2 answers
Renae
Student
Ossian, Indiana
1
Question
Updated
205 views
What is the best course of action, doing straight into getting my nurse practitioner license after getting my RN or working 1-2 years as an RN then getting my NP lisence??
I have been a certified medical assistant for 26 years, for primary care and urgent care. I have recently gone back to college to get my RN. I want to get my NP after my RN. I am wondering if I should just continue right after completing my RN to get my NP, or if I should work as an RN for a year or so, then get my NP? I feel I have a lot of experience and knowledge that I could go straight through; however, I am just wondering what the consensus would be for this. #Spring26
Login to comment
2 answers
Nicholas
Student
Bethesda, Maryland
0
Questions
Updated
Nicholas’s Answer
I can’t find an “answer” button on this mobile page, but I’ll answer it here in the comments. So, I think there are a few things to think about here. I think most people would suggest that getting the 1 to 2 years of RN experience would be essential prior to progressing to advanced practice role, such as a nurse practitioner. I think the benefits of practicing as RN is that you develop what I call your clinical gestalt - basically your clinical impression when you first walk into a room. This unfortunately cannot be taught, but it can be learned through experience.
Another benefit, and you might already get this as a MA, is time management. Primary care, as you might already know, often only has about 15 minute appointment slots, which requires you to be very strategic with your time management. You don’t want to be doing notes until 9 PM every day, although there are many clinicians who do just that.
The argument that I would make for going right into primary care as a NP is that it is quite its own animal. And working as RN in any capacity in a hospital, LTC or even urgent care is there aren’t very many translatable skills from an acute care setting (or even a subacute setting) that may translate directly to primary care. Now, there may be RN positions where you work directly with the practice however, those are sometimes difficult to get as a new grad, with many of those RNs working in a hospital first or another setting.
Now, I think that with your extensive experience as an MA, you may have a quite easier transition with going from your RN directly to your NP, if you’re going to go in a similar setting from which you were an MA. I’m thinking if you go from working as a MA in primary care to working as a NP in primary care that could be a very easy transition. However, if you were going to transition to acute care or even a different ambulatory specialty, then it might be reasonable to get a few RN years of experience under your belt. Hope that helps!
Another benefit, and you might already get this as a MA, is time management. Primary care, as you might already know, often only has about 15 minute appointment slots, which requires you to be very strategic with your time management. You don’t want to be doing notes until 9 PM every day, although there are many clinicians who do just that.
The argument that I would make for going right into primary care as a NP is that it is quite its own animal. And working as RN in any capacity in a hospital, LTC or even urgent care is there aren’t very many translatable skills from an acute care setting (or even a subacute setting) that may translate directly to primary care. Now, there may be RN positions where you work directly with the practice however, those are sometimes difficult to get as a new grad, with many of those RNs working in a hospital first or another setting.
Now, I think that with your extensive experience as an MA, you may have a quite easier transition with going from your RN directly to your NP, if you’re going to go in a similar setting from which you were an MA. I’m thinking if you go from working as a MA in primary care to working as a NP in primary care that could be a very easy transition. However, if you were going to transition to acute care or even a different ambulatory specialty, then it might be reasonable to get a few RN years of experience under your belt. Hope that helps!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1220
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Renae,
I think most (all?) NP school require 1-3 years of experience for admission. Obviously, it makes sense to practice for a few years in your profession before you take on a more advanced, more independent role.
Now, in your case, since you have already so much professional experience as an MA, that requirement might be relaxed. You'd have to inquire with the school you want to attend about that. I would still think that experience in your new role would be important to have, but maybe the clock could be shortened.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I think most (all?) NP school require 1-3 years of experience for admission. Obviously, it makes sense to practice for a few years in your profession before you take on a more advanced, more independent role.
Now, in your case, since you have already so much professional experience as an MA, that requirement might be relaxed. You'd have to inquire with the school you want to attend about that. I would still think that experience in your new role would be important to have, but maybe the clock could be shortened.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP