Starting NP only 1 yr exp sense 2010

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 12, 2015

I graduated nursing school 2010 and worked for a year in critical care from 2012-2013. I haven't worked sense due to family issues. My husband recently got a high paying job and I am able to go back to school full time and I was planning on becoming a nurse practitioner, my question is when I finish how likely will it be that I find a job with only one year experience, also it will take me three years to finish and at that point I would be out of nursing for several years. I know there are clinicals involved in the program if that will help, I'd really like to do the program full time and quickly rather than working and doing it slower but I am worried about being out of the field that long and how it will effect my job outlook. Any advice would really be appreciated.

I'm putting on the flame retardant suit right now, because I know my opinion isn't popular. Informed, but not popular.

If you've only had one year of nursing experience and haven't worked for two years, how do you know you WANT to be an NP? How do you know, after only one year of experience, that the bedside isn't where your heart lies. It may not have been in 2013, but you haven't really given it a chance. It takes two years to become comfortable and competent in a position and you haven't given it the time. Now you have lots of money, so that's not really an object, but why waste all that TIME when there's really no way for you to know for sure what you want to do? You don't know what being an NP is really like, probably haven't worked with enough patient populations to know which one is your niche, and haven't really given bedside nursing a chance. My advice would be to go back to work at the bedside, give it two years during which you figure out what you like and don't like about the job, the patient population, the role . . . and then make a more informed decision about becoming an NP.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 12, 2015

There are many NPs who have gone straight out of BSN into their MSN programs. While having experience in assessing your patient is useful, and being "up to date" with medications certainly helps...a NP is in a different role than a "floor nurse". As a NP, you assess, diagnose, plan/treat, and evaluate your patient as opposed to following what someone else dictates. If you are really interested in becoming a NP but not sure, see about shadowing one or two for a few weeks. There are many NPs who specialize, and this is often due to their field of expertise and experience as a RN. I read in an article that NPs, and PAs for that matter, are falling into the same trap as MDs/DOs...not separating work from home. When you are a RN, you report off to the next nurse, worry about some things you may not have done, but overall, your job is done until the next day. As a NP, you worry about this patient or that patient, especially if they are ill or not responding as you would like. If you have hospital privileges, you are subject to additional patient care time. As a NP, you are constantly reading and evaluating literature for EBP and how it can change your patient's outcomes. Good luck!

TammyG · Feb 12, 2015

I don't think getting a job will be the issue. I think it is much easier for a new grad NP to find work in the same field that she worked in as an RN, but lots of NPs move into new areas.

If you really think you want to be an NP, and you are in the financial position to do so comfortably, go for it. Ruby Vee brings up a good issue which is, are you sure that this is what you want to do. You might want to consider going back to school part time so that you can work at least a couple days a week and get some more experience.

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Feb 13, 2015

I'd be more concerned about getting accepted into a decent masters program, I'm not sure experience that far back will help your chances. Maybe work for awhile while you research programs, do a couple per diem spots in different areas to see what you like. I wanted to be a Ped's NP way back when and now I am in Psych and loving every minute of it. I worked briefly in family practice and HATED it. Same with ICU. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not exploring a few different areas first unless you are very certain what area you like.

I don't believe bedside role is necessary experience either, it just helps with your comfort level in dealing with people and different situations. My experience in my masters program and now in clinical rotation is very different than the RN role, the meds are really the only thing I've felt has carried over, but even that is very different in regards to RN vs NP application. You are deciding on meds and why, I'm definitely challenged!

Mqnurse40 · Feb 13, 2015

Thanks to all for the replies, definitely some more to think about. I do like bedside nursing, but its been difficult to give the quality care i would expect with little support in the hospital setting,starting my day with six patients and ending it with 8 makes it so difficult to give the care id like to give. I enjoy one on one with patients and thorough assessments as well as having the time to delve into their labs, diagnostics, prior history ect. I know other nurses wish they had time to do this too, but its the part i love. thanks again for the insights!