Can You Become A Nurse Practitioner Without A Nursing Degree

Applying To The Accelerated Master’s Program

The UR School of Nursing uses a comprehensive, holistic review process during which each application receives individual consideration. We seek applicants who clearly understand the differentiated nurse and nurse practitioner roles, are motivated and prepared to pursue both programs of study, and are committed to upholding the values of the school and the profession. Because admission to this program is highly competitive, prior health care experience relevant to the chosen specialty is required.

How to Apply

To complete your application, you will need to create an account and complete all sections of the application. Once you complete your application, you may receive a follow-up email to schedule an interview with members of our Admissions Review Committee.

Your application will be reviewed first at the bachelors level, then at the masters level. You may receive follow-up emails to schedule separate interviews at the bachelors and masters levels. If you are not accepted to the master’s level program, you may be considered for admission to the bachelor’s level.

For details on how to submit these materials, reference How to Complete an Application and the directions in the online application system. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Nurse Practitioner Prerequisite Courses

A licensed RN will not generally need to demonstrate a lot in the way of specific coursework. It is generally assumed that these requirements were met at the pre-nursing or nursing level. The admissions department, though, may want to see coursework in statistics, completed in the relatively recent past. There are statistics courses designed specifically to address the needs of healthcare professionals. However, the student may be allowed to matriculate on the strength of other statistics coursework.

A career changer, on the other hand, may need to provide transcripts for a number of specific prerequisite courses . Typical requirements include the following:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Nutrition
• Psychology

Having a strong anatomy and physiology background is crucial. The student will likely need a two semester sequence of anatomy and physiology or two discrete courses before matriculation advanced physiology and pathophysiology will be included in the NP course of study.

Grades are a factor, but this isnt medical school. The minimum GPA may be a 3.0. Weakness in one area is sometimes negated by strength in another. Whatever his or her background, the future nurse practitioner should be aware that the process is competitive. When assessing readiness for application, one may want to take into account the description of the typical admitted student, not just the minimums.

Is There A Difference Between A Nurse Practitioner And An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Although some people use the terms nurse practitioner and advanced practice registered nurse interchangeably, there are differences between the two professions. A nurse practitioner is a type of APRN, and all nurse practitioners must have an APRN license. However, other medical professionals also receive APRN licenses, including:

• Nurse anesthetists: A nurse anesthetist administers anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists provide specialized patient care before, during and after giving them anesthesia, such as adjusting the patient’s level of consciousness and monitoring their vital signs.

• Clinical nurse specialists: Clinical nurse specialists are like nurse practitioners in that they provide advanced nursing care, such as evaluating patients, prescribing medications and devising treatment plans. However, clinical nurse specialists often spend more time doing research or administrative tasks, while nurse practitioners spend more time providing direct care to patients.

• Nurse midwives: Nurse midwives specialize in treating women’s health issues related to pregnancy. They help women with medical areas such as reproductive health, childbirth and family planning.

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Nurse Practitioner Vs Registered Nurse: Whats The Difference

Becoming licensed as a registered nurse is one step in becoming a nurse practitioner . If you continue with graduate education to become a nurse practitioner, you will have more responsibilities and autonomy than registered nurses. Nurse practitioners need to earn either a masters or doctoral degree in nursing, whereas registered nurses only need an associate degree or bachelors degree.

Unlike a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse is not permitted to diagnose patients or develop treatment plans. Typical responsibilities of a registered nurse include monitoring patients, maintaining patient records, ordering diagnostic tests, and assisting physicians with patient care.

The work environment for the two professionals also tends to differ. Nurse practitioners usually work more standard hours in private practice or community clinic settings. Registered nurses, however, typically work a variety of shifts, including night shifts, in hospitals or surgical clinics.

Top 5 Nurse Practitioner Programs

U.S. News & World published their list of the 2020 top Nurse Practioner programs in the United States.

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Millions Of Americans Seek Out Nps For Their Health Care The Unique Ability Of Nps To Blend Clinical Excellence And Personalized Care With An Emphasis On Prevention Is A Key Reason Why Patients Choose Nps As It Turns Out Those Are Also Reasons Why More Individuals Are Choosing A Career As An Np

The NP community reflects the diversity of the U.S. representing a multitude of backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and life experiences. NPs can be found in every health care setting: from private NP-owned practices to large, multistate health care systems in outpatient primary care offices and the intensive care unit and from small frontier communities to large urban cities. Building on the strength of that diversity and continuing to meet the needs of patients and our health care system will require a robust NP workforce.

