4 answers
Jillian
Student
Grafton, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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What kind of degree do you need to become a nurse practitioner
I am in 10th grade and I have thought about going into nursing for a long time now. I've never really thought about anything else but nursing is one of my top choices as a future career. #nursing #medicine #student
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4 answers
Kerrie Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, CNS-CP, CLNC
Registered Nurse
59
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Kerrie’s Answer
To become a Nurse Practitioner, the entry-level degree into practice is a Master's degree, but a lot of nurses now are going for their Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). To earn either of these degrees you must first earn your Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) and then you can bridge into a MSN or DNP program depending on how fast you want to complete your degree and how much you are able to spend on tuition.
I would suggest to think about the type of Nurse Practitioner specialty you would like to practice (e.g., Acute Care, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Pediatrics) and if you are not sure, then choose the Across the Lifespan until you start working in the nursing field. You can always specialize later. Then as you work you way through the BSN program and start working as a RN (after taking Boards for licensure), decide what kind of Nurse Practitioner Program you would like to attend. There are several that let you take classes online and then let you finish clinical hours with a local institution with a precepting Nurse Practitioner or physician, which is what I did. This will also allow you to look at different program tracks and costs before deciding on which program you enroll in before starting.
Also, food for thought, once you obtain your BSN and RN license, you can start working as a nurse and sometimes depending on where you work, you may be able to get some help with tuition expenses with your employer to obtain your advanced degree. This is also the route I took-I was working as a Perioperative RN for quite awhile and an opening for a Clinical Nurse Specialist became available with my employer at the time, so I applied and was accepted, and in turn they paid for my tuition to obtain my MSN as long as I worked as a CNS-Perioperative for them for 5 years afterwards. This was a great way for me to get my degree without adding additional debt to my plate. There are also grants and scholarships available through the library and online means.
I would suggest to think about the type of Nurse Practitioner specialty you would like to practice (e.g., Acute Care, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Pediatrics) and if you are not sure, then choose the Across the Lifespan until you start working in the nursing field. You can always specialize later. Then as you work you way through the BSN program and start working as a RN (after taking Boards for licensure), decide what kind of Nurse Practitioner Program you would like to attend. There are several that let you take classes online and then let you finish clinical hours with a local institution with a precepting Nurse Practitioner or physician, which is what I did. This will also allow you to look at different program tracks and costs before deciding on which program you enroll in before starting.
Also, food for thought, once you obtain your BSN and RN license, you can start working as a nurse and sometimes depending on where you work, you may be able to get some help with tuition expenses with your employer to obtain your advanced degree. This is also the route I took-I was working as a Perioperative RN for quite awhile and an opening for a Clinical Nurse Specialist became available with my employer at the time, so I applied and was accepted, and in turn they paid for my tuition to obtain my MSN as long as I worked as a CNS-Perioperative for them for 5 years afterwards. This was a great way for me to get my degree without adding additional debt to my plate. There are also grants and scholarships available through the library and online means.
Melissa Haltom, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
29
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Great! There are several paths to get there, but ultimately it is a Masters of Science in Nursing degree. You must be a registered nurse (RN) first.
Here is one path to be an RN:
The minimum education is an associates degree in nursing (ADN), offered in some community colleges.
Each program will have different prerequisite courses (courses you must take prior to being accepted into the program in this case). Making an A will increase your chances of being accepted into the nursing program.
The ADN RN programs are varying lengths depending on the school. Usually 4 semesters.
After completing the associates degree in nursing you are eligible to take the state board (test). When you pass, you will be a registered nurse and can work anywhere as an RN.
You can go back to school to get a bachelors of science in nursing (BSN), masters of science in nursing (MSN- this is what you need to be a nurse practitioner),and doctorate degree (doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or doctor of philosophy (PhD)) if you wish.
This is the most cost-effective (cheapest) way to do it:
I received my ADN at a community college and started working as an RN in a hospital.
Most hospitals have tuition reimbursement. I was able to work and complete my BSN online, and the cost was totally reimbursed... free.
Then I received my MSN FNP (family nurse practitioner) in which I also received tuition reimbursement. Those classes are more expensive so I had some expenses. Keep in mind there are many different types of nurse practitioners, but you don't need to know which type you want to be until later. If you go to my page, I have listed all the types of nurse practitioners in one of my answers.
Some people graduate from high school and go to a 4 year university and get a BSN and RN (after passing the state board) when they graduate. This is a lot more expensive. Plus, you aren’t making money until the end ... and then you typically have a LOT of student debt to pay off.
A lot of high school students dwell on the amount of time it takes to get a degree, but in the end it matters very little.
The time will come and go, as time always does. Ask yourself if you want a degree when you get to the end of that time period, or will you get there and regret never starting.
Anyway- good luck to all of you who are thinking about this wonderful and challenging career. It’s worth it, and if you have a passion for this type of work, your future patients need you to get started!
You are worth the time and energy to achieve your own goals ;)
Melissa
Here is one path to be an RN:
The minimum education is an associates degree in nursing (ADN), offered in some community colleges.
Each program will have different prerequisite courses (courses you must take prior to being accepted into the program in this case). Making an A will increase your chances of being accepted into the nursing program.
The ADN RN programs are varying lengths depending on the school. Usually 4 semesters.
After completing the associates degree in nursing you are eligible to take the state board (test). When you pass, you will be a registered nurse and can work anywhere as an RN.
You can go back to school to get a bachelors of science in nursing (BSN), masters of science in nursing (MSN- this is what you need to be a nurse practitioner),and doctorate degree (doctor of nursing practice (DNP) or doctor of philosophy (PhD)) if you wish.
This is the most cost-effective (cheapest) way to do it:
I received my ADN at a community college and started working as an RN in a hospital.
Most hospitals have tuition reimbursement. I was able to work and complete my BSN online, and the cost was totally reimbursed... free.
Then I received my MSN FNP (family nurse practitioner) in which I also received tuition reimbursement. Those classes are more expensive so I had some expenses. Keep in mind there are many different types of nurse practitioners, but you don't need to know which type you want to be until later. If you go to my page, I have listed all the types of nurse practitioners in one of my answers.
Some people graduate from high school and go to a 4 year university and get a BSN and RN (after passing the state board) when they graduate. This is a lot more expensive. Plus, you aren’t making money until the end ... and then you typically have a LOT of student debt to pay off.
A lot of high school students dwell on the amount of time it takes to get a degree, but in the end it matters very little.
The time will come and go, as time always does. Ask yourself if you want a degree when you get to the end of that time period, or will you get there and regret never starting.
Anyway- good luck to all of you who are thinking about this wonderful and challenging career. It’s worth it, and if you have a passion for this type of work, your future patients need you to get started!
You are worth the time and energy to achieve your own goals ;)
Melissa
Jami Huber
nurse
51
Answers
Lindenhurst, Illinois
Updated
Jami’s Answer
You will need at least a master's degree to be a nurse practitioner. Before pursuing that, look into your state legislation on how they allow nurse practitioners to practice.
Bbhaves Patel
Manager at Hedge Fund Admin Firm
6
Answers
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Updated
Bbhaves’s Answer
You can become nurse by either going to community college for nursing program or for undergrad nursing program. There are colleges that offer nursing program and the degree called RN(Registered Nurse) and there are universities that have bachelor degree for nurse. The college is cheaper option and relatively easy to get into. The university degree is more advance level and also has specialization. From compensation and growth standpoint, bachelor degree is better. Tution cost is also higher for bachelor degree than college program.