What is the quickest way for an RN to become a RNP?
Asked by Sola123
I'm trying to find out the best route, and the quickest yet best quality, to become a nurse practitioner. I'm an RN with an Associate Degree, and have been in the medical field for 29 yrs, since high school. I'm interested in learning something new, and would like to stay in the medical field despite a partial disability I have. This makes it impossible to continue with physical, or even sedentary nursing, so more autonomy would be great. If there are any legitimate at home job for an RN, that would be very helpful in the meantime. Any ideas? I've been Charge nurse in a high acuity med-surg unit in a teaching hospital, and presently Charge in a Surgery/Oncology unit. I also work ENT/Ortho/GI/GU/Oral/Plastics/Derm clinics, and Minor surgery. I was a certified scrub tech prior. I worked in the OR for 10 yrs. I trained at the best, 'Big Charity' in New Orleans. Motto: 'See one, do one, teach one' I specialized in Ortho and Neuro, training new staff. Thanks for input!

Best Answer:
There are 3 ways to become an RN (according to the US Dept of Labor) : A bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), which is what you have, and a diploma. But since you already have an associate degree in nursing, you have this option for further training: Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find a staff nurse position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2004, there were 600 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree programs in nursing also are available. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2004, there were 137 RN-to-MSN programs. FYI: Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field and who are interested in moving into nursing. In 2004, more than 165 of these programs were available. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. Individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN program, because, if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Please note: A bachelor’s degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Individuals who complete a bachelor’s receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor’s degree programs offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings. In 2004, 417 nursing schools offered master’s degrees, 93 offered doctoral degrees, and 46 offered accelerated BSN-to-doctoral programs. For your specialty training: All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s degree. Most programs last about 2 years and require a BSN degree and some programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for admission. In 2004, there were 329 master’s and post-master’s programs offered for nurse practitioners, 218 master’s and post-master’s programs for clinical nurse specialists, 92 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 45 programs for nurse midwives. Upon completion of a program, most advanced practice nurses become nationally certified in their area of specialty. In some States, certification in a specialty is required in order to practice that specialty. All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. **Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.** Here's some other suggestions for specialities: Some nurses move into the business side of health care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers—including hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and managed care organizations, among others—need RNs for health planning and development, marketing, consulting, policy development, and quality assurance. Other nurses work as college and university faculty or conduct research. For information on nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, contact: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, P.O. Box 12846, Austin, TX 78711. Internet: http://www.aanp.org Good luck!
My mom had an associate's degree in Nursing and after a number of years of raising kids went back and took an accelerated training program to get her Bachelor's. She worked as a nurse, than a head nurse, and later managed a nursing home. For information on nursing career options, financial aid, and listings of BSN, graduate, and accelerated nursing programs, contact: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1 Dupont Circle NW., Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.aacn.nche.edu
Answered by waswisgirl1