Student Following NP Path

[student1101]

Hi all!

I am a current college nursing student who plans to become a NP. Here is my question: should I continue my masters right after receiving my BSN or work as a RN for a few years and then go back to school to receive my masters?

My mom is a nurse and she says I should work as a RN before becoming a NP. Her reasoning is that I should have experience as a nurse before taking it further to become a NP. I totally agree with this, but also worry I will end up not going back to school because I have settled.

Contrarily, if I become a NP without experience as a RN, I feel as though I will have many blunders since I'll have only clinicals to base my career off of in the beginning.

Another thing to note is that I hope to work in Boston - Beth Israel, MGH, or Brigham and Women's. These are leading hospitals for Boston and even the world, so I want to make myself the best candidate I can. I plan on travel nursing for a few years at some point in my career - as a RN or NP is undecided but I will definitely wait until I have a few years of experience.

So, I want your opinion on all this please! Thank you so much in advance!

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Absolutely work before going to school for your NP. If you search for some threads on this topic, you'll find that the idea of students obtaining advanced nursing degrees with no RN experience isn't exactly popular. Precisely because developing critical thinking, assessment and practice experience as a Registered Nurse is essential to being a competent NP. There are things that only experience can teach, no matter how many classes you take. You might also find that you no longer want to be an NP, or an NP in the same area that you're currently considering. And if your desire if to do travel nursing, you'll have greater flexibility if you do that before NP school. Though locum positions for NPs exist, you'll also find more travel assignment opportunities as an RN than an NP.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

Do what is most comfortable for you. I may get some backlash for this but I work in Urgent Care as a medical assistant and I have observed how MDs, PAs, and NPs function.

For the advance practice providers (PAs and NPs) *all new grads/1-2 years inpractice* (very minimal experience) all function quite autonomously. The PA that I've worked with was a EMT-B prior to PA school (fresh new grad) and he performed comparable to the MD that is here full time. Same thing for the CNP that I have worked alongside. She had no prior experience as a floor RN and have done quite well in the clinic as well.

I have almost 2 years as a MA in the Urgent Care setting. I was recently accepted to a 1 year ABSN program and I plan to go for my FNP straight after and return to Urgent Care (or Family Medicine/Community Health) because that is the field I am most familiar with and most comfortable in. I do not see myself as a floor RN but more of a provider type. I worked alongside nurses and have great respect for them but have no interest working the floor.

Point is...if PAs can perform and do their job safely without extensive previous experience, a new grad NP can do the same...you just need to find a practice that will provide a structured environment and ample training that can lead to your success as a non-physician provider. You can function safely and competently.

If YOU only feel comfortable advancing your studies only after being a floor RN prior to becoming a NP then do that, but if you honestly do not want to be a floor RN do not punish yourself just because. You will be miserable. Live your life for yourself not others.

If jobs out there did not believe a new grad NP/PA could do the job, they wouldn't advertise for them.