Wanting To Become A FNP

[ArmyMedicRet.]

Hello,

I am looking for some honest advice here. I am currently a nursing student hoping to get accepted into a NP program within a year of receiving my BSN. I know this seems brash but I am hoping that those reading this will give me their honest opinion.

All the colleges I have looked at thus far list that applicants should have at least 2 years nursing experience. While this is not listed under the Requirements for application, it is strongly recommended. I suspect this is to ensure people have experience with triage and to make sure people who advance already know that the health care field isn't as pleasant as people imagine. But I do have quite a bit of experience in the health care field, my experience is unique and does not have a civilian equivalent as i was a Combat Medic in the army for nearly 7 years. So please look at my experience and tell me if you think i stand a chance at getting in off of my experience or if i would be better off moving forward as an RN for awhile.

Experience:

I joined the Army in 2008, I received my EMT-B that year also. I spent 11 mo and some change in Iraq in 2009 as a medic where served as the medic for 42 individuals in my platoon for that duration. During that time i treated multiple tramatic injuries from Mortars, road side bombs and gernades. for administering medical aid while under direct fire i was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.

I then served in a Hospital in Alaska for 3.5 years. 2 years of this i worked as the nurse (civilian LPN's filled that role for other physicians in this clinic). She knew my goals for a future in health care and trained me accordingly (The army surgeon general states that medics can essentially do anything there doctor trains and authorizes them to do, since we dont have a license we work under theirs.) I was also incharge of ordering all medical supplies, CMS, and i was on the Patient Caring Touch team (clinical nursing team, which came up which discussed problem areas and came up with new policies for the clinic and purposed policy changes to the hospital regarding our clinic)

I was then transfered to the MSU floor where i spent 1 year, 6 months of which i worked as a floor medic (LPN equivalent), i also completed ACLS during this time. I was then promoted and placed incharge of all the other Medics and alot of the administrative work for the clinic. I filled the role of the Ward Clerk, Supply Tech (i was incarge of the supply logistics), and helped to implement a 24hr infusion clinic within our ward.

After this I was again transferred to help reorganize the APU/PACU. There I again took over the role of Ward Clerk, also as a medic by helping the Nurses do prescreenings and prep. In July 2014 I was medically retired from the Army and am now trying to catch up with my peer group.

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Now i know i may not have the same experiences as an RN, but i feel i do have alot of experience in health care in general, and many of the nurses, doctors, and nurse practitioners i have worked with feel i could go straight through and are willing to write letters to this. I just don't know if colleges will understand my experience since there is no civilian equivalent for what i did. Anyways i look forward to hearing your advice. Thank you!

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

You might ask the schools if it's 2 years experience before admission at all or if it's 2 years experience before CLINICALS. My school required 2000 hours as an RN but it was actually before you were able to do the CLINICAL portion of the program. Since I went part time I had about 3 years experience before I started clinicals so I was good (I graduated with BSN in May and started MSN in August).

Also apply regardless of what they say. The worst they are going to do is not accept you. No harm no foul.

Good luck!