The Road to Nurse Practitioner

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Hey all,

I qualified as a Nurse in 2008 in the adult branch with a 2:1 BN (Hons) degree and went straight to a non-specific adult intensive care unit. Ive worked there now for 3 years but also done agency work on other ITU's around the UK so have some experience on cardiac and neuro too. After helping out on the wards quite a few times when patients became acutely unwell I think I'd really like to take on the role of the nurse practitioners. Since qualifying I've completed two masters level modules, one in heart failure and one in critical care and also written an article for publication about some experimental treatment for heart failure patients.

Basically in short my question is

1) Is it worth studying a full MSC in advanced practice in order to get to my goal of working as a nurse practitioner as often the job description sets this as a "desirable"?

2) Is there anything else i can do academically and otherwise to get closer to my goal?

3) Realistically do I need more experience in maybe another area? (was thinking maybe A+E)

Any information or advice appreciated

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

If you have the chance to study for the Msc my advice would be to go for it, although its not essential it will stand you in good stead should a nurse practitioner post be advertised.

Experience, critical care gives a good background although I usually ask for a person to be at band 6 for at least 4 years before applying to nurse practitioner posts. Much of the time it will depend on the speciality as to what experience is required.

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Is there any other things i could do to improve my chances except my masters and to interview well? The band 6 thing will be difficult as i dont think positions are coming up for a while yet.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.
Is there any other things i could do to improve my chances except my masters and to interview well? The band 6 thing will be difficult as i dont think positions are coming up for a while yet.

To be honest, experience is the key for the majority of ANP positions. When I applied for mine the essential criteria was 6 year post reg at least 3 at F grade

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