Schools push APRN immediately-

12 I was having lunch with several NP colleagues and as we were lamenting the lack of actual nursing experience in so many of the students we get asked, and refuse, to precept one of them shared something that of course I had always suspected but to know that it is a blatant direction makes me sick. Apparently his university, which is part of a very well known, enormous teaching hospital is pushing the direct entry programs because the philosophy is to keep the money coming in while the student is there rather than take the chance they will graduate and for whatever reason not return to grad school or go to another grad school. No consideration for the value of actually working as a nurse.

Not that I didn't suspect this with the whole push for DNP which is only at this point is only being driven by the universities not my board of nursing. Good business I guess but I'm worried about the quality of NPs going forward.

Your thoughts and experiences with direct entry practitioners?
Quote from Jules AYour thoughts and experiences with direct entry practitioners?

I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

^^^^Hmmm. To me, that begs the question as to why completing NURSING school is necessary if they think the NURSE in NURSE practitioner is unimportant. *sigh* One of the people I most admire (and also consider a good friend) is close to completing her Masters to become an ANP............ (can't insert paragraphs on mobile app).......... She's been a nurse for many years, with lots of experience in cardiac care/electrophysiology etc. She is excellent at educating her patients and colleagues. She loves research and lifelong learning. She recognizes the value her experiences as a direct care/bedside nurse will give her NP practice, and I have no doubt she will continue to educate patients, but also her bedside nurse colleagues and listen to them when making decisions. .............(another attempt to insert paragraph).......... don't think she'd be as well ragarded and trusted without her many years as a bedside RN. I'm aware some disagree, and I know this is just my opinion but there it is.

Quote from OCNRN63I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Quote from OCNRN63I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Quote from PA_RN87As a nurse with 2+ years experience on a medical-oncology unit preparing to begin NP studies this fall, I can't disagree enough with this claim. I have learned so much working in the field that will definitely apply to my role as an NP. Getting experience in the real world exposes you to things you'd otherwise only read about in a textbook, and of course we all know that not everything works exactly "by the book." I have learned so much about disease processes, medications, labs, and diagnostics in a real world context.

Quote from OCNRN63I have heard some reason away that bedside nursing experience is not necessary because nurse practitioners aren't doing "nursing."

Quote from TheCommuterIn addition, many of the deans of these entry-level programs are advising prospective students that actual nursing experience is unnecessary.

Quote from Jules AYup this what they were saying today. I couldn't believe it. In fact I still can't believe they are so smug as to actually put that out there and that people are actually so naive to think they will be competent prescribers with no experience or residency.

Quote from TheCommuterI totally concur.It's a travesty whenever I hear a prospective NP student saying, "The nursing department chair at my school says bedside nursing experience isn't necessary to be a nurse practitioner, so I'm going to agree with her!"

Quote from TheCommuterThere's a wise chestnut: "You don't know what you don't know."APRNs who lack a few years of hands-on nursing experience don't know what they don't know; hence, some of the decisions they make and orders they write come across as wacky at best and dangerous at worst.

When you consider how difficult it has been for new grad RNs to find jobs, is it that surprising to find NP students without bedside nursing experience?