Too soon to become an NP?

[SjwRNBSN]

Hi all, I'm a new grad RN. I've been practicing 10 months now. I've always wanted to a family nurse practitioner and am starting to get my paperwork together so that I can apply for fall of 2017 at the same school where I got my bachelors.

Ive met the minimum working 1000 hours as a nurse in order to apply. I've got my references and all that jazz in order. I'm just curious what other nurses would say or advise me at this point... Is it too soon? I work on a very fast paced med surg/oncology unit in a suburban hospital.

At home I have two young children, 2 yo and 6months. So they'd be 3 and 1.5 when I started.

Am I crazy to start this?! Any and all feedback is appreciated

[Malenurse1235954]

Well nurseshawn1234. Your articles prove NOTHING. How long have you been a nurse? Also are you one of the many who come out of school thinking they know it all right off the get go? Heading to a masters program to tell the many minions how to do their job better? Just wondering how many years experience you have to contribute. Real world experience proves you wrong. Are there nurses who have been one for 20 years that still dont get it and go on? Yes. Are they not so great NPs. Yes. But expeience and knowledge for the majority not the minority is best for patient outcomes and coworker confidence.

You sound bitter. Am I reading this right, you are a 20 year nurse. How long have you been dreaming of being a NP? Do you work in a place where NPs boss you around? Help me understand why you sound so angry?

[kobra357]

You sound bitter. Am I reading this right, you are a 20 year nurse. How long have you been dreaming of being a NP? Do you work in a place where NPs boss you around? Help me understand why you sound so angry?

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Its 30 years btw, and I am perfectly happy doing what I do. I don't need or want to be an NP. This has nothing to do with me. However it always nice for someone to try to make it about something it's not. Are you into Psychic counseling? Are you reading my emotions via my posts? I am very passionate about the quality of care my patients receive and deserve. I care, thats why I do what I do. Years ago you couldn't go on to become an NP without having years of experience. Now I work with PAs who where going to be bookkeepers but decide to be a PA instead for the $$. It's not right and quality goes down and people, yes PEOPLE suffer.

[kobra357]

I started a DNP program today, with zero previous RN experence. Before doing so, I read everything I could to see if any research was done on years of RN experence and proficiency as a NP.

The literature I read found either no corrulation or suggested little to no RN experence is best. Academically speaking, the most reliable predictor of success (by far) is previous coursework GPA.

There was a quote from class today that seems fitting: "Practice needs to be evidence-based rather than 'how we always did it.'"

There are plenty of people online that will tell you dont do it because you need to get more exp, then cite they "always" can tell a NP with no/little RN experence. Personal experences are so vunerable to bias. It erks me everytime someone discourages someone with this rationale.

I see you have two very small children, if you start NP school would you have enough time to study? I would make sure you can devote enough time to success or someone is gonna say "its because she didnt work enough as a RN..."

WOW! I just reread your post. I hope I live hundreds of miles from your base of practice. I am ashamed to say this since Im a male nurse too, but it's usually the male nurses that have the most arrogant attitudes towards nursing. A," Im better than the rest of you type". You actually told the thread starter, a female nurse, since she has small children does she have the "time" to go on. The females should be angered by your sexist comment. WOW! Kids ,no kids, women, man it makes no difference. The question is experience to go on, Plain and simple. And you my friend would benefit from experience and maturity for the next phase of your life.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Well nurseshawn1234. Your articles prove NOTHING. How long have you been a nurse? Also are you one of the many who come out of school thinking they know it all right off the get go? Heading to a masters program to tell the many minions how to do their job better? Just wondering how many years experience you have to contribute. Real world experience proves you wrong. Are there nurses who have been one for 20 years that still dont get it and go on? Yes. Are they not so great NPs. Yes. But expeience and knowledge for the majority not the minority is best for patient outcomes and coworker confidence.

And in the same vein, how long have you been in advanced practice? Where does your data/support for patient outcomes come from? What are your particular concerns?

In my practice experience, as I have said numerous times before, I have found the greatest variability is between individuals not between levels of RN experience.

[YoutubeTheNP]

And in the same vein, how long have you been in advanced practice? Where does your data/support for patient outcomes come from? What are your particular concerns?

In my practice experience, as I have said numerous times before, I have found the greatest variability is between individuals not between levels of RN experience.

