesia, central line insertion/removal (scary to do), intubations, etc by direct supervising docs. This all of course, depends on your area of practice, scope, laws, and if the MD is willing to teach you that. I just got pulled to the side a lot and have been asked by physicians if I want to learn procedural skills.

HOWEVER, experienced RNs are ahead of the game in real life RN skills, triaging, prioritizing, knowing so many diseases/conditions and anticipating what the physician may order for the pt. After starting clinical with hardly any experience, I realized then how valuable RN experience is. I sort of struggled in the beginning of the program during my rotations. But now, I feel more confident in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment such as Kallman's syndrome (of course I'd refer), neurofibromatosis, wolf-parkinson white, suspecting the type of murmurs and how we can go about addressing it if needed, etc . Yes I'm doing a lot of pediatric rotations this semester. I sometimes wished I could work full time during NP school but the military gave me a scholarship and deadline to finish NP school so yeah...

[sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN]

ERNP, ditto.

I often wonder HOW the world continues to spin...

[Heidi the nurse, BSN, RN]

School for the most part lasts 2 years. I have been an RN for 20 years, and know for myself that I start feeling comfortable after 6 months on a new job, but not really like I know what I am doing for several more. I have been working as a school nurse (fairly analogous to an NP as far as the autonomy and having to "fly by the seat of you pants) for 6 years now and still have to ask the lead nurse in my district about some new thing once a month or so. I would have been totally lost if I had tried to do it as a new nurse.

Anyway, I also am considering going on and getting a FNP. I posted a similar question on another thread, but am wondering if working in a clinic or hospital is really something I want to do. I totally identify with NPinWCH's comment - I can't imagine I would be able to stay on schedule. I just like to talk to darn much :)