Whether you are just beginning your NP education or are a seasoned professional in a different field who is considering becoming an NP, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® has the resources to help you plan for your future and join the ranks of over a quarter million NPs as we improve the health of our nation.

How To Become A Nurse Practitioner Without Nursing Experience

While some people have their sights set on becoming nurse practitioners at a young age, others of us didnt make the career choice early on. Perhaps we thought we wanted to become physicians but later expanded our view of healthcare, or entered the world of business and became disillusioned with climbing the corporate ladder. Or, maybe we were simply indecisive. Fortunately, there are plenty of paths allowing non-nurses to enter the NP profession.

If you dont have a nursing degree and think the nurse practitioner career sounds like it might be a good fit for you, you arent alone. I receive e-mails everyday from non-nurses seeking insight on entering the NP profession. For most individuals holding a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing there are three potential paths to become a nurse practitioner.

Path #1- MEPN Program

A few schools offer super-accelerated ways for students with a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing to become nurse practitioners. These programs go by a variety of titles including accelerated programs, bridge programs, or Masters Entry Programs in Nursing . These schools typically take just two to three years to complete on a full-time basis. The first year or so, students learn basic nursing skills earning an RN degree. The second year students complete the courses required to earn an MSN degree, allowing them to become nurse practitioners.

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Do Nurse Practitioners Get Paid Well

A 2019 AANP report cited the median base salary for a full-time NP at $110,000. Top-earning NPs included those with adult psychiatric/mental health certification who earned $125,000 a year, and emergency room NPs who made $135,000. NPs in California and Hawaii out-earned those in other states, enjoying salaries above $140,000.

S To Becoming A Nurse Practitioner

NPs typically start as licensed RNs with several years of clinical work experience. After beginning their master’s or doctoral studies, prospective NPs select a patient population-based specialty area. Graduates take a national certification exam in their specialization to obtain advanced practice registered nursing licensure in their state.

While NP education specifics depend on concentration areas and program offerings with licensure requirements varying by state, most candidates complete the following steps.

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Discover Your Road To A Career In Nursing

Youve envisioned a different future for yourself and so have we. Youre ready for a career where you can make a positive difference in peoples lives, where you are respected for your professional skill and compassion, and where you can continually learn and grow to advance your career. Youre ready to be a nurse.

Our Accelerated Bachelors Program for Non-Nurses preps students who already have a bachelors degree for a career in nursing in 12 months. But earning your bachelors and RN licensure in the Accelerated Bachelor’s program is just the beginning. We expect our graduates to enter the nursing workforce ready to learn and gain experience: caring for patients, working in a health care team, and deepening their understanding of what it means to be a nurse.

We also expect our graduates to go on and complete a masters or doctoral degree and become leaders in the field. For the vast majority, this means gaining experience as an RN before pursuing a graduate degree. But for those who know what specialty theyd like to pursue as a nurse practitioner, and have had significant health care experience in that area, they may be eligible to apply for the Accelerated Masters Program for Non-Nurses.

Through the Accelerated Masters, in just three years of full-time effort you can earn a bachelors degree in nursing and specialize in the field of nursing, including:

How To Become A Nurse In Oregon

There has never been a better time to become a nurse in Oregon. Outside of the obvious job perks the satisfaction that comes from helping people and contributing to the healthcare needs of the community the reasons for pursuing a nursing position in the state are numerous.

A number of factors, including the aging of the U.S. population, the aging and retirement of longtime nurses, and the uncertainty of healthcare reforms, point to a nursing shortage, particularly in the states rural areas. That means more nursing jobs in the future.

To compound matters, schools within the state are struggling to graduate enough nurses to keep up with the demand, requiring many healthcare providers to hire nurses from outside the state .

The bottom line: Projections show that, between 2017 and 2027, Oregon will need an additional 26,600 RNs over a 10-year period to fill new jobs due to growth within the industry and to replace current RNs who leave their positions.

