http://www.netpediatrics.com/can-you-become-an-icu-pediatric-nurse-practitioner-by-not-having-a-b-s-in-nursing-but-a-masters-in-nursing/ Questions and Answers from Real People Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:31:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://www.netpediatrics.com/can-you-become-an-icu-pediatric-nurse-practitioner-by-not-having-a-b-s-in-nursing-but-a-masters-in-nursing/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 Jill Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:50:40 +0000 http://www.netpediatrics.com/can-you-become-an-icu-pediatric-nurse-practitioner-by-not-having-a-b-s-in-nursing-but-a-masters-in-nursing/#comment-1075 There are direct-entry master's programs for people such as yourself who have a BS in another field and want to earn a master's in nursing. The first year of these programs is spent on the fundementals of nursing to bring you to the general RN competence level. Then you focus on the master's work. However, for most master's programs that are a degree track for Nurse Practitioner certification, you usually need at least a year of clinical experience working with the population of interest. So this route might not work for you depending on what school you choose and their program requirements. It might take a little longer than you would prefer, but I would suggest going for an accelerated BSN program to earn your RN, go to work for a year or two in pediatrics, then enroll into a master's NP program. This will build the most solid foundation for your nursing practice. There are direct-entry master’s programs for people such as yourself who have a BS in another field and want to earn a master’s in nursing. The first year of these programs is spent on the fundementals of nursing to bring you to the general RN competence level. Then you focus on the master’s work. However, for most master’s programs that are a degree track for Nurse Practitioner certification, you usually need at least a year of clinical experience working with the population of interest. So this route might not work for you depending on what school you choose and their program requirements.
It might take a little longer than you would prefer, but I would suggest going for an accelerated BSN program to earn your RN, go to work for a year or two in pediatrics, then enroll into a master’s NP program. This will build the most solid foundation for your nursing practice.

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