Straight to FNP

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Hello,

I am weighing the options of going into nursing. However, I would want to become a Nurse Practitioner as soon as possible. I already have a non-nursing related bachelor/master degree in education so this would be a career change. I currently work full-time for local government. Would I need to complete my RN first and then on to earn the Nurse Practitioner license? Does anyone have any idea if there are programs that a designed for this or do most Nurse practitioners need work experience as an RN before moving on? And if so, do most Nurse Practitioner positions require experience? How many hours do most NP's work?

Specializes in School nursing.

I entered a direct entry FNP without any healthcare experience. I was 100% for getting my FNP and working in preventive health care. It was highly encouraged for students in my program to work as an RN after passing the NCLEX and completing the FNP coursework and clinical hours. Many people did that dropped down to part time in the FNP program. Those people that did this were employed as a FNP within a month of two of graduation. (I'm in the MA/Boston market - it is highly competitive here for RNs and some FNP positions.)

I passed my NCLEX and started working in community nursing, specifically school nursing under a great mentor. I loved it. I also realized I needed more time as an RN before I could be a FNP. I did a lot of soul searching and left my FNP program with my BSN. Now I'm still in school nursing, love it, and may return to school for a different master's path for health education. I worked in higher education prior to changing careers and enjoyed it; I never thought I could marry the two, but here I am, doing just that.

Moral from me? Sure, a direct-entry program can be a great thing, but RN experience is not something that will backfire in the job hunt as a FNP. Many of my FNP friends considered it very valuable.

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In my market, you would have a heck of a time getting a FNP job without any experience or connections. If you don't attend a school that finds clinical placements for you, you will also have hard time securing np clinical experience as well (there are so many np students where I live and not enough preceptors... you basically need the connections through work to find one). Your market may be more favorable but that isn't something a discussion board can tell you.

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I am absolutely sure you can not even go to ADN or BSN program since you do not have prerequisite and your background is in education. First you need to go to community college and take Chemistry, Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, Nutrition, Developmental psychology, general psychology, etc (even more depend to the program). The prerequisite alone takes at least two year. For me It took 3 and half year since I need to finish general Education also. But you already have the general Education. Then you need to give entrance exam, TEAS or HESI. Only then you may get into Accelerated BSN program (i am not sure if you can work during accelerated program since it is very demanding). After BSN and passing your NCLEX then you can apply for NP school.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

In this area, about the only jobs to be found for the newly minted FNPs w/ no prior experience is in the rural and/or low income clinics. The reason for this is simple economics: There is a glut of newly minted FNPs and the only places who are desperate enough for staff in order to hire them are those places which can recruit/retain more competitive candidates: Those who have actual experience with patients suffering from various maladies.

I can understand the desire to cut corners but there is a reason that NPs have historically been experienced nurses: You simply cannot gain sufficient clinical experience in the confines of a 2-year program. Consider the absurdity of someone trying to become a family-practice doc in 2 years with no experience. There is a reason why they go through 2 years of classroom training followed by 2 years of clerkship rotations followed by 3 years of clinical training as a physician.

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I am absolutely sure you can not even go to ADN or BSN program since you do not have prerequisite and your background is in education. First you need to go to community college and take Chemistry, Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, Nutrition, Developmental psychology, general psychology, etc (even more depend to the program). The prerequisite alone takes at least two year. For me It took 3 and half year since I need to finish general Education also. But you already have the general Education. Then you need to give entrance exam, TEAS or HESI. Only then you may get into Accelerated BSN program (i am not sure if you can work during accelerated program since it is very demanding). After BSN and passing your NCLEX then you can apply for NP school.

Yes you can work during an Accelerated BSN program. It is tough and you will have absolutely NO life but anyone can do anything they put their mind to. I would say to the person who posted to do a bit more research but to also not allow anyone to stop you from what you want to do. Experience never harmed anyone either. Try to get as much experience as possible in hard areas like ICU or ER as soon as you get your BSN. Try to work as an LPN after your second semester for more experience (depending on your state laws for taking the exam during nursing school). You can go directly into NP but starting out part time so you can work as an RN may be best or taking a year off to work as an RN THEN beginning NP school. Trust me as a medic and someone who THOUGHT they knew nursing before they entered the field I can tell you...NURSING IS TOUGH! Experience is a must and a degree unfortunately doesn't mean you have what it takes just like me being a medic AND having a Biology/Chemistry degree meant I had a "come to Jesus moment" relatively quickly when I began school that made me realize I need to work HARD to gain as much knowledge and experience ASAP to achieve my goals. Be the provider you would want to see.

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Lots of schools don't even care if you have nursing experience. They just want your money. The NPs I work with went straight for their FNP/ACNP after they got their BSN. They even admitted they did not want anything to do with bedside nursing. I really don't have any problem with not having experience. As long as you're competent and can pass your boards, then that's all that matters.

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Not to throw fuel on the upcoming fire, but there are reputable direct entry NP programs, no prior RN or nursing experience necessary. Here is one example:

Masters Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) | UCSF School of Nursing

Don't know anything about the training, maybe taking the PA training approach?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

DE programs are not new (date back to the late 70s) and many of the best NP programs in the country have DE options.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to prenursing

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Specializes in MSICU.

I am working on a career change and am currently completing my prereqs to apply a MEPN program here in AZ. The MEPN program I am applying to isn't a NP program, it's basically a BSN at a master's level, so I would caution the OP to research what is really offered.That being said, my school does allow you to go straight into their DNP program from the MEPN. I however plan to work, for several years at least, as an RN to evaluate whether I want to continue on to an NP program.

I am planning on this being my path to nursing because being in a master's program vs. a second bachelor's, I will have access to financial aide/student loans to help with tuition. So that's another thing to consider.

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pleaseeeeeee don't post without enough research AngelKissed857, first read the requirement of the program and then post something, entry level master program also need intense prerequisite PLUS GRE entrance exam. This is the requirement of the same link which you posted.

Masters Entry Program (MEPN) Admission Requirements | UCSF School of Nursing

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Admission Requirements for the Masters Entry Program (MEPN) at UCSF School of Nursing.

Completion, no later than the application deadline, of intro- or higher-level courses with passing grades and worth at least two semester units or three quarter units in each of the following:

  1. Microbiology, with a lab component
  2. Physiology, with a lab component
  3. Anatomy, with a lab component (NOTE: combined anatomy and physiology courses are acceptable as long as they comprise a comprehensive systems overview totaling at least four semester units or six quarter units)
  4. Psychology
  5. Statistics (Note: beginning with the 2017 application cycle, statistics must be from within three years of the application deadline.) A college-level statistics course taken at an accredited college or university that results in credit on the college's transcript meets this requirement. Online courses that earn credit on an accredited college or university transcript meet this requirement. Applicants must provide evidence of completing this requirement for admission by providing the college transcript that displays the statistics course grade and credits earned. See FAQ for more information.
  6. Nutrition

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