Certainly what he/she said ^^

but I also believe NPs need a foundation of knowledge from being an RN. Take for example, lab and XR interpretations. A new nurse fresh out of school won't know how to interpret a TSH of 7.0, or a Troponin of 0.46, or a chest xr that shows ground glass opacification versus a consolidation vs atelectasis. This requires some experience from working and building that knowledge base. Sure, you'll learn as you go but mistakes come with consequences in this field.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

but I also believe NPs need a foundation of knowledge from being an RN. Take for example, lab and XR interpretations. A new nurse fresh out of school won't know how to interpret a TSH of 7.0, or a Troponin of 0.46, or a chest xr that shows ground glass opacification versus a consolidation vs atelectasis. This requires some experience from working and building that knowledge base. Sure, you'll learn as you go but mistakes come with consequences in this field.

I know very few bedside RNs that can interpret a x-ray with any significant level of competency.

I don't know any novice NPs that can't interpret a TSH or trop trend. Outside of radiograph interpretation, those are very basic principles of lab interpretation.

For my experience, the benefit of RN experience is the more intangible knowledge of patient experience and perhaps familiarity with medications, not basic lab values.

[YoutubeTheNP]

I don't know any novice NPs that can't interpret a TSH or trop trend. Outside of radiograph interpretation, those are very basic principles of lab interpretation.

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I agree. I'm just using that as an example, the example could have been anything. The point I was making is having that foundation of information, basic labs, common X-ray findings, etc, etc. I still see new NPs putting pts on synthroid because their TSH is >5, without ever checking T3-T4!! Inexperienced. Most of them have never heard of subclinical hypothyroidism.

There are a lot of things an NP student may or may not see, being an RN for 4 years for me made it much easier to grasp. If I could go back to the time I received my BSN and go right into an NP program I would have slapped myself. I wouldn't be as good as an NP as I am now without my RN experience.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Inexperienced. Most of them have never heard of subclinical hypothyroidism.

I wouldn't be as good as an NP as I am now without my RN experience.

Again this is very basic diagnostic interpretation in would expect any of my students to be able to make. I don't know many RNs, however, that would be able to talk to the diagnosis and differential of subclinical hypothyroidism.

How long have you been an NP, out of curiosity. I do feel that most RN experience is beneficial in the first few years of practice but it quickly dissipates after that. Just my opinion.

Perhaps I am a little baised in my exposure as I only take/teach students from a very selective local program.

[YoutubeTheNP]

Again this is very basic diagnostic interpretation in would expect any of my students to be able to make. I don't know many RNs, however, that would be able to talk to the diagnosis and differential of subclinical hypothyroidism.

How long have you been an NP, out of curiosity. I do feel that most RN experience is beneficial in the first few years of practice but it quickly dissipates after that. Just my opinion.

I've been an NP since 2012. I agree first few years as an RN is more than enough. I would, however, discourage a recent BSN grad to go right into a NP program without ever stepping a foot in a hospital. That's mainly the premise of my argument.

[Bcraven]

I was an an LPN for 3 months before I got accepted into RN school. I was then an RN for only 8 months before I got accepted into NP school. It can be done. They are there to teach you I don't think you ever need experience as long as you pay attention in class and continue to work through school you'll be fine. I got through schools that people tell you "you should probably build up your experience before you apply" and I do just fine each time. if that what you want to do then do it while you have the opportunity because life will come at you fast and those tuition prices aren't getting any smaller :)

[kobra357]

And in the same vein, how long have you been in advanced practice? Where does your data/support for patient outcomes come from? What are your particular concerns?

In my practice experience, as I have said numerous times before, I have found the greatest variability is between individuals not between levels of RN experience.

Again 30 years, and I am happy with what I do. I am fascinated how much this gets under the skin of those who went on without experience. I will never know what kind of NP any of you are, I have an opinion, I also would be willing to bet that my opinion is correct. I will never be able to talk with your patients or your coworkers, so it's a mute point. Anyone who did not have any experience and went on to get there NP or any higher degree without every working a day in the trenches with minions will NEVER understand how they feel or what they deal with. No matter what you say you will NEVER know what its like to be a medical professional on the ground levels. That experience makes you a better NP or manager for that matter. So those of you can pretend to be the best, and maybe now you are good, but I bet the people who trained around you in the beginning wanted to run at first. Has anyone worked with a LPN who has done it for 20,30,40 years? And you ask wow they are so good they should of gone on to get there RN. I have never heard of an RN that came out of school and 6 months later everyone said, omg you should be an NP or a DR. BTW studies, all studies can be manipulated for whomever the study is intended. Studies by university to gain admittance are just that.

[kobra357]

to: Bcraven, RN

I have great respect for you. You actually did it the ladder method. LPN to RN to NP etc. You have some idea of what it takes to get where you're going and you will have some experience on all levels to be a good NP and leader. I think more experience in the field wouldn't hurt but to have knowledge of the different degrees of nursing with the patient experience will help you become a great NP someday.