Your career track to far as an NP

[jlan79]

Hi, I was wondering if the NPs on this board can give me an idea of how they became NPs. Something like - "I went to school A for RN degree, worked as RN for x many years, went to school for masters, became NP and worked in Y capacity (which field, hospital/clinic setting, etc?) Just trying to get a feel of what the typical progression is.

[Lorelai22RN, RN]

BSN 2006

ANP 2008-2010 (start in Aug/08!!)

[globalRN]

bsn: 1980's worked as a rn for 16 yrs

bedside: 3 yrs

outpatient: many

teaching: 4yrs

management 1yr

ms: 2002

worked as a NP since

dual certifications as NP

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

Here is my story:

1995: Graduated from High School

1999: Graduated with a BS in biology

2001: Graduated with an MS in biology

2001: worked briefly as a lab technician in HIV vaccine research lab, hated it, then decided I wanted to be a nurse:)

2002: Became certified as a CNA, and started working as a Nursing Assistant in the float pool at a hospital; finished extra pre-req classes for nursing school admission; got accepted to a BSN program

2005: Graduated with my BSN, passed NCLEX, started working as an RN on a med/surg/tele unit (I still work there now!)

2006: Applied to NP Master's programs, got accepted, started my NP Master's program in June 2006 with an acute/critical care focus

June 1, 2008: Will graduate with my MSN and take the Acute care NP certification exam and work in internal medicine or cardiology

[Lilith]

1980 - graduated from high school

1984 - graduated from BA program

1984 - 1999 - almost every job under the sun, seriously lacking direction

2002 - graduated AS nursing, work in ER for three years

2005 - back to school for MSN

2007 - graduated MSN ANP track

currently practicing as ANP in a private group carrying both primary care panel and gastroenterology specialty patients

[butch228]

1990 BA in Biology

1992 Started Dental School but hated it dropped out after a year

1994-2000 worked in fundraising / administration for a large university

2000-2002 Assoc program in Nursing

2002-2007 worked on medical/Onc floor in teaching hosp.

2005-2007 RN-MSN program- Adult NP

2007-present - Primary care for pts with severe disabilities (spinal cord injury,CP, MR, etc)