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What Can You Learn From Working As A Registered Nurse

Nursing is sometimes described as more than just a science, but an art. You cant always learn from a textbook you just have to experience it to understand. Working as a Registered Nurse gives you first-hand training and experience in caring for patients. Your textbook knowledge is put to the test in real-world situations.

A few examples of things you can expect to learn as a Registered Nurse are the following:

How Long Will Earning A Nurse Practitioner Degree Take

The length of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner depends mostly on the degree you hold when you start and the degree you are hoping to eventually earn, but between two and four years is the average.

Youll need to hold an RN license before you can start an NP program. This means youll need to earn at least an associate degree or, more commonly, a bachelors degree. An ADN generally takes around two years, while a BSN will take around four.

It generally takes two to four years to become a nurse practitioner.

You can go straight to an MSN program as an RN with an associate degree, but this bridge program will take longer than it would to earn your MSN if you already had a BSN. Generally, you can complete an MSN in around two years, but a bridge program could take as many as three. Plus, BSN-educated nurses can take their own bridge, going straight from a BSN to a DNP with BSN-DNP programs.

If youre looking to earn your doctorate, it can take anywhere from three to six years. The length of time will depend on your program, program structure, specialty, and more. Some DNP programs will also require extensive clinical hours, which can add to the length.

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University Of Southern California Sponsored Program

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing program from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Department of NursingConcentration: Family Nurse Practitioner Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-TimeCoursework Credits: 49 credits 51 credits Clinical Practice Hours: 784 HoursLength of Program: 2133 Months

Admissions Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 grade point average in your BSN or MSN program
• Completion of a 3-credit course in statistics, with a grade of C or better
• Must be a U.S.-licensed registered nurse and reside within the United States upon application and throughout the duration of the program
• One year of clinical experience

Program Description:The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work Department of Nursing prepares registered nurses to provide advanced care informed by an understanding of the social determinants of health that influence patient well-being. Through USCs CCNE-accredited online program, RNs with a BSN can earn an MSN in as few as 21 months.

Certifications For Popular Specializations

The type of NP certification you earn will vary depending on your specialty or subspecialty. Here are examples of some popular NP specialties and the certifications you can pursue:

• Family Nurse Practitioner Certification , offered by the ANCC
• Family Nurse Practitioner certification, offered by the AANPCB

Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care , offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board

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So What Are My Other Options

There are many potential pathways besides direct-entry programs current non-nurses can pursue to become a nurse practitioner. We offer a wide variety of options for students new to nursing who are ready to take big steps down a new career pathand many online nurse practitioner programs to help you choose your unique educational pathway.

• Current degree holders may be able to find a quicker path to becoming an NP.

• Earn an Associate of Science in Nursing and become an RN. Hit the ground running and earn a nursing degree in as few as 20 months in an associate degree program.
• Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become an RN. Earning a BSN can take more time, but there are many potential benefits, including qualifying for jobs, greater opportunity for specialization, and higher potential salary. We now offer an online BSN program for non-nurses, available in select U.S. states.
• Additional bridge options for Paramedics/Emergency Medical Technicians , Cardiovascular Technicians and Respiratory Therapists . Current practicing paramedics/EMTs, CVTs and RTs may be eligible to enroll in our Bridge to ASN or Bridge to BSN programs and earn their nursing degree faster.

Once youve earned an undergraduate nursing degree, you can potentially begin working towards an online masters degree in an NP specialty, including:

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Path #2- Stepwise Degree Approach

If taking out a mountain of students loans and possibly relocating to attend an MEPN program doesnt appeal to you, there is still a semi-accelerated path to becoming a nurse practitioner for non-nurses.

First, obtain an RN degree. Many schools across the country offer RN programs at an affordable cost. These programs are often delivered in a format allowing students to keep their day jobs further offsetting the cost of education.

Then, attend an RN-MSN program. There are a few schools across the country that provide a path for students with an RN degree rather than a bachelors degree in nursing to become nurse practitioners. Some schools even offer these programs online. If you plan to complete this part of your education immediately following your RN program, make sure to check application requirements closely as some schools require nursing experience for admittance.

Overall, this path is not as expedient as attending an MEPN program, but it does confer significantly more flexibility and can be completed at a much more affordable cost.

Path #3- Traditional Approach

The most common route to the nurse practitioner profession is to obtain a bachelors degree in nursing followed by a masters degree in nursing . Some schools offer accelerated bachelors