Transitioning from NS to NP (how difficult was the coursework)

Specialties NP

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In comparison to your nursing level of education (undergraduate) how much of a difference in difficulty did you experience moving up the ladder to getting your masters as a NP?

I am very interesting in pursuing my masters in N.P. after graduation and would like all the insight possible!! thanks in advance all you NPs

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I really had no difficulty at all for I had several years of RN experience prior to the NP program.

Others will come along and offer input, too.

I started grad school after about 6 months as an RN (& still working). Haven't found it more difficult.

Specializes in ACNP-BC.
In comparison to your nursing level of education (undergraduate) how much of a difference in difficulty did you experience moving up the ladder to getting your masters as a NP?

I am very interesting in pursuing my masters in N.P. after graduation and would like all the insight possible!! thanks in advance all you NPs

I don't think the coursework in grad school is harder than undergraduate work, but I would say it is time-consuming and demanding. I started my NP program after being an RN for one year and I have received straight As in all 9 graduate courses I have completed so far-and am really enjoying and learning the material well. I can't wait to start my first NP clinical in August. Good luck. :)

Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

Hi - I had worked a year as an RN before I went back to grad school. I continued working about 20 hours a week. However, I found that as i entered my first real clinical semester, I was not able to keep up my 20 hours a week and the amount of clinical hours required, along with the massive amount of reading, papers, tests, quizzes etc. that is required in my Adult NP program. I don't think it was more difficult than undergraduate work, just very time consuming.

So now, I'm a PRN nurse and go in only sometimes on the weekend as I prepare to enter my last semester in the fall.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did grad school after 10 years experience and it went very smoothly. Papers are time-consuming, no getting around that. Good luck.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE FEEDBACK!

So, would you guys suggest working first as an R.N. for a few years before pursing my masters? I know some programs require that but the one I am interested in does not..It seems the transition is a little more smooth when you have been working as an R.N. for a few years...

I take in account the posting saying that clinical hrs becomes overwhelming if you try to work full time as an R.N. as well...

Maybe only working part-time as an RN? The program I am interested in is part-time anyways so that may work...

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I worked full time getting my BSN (I was an ADN grad), MSN and post-MSN degrees. Had to, no choice - doable but busy.

Specializes in ACNP-BC.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE FEEDBACK!

So, would you guys suggest working first as an R.N. for a few years before pursing my masters? I know some programs require that but the one I am interested in does not..It seems the transition is a little more smooth when you have been working as an R.N. for a few years...

I take in account the posting saying that clinical hrs becomes overwhelming if you try to work full time as an R.N. as well...

Maybe only working part-time as an RN? The program I am interested in is part-time anyways so that may work...

Honestly, it totally depends on the program you're looking to get into, and also on you-your comfort level and how quickly you learn. Some say you should work as an RN for several years and then apply to grad school, but everyone is different. I only worked as an RN for a year and then started grad school and have been at the top of my class with a 4.0 GPA and can really say I am learning and retaining the material well. I should say a word about working during school too-again, it is different for everyone and everyone has a different situation (kids, family, bills, etc..) I worked 24 hours/week for my entire first year of my NP program and I was a full time student taking 4 classes per semester. It was hard to juggle it all, but doable. However now I'm starting my clinical year this August, so as of August 1 I will only work per diem about 8-16 hours/week....if you can afford it, it definitely helps to cut down your work hours due to the demands of clinical, classes, studying time, etc...

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