Want to become A NP but have to Go the BSN route!

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Is there any one out there who really doesn't want to be a bedside nurse but know you have to go the long route to getting your BSN in order to become a NP. Well that is my delimma. I have no desire to become a bedside nurse, but most graduate schools require you to get your BSN and have a year's experience as a RN to attain your masters. My ultimate goal is to become a FNP and open up my own clinic in the future! Any one else?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

How do you propose to open your own clinic without bedside experience? And...how do you know this is what you want to do? Maybe you won't even like patient care at all!

This is a legitimate concern for people who decide they want the advanced role without the experience. You NEED the bedside experience in order to acquire good clinical assessment skills. Your assessment skills are what makes or breaks an advanced practice RN.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

:yeahthat: bedside nursing a must; sharp assessment skills.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I don't want a NURSE practicioner who was't a good nurse.

Why not do PA-no bedside nursing required.

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I recall a former classmate, who throughout pre-reqs and first semester talked about nothing but "being an administrator" and how she didn't want to do actual bedside nursing. SHE was headed for management.

In reality, she was headed for another career. She never completed program.

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I think I understand your situation...bed pans, vomit, changing adult diapers, baths on 95 year old men, not your cup of tea, eh?

I'll admit, I'm doing alot of assuming here, and one would think, at first glance, the NP's don't do much at a clinic or at a hospital....so the appeal of the position...but how can you supervise or advise others without any real experience as a nurse?

I haven't even started nursing school yet, but I practically grew up in a hospital and spent a couple of months day in-day out in the hosptal after the birth of my daughter.

If you are working in a clinic, there are other things you'll have to know how to do...there are also different methods for doing things, and the more you are exposed to it, the better you'll be at it. You'll learn something from everyone you encounter, from other RN's, doctors, everyone...that's with any job.

While most of the Supervisors in hospitals are NP's, the job is probably much more difficult than you realize...it's my eventual goal as well, but I am under no illusion of how hard it's going to be.

I don't know about all hospitals, but the ones around here, most of the physical labor is done by LPN's, CNA's, and nursing students, and the RN's are primarily responsible for the overall care of the patient and seeing that the doctor's course of treatment is followed

I don't know if I have helped you or not....some of what will be required will be difficult for me as well....the first time I see someone throw up that I actually have to help, I just hope I don't join them. My mother used to tell me that pretty much all nursing students start out that way, and once you get used to the day-to-day happenings, none of it is a big deal.

I have a true passion for wanting to help people, and this is one of the most hands-on approaches to it.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
Is there any one out there who really doesn't want to be a bedside nurse but know you have to go the long route to getting your BSN in order to become a NP. [snip] My ultimate goal is to become a FNP and open up my own clinic in the future! Any one else?

Yes. I want to open up my own clinic and work as Health Care Administrator, but not as FNP. I was going to get my masters in the field before I realized that Registered Nurses and Physicians with experience seem to have a better shot at using the master degree I was going to obtain. I worked in Health Care before and people with experience are the ones that get hired and/or gain investors.

So I am back in school earning a degree to gain the needed experience. The needed experience is bedside for 6mo-2 years. As with any field, being on the front-lines for a bit is where I will learn how to be a successful administrator. If I skip that step you may not success.

Yes, I know there are exceptions to this rule. MSWs and other Clinical degrees are able to do this, but I do not want to spend years working as one of those before I work my way up. I rather work as a Registered Nurse because I know I will enjoy the challenge and the pay! ;)

In any case I understand your frustration. I was initially angry to find that a masters degree in the field of Health Care was not going to be my ticket into my job of choice. However, I have had time to think about the situation and am glad it is not the case.

If you think about it a bit more you may realize that the "long route" as you put it, is not as long as you think. Think of your work experience and knowledge gained as a bedside nurse as marketing and research as well as scoping out possible future investors. ;)

If that does not work, imagine being a FNP and working hard for years to be put out of business by some young upstart who only has a degree and no common sense because he/she did not need the work experience. You worked hard in the field, but he/she did not. :angryfire

I prefer to have to bust my butt to obtain what I want outside of school. Although school presents its own challenges, work experience is a lot more challenging because the rules can change with a new boss, new owners, new contracts, new technology, and new co-workers.

Besides, in the future I will know for a fact that anyone who wants to do what I am doing, will have to bust his/her butt too or he/she will not be doing what I will be doing. Anything worth having is worth the fight, right? I do not want to be a Health Care Administrator as a Registered Nurse if everybody could try and succeed. Good luck.:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

While most of the Supervisors in hospitals are NP's, the job is probably much more difficult than you realize...it's my eventual goal as well, but I am under no illusion of how hard it's going to be.

NP's are not usually admins in hospitals - that role is filled by nursing admins or health care administrators.

NP is a clinical practice role which involves hands on patient care. If you don't like bedside nursing, NP is probably not the career for you - but health care administration might be.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
I don't know about all hospitals, but the ones around here, most of the physical labor is done by LPN's, CNA's, and nursing students, and the RN's are primarily responsible for the overall care of the patient and seeing that the doctor's course of treatment is followed

Not to burst your bubble - but RN's do just as much of the physical labor as any other role - I STRONGLY suggest you go shadow a few! Nursing is a very physically demanding job no matter what your license. You may be in for a few shockers if you don't actually go see what nursing is about before committing to it.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As an advanced practice nurse, I still do hands-on care. Now granted, at this particular position I don't clean up patients, I'm certainly not averse to doing so. However, I really enjoy hands-on care and don't particularly like to get phone calls and have to give orders on a patient I have never seen nor examined based on another RN's assessment.

Assessment skills make or break RNs and APNs.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Not to burst your bubble - but RN's do just as much of the physical labor as any other role - I STRONGLY suggest you go shadow a few! Nursing is a very physically demanding job no matter what your license. You may be in for a few shockers if you don't actually go see what nursing is about before committing to it.

Yes, I agree. I work at an all RN ICU. No techs, no LPNs.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Case Management, also OR/OB.

Advanced Practice is exactly what the name implies-- practice that is advanced beyond that which qualifies one to be a nurse. However, initials are only that --alphabet soup without the experience and clinical skills to back them up. As others have said -- perhaps explore the career by shadowing others. I'm not sure PA is you answer either, because most of the PA's that I am familiar with work for Cardiologists and Surgeons -- lots of dressing changes and scrubbing is involved. Most states require the individual to be Master's prepared, and I can tell you from having been there, this is not a career path for those not prepared to put in a lot of hours to KNOW their clinical skills. JMHO.

Morghan Chambers, MSN, ARNP

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