Which pathway is more likely to gain admission

[FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm hoping maybe there's some admissions committee folks on here or folks with intimate knowledge of candidate selection..

At the conclusion of next semester I will have completed all of the pre-reqs to apply to a well respected Direct-Entry FNP program (brick and mortar school).

Conversely, I've completed the pre-requisite courses and scored high enough on the HESI a2 in order to likely gain admission into a local paramedic to RN program. My plan would be to finish the RN program and then apply to the traditional FNP pathway.

While option 2 is "cleaner", I worry that applying to the traditional track with 0 RN experience (20 years paramedic experience) will put me at a disadvantage..

[verene, MSN]

I would apply to both - see which you are accepted to, weigh financial aid, and program cultures, look at pros/cons for your specific situation and goals, and then make a decision.

[FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

If anyone is interested - I got word back from their recruitment folks who said I would not be at a disadvantage by applying directly after finishing RN.

This means the pathway that works the best with my schedule (medic to RN, then NP) will be the one I'll be taking.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

21 hours ago, FiremedicMike said:

If anyone is interested - I got word back from their recruitment folks who said I would not be at a disadvantage by applying directly after finishing RN.

This means the pathway that works the best with my schedule (medic to RN, then NP) will be the one I'll be taking.

I don't think so either. A lot of people start NP school shortly after getting their RN license. I started NP school 9 months after I graduated with a BSN. Also, most students who go the traditional route work as a RN while in NP school (not so much for experience but for money).

I do think you should apply to both. In my personal opinion, with 20 years of medic experience you're better off with Direct-Entry (get it done with). I just think medics can rock nursing school...not just with hands-on skills but critical thinking as well. You will stand out in a good way among Direct-Entry folks, most of whom either have zero patient-care experience or irrelevant ones (like volunteering).

Good luck!

[FiremedicMike, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

9 hours ago, umbdude said:

I don't think so either. A lot of people start NP school shortly after getting their RN license. I started NP school 9 months after I graduated with a BSN. Also, most students who go the traditional route work as a RN while in NP school (not so much for experience but for money).

I do think you should apply to both. In my personal opinion, with 20 years of medic experience you're better off with Direct-Entry (get it done with). I just think medics can rock nursing school...not just with hands-on skills but critical thinking as well. You will stand out in a good way among Direct-Entry folks, most of whom either have zero patient-care experience or irrelevant ones (like volunteering).

Good luck!

I appreciate the vote of confidence!

Unfortunately the DE program is not going to work out. I was able to get ahold of someone at their program and it looks like it's 2-4 days per week depending on the semester. I was hoping I could get the department to work with me on 1-2 days, but 2-4 will be insurmountable.

Option 2 becomes the only feasible one. The medic to RN will be 5 semesters which can be done all at night and on the weekend, at which point I can apply to the same NP school that runs the DE program, but now I can apply to the traditional entry, part-time, online program..

It'll take a bit longer, but I can keep working and get my pension to 25 years, which is key..

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

4 minutes ago, FiremedicMike said:

It'll take a bit longer, but I can keep working and get my pension to 25 years, which is key..

I see. That makes sense.