Working after BSN or directly to NP program

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I am scheduled to graduate from my BSN program in Spring 2015. I am curious to hear pros and cons about going right to a Master's FNP program after graduating from the BSN program. While I am sure it would be helpful to get a few years experience before starting the NP program, this is a second career for me and I am almost positive I would ultimately like to go the NP route. While the AANP is only recommending the DNP starting in 2015, it is possible they will require it within the next 5-10 years. Ideally, I would like to get the NP before this shift happens, if at all. That is not to say I wouldn't get the DNP eventually, just not right away. I will have experience working as a perioperative tech this summer and have had several years experience working on the postpartum, L&D, and NICU floors as an IBCLC at two large hospitals.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care.

I've posted this before, but there is a study out there somewhere that I read while I was in my program on the transition from RN to NP. The study showed the transition is actually smoother if you have no RN experience; you don't have to turn your brain from thinking like a RN to thinking like a NP. To my knowledge there is no proof or data that shows more experienced RN's make better NP's. I will say for me though (was a RN for 4 years) it definitely helps to work to become comfortable talking to patients, learn medications, and see disease processes first hand. It really is what makes us different from PA's (among many other attributes).

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Specializes in PICU.

I think no experience is fine when you're working in a family practice office because what you're doing is so different from what an RN in a hospital does. I think you need to expect to have to work harder in NP school because you'll have less of a foundation to start with but you can still learn the same content. However, I think RN experience is essential for acute care jobs. You simply can't get the experience you need from clinicals alone.

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Just make sure to check the reqs of the programs you apply to. Some of then require a year of experience. Other than that, I say go for it!

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Thanks everyone! Glad to hear it's not completely out of the question. The program I'm interested in does not require experience. If anyone can share what kind of NP work they do and if they enjoy it, I would love to hear some feedback.

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Here's one you might not have thought of. If you're able to work and go to school, your job could very well pay for part of your tuition or at least subsidize your living and healthcare expenses. Obviously every program and employer has different policies, but it's worth checking out. My employer pays 90% of our tuition at the affliated university. I was able to work full time and complete the program over three years. So I have those years of experience, the benefits of full-time income, and my total out of pocket costs are under $10,000. Another aspect to consider is if you'd like to work in a more specialized area, if you could get a job in that area you might be looked at as more experienced. Example: If a neurology practice is looking to hire an NP, who would they hire? A new NP who has never worked in the healthcare field or a new NP who has a year of experience working on a Neuro floor? Most of the jobs I have seen posted for specialities strongly prefer experience. Granted it's not NP experience, but it's something to give you a leg up on the competition.

I also think working as an RN first gives you a working knowledge of basic assessment, pharm, and patho, especially if you go in to the experience viewing it as training for your NP role. It's a unique opportunity to see a disease, experience the symptoms, give the meds, and go home and do your research to learn more about it. How can you take advanced classes in these topics if you have no basic skills to build upon?

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I've posted this before, but there is a study out there somewhere that I read while I was in my program on the transition from RN to NP. The study showed the transition is actually smoother if you have no RN experience; you don't have to turn your brain from thinking like a RN to thinking like a NP. To my knowledge there is no proof or data that shows more experienced RN's make better NP's. I will say for me though (was a RN for 4 years) it definitely helps to work to become comfortable talking to patients, learn medications, and see disease processes first hand. It really is what makes us different from PA's (among many other attributes).

Umm most Pa schools require thousands of HCE with many students being former RNs, RTs or paramedics. I don't really follow you on that one.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
study showed the transition is actually smoother if you have no RN experience; you don't have to turn your brain from thinking like a RN to thinking like a NP.

This is the study.

Rich, E. R. (2005). Does RN experience relate to NP clinical skills?. The Nurse Practitioner, 30(12), 53-56.

Chicago

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As an RN with 20 years experience, I would say..... Go right on with your NP! I believe it is a different skill set and mindset. When you think about it, MD's go right into practice, albeit after residency. But that is comparable to our clinicals!

I am currently in a psych NP program, and see many students go from BSN to the NP. It does not seem to be an issue.

many BSN students I speak to want to work as RN's first, because they are passionate about certain types of nursing. However, if your passion is to be an NP, I would keep pursuing your education.

just my two cents.....

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Thanks Jane! That is very helpful. Do you know if it makes it more difficult to find work or limit the kind of work one can do?

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I have not seen it be an issue here. Only know a few who have done it straight through, though. Others I have seen, who have switched focus, for instance, critical care nurse becoming pediatric NP, it was not an issue either.

Much more responsibility is being placed on nurses, IMO, and it is very stressful. As an NP, you will be experiencing a different kind of stress. Why subject yourself to this, if it is not the area you plan to gain expertise in?

Also, it sounds like now, you have the time and the funds to move forward. If you worked as an RN, and life became more complicated/busy for you, ie, family commitments, you would be committed to the RN role and probably stressing through a graduate program, part time.

If I were you, I would just keep going!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I know I'm a little late to the game but I'm taking a break from studying by reading horror and success stories about FNP certification exams ;) I'm not sure why I'm torturing myself....

I graduated with my BSN in May 2010 and started on my MSN in August 2010. I was afraid if I took a break I wouldn't go back. Chances are you will only be going for the MSN part time meaning you can work as well. At my school there wasn't a requirement to have RN experience before starting the MSN program but you DID have to have 2000 hours of clinical experience before you started the CLINICAL portion of the MSN. I started my MSN clinicals in August 2013 so I had 3 years experience (cardiac step-down and home health) by the time I started my MSN clinicals.

I do feel like this experience was VERY beneficial so I would hope that anybody in the NP program would get SOME decent RN experience before trying to diagnose and prescribe medications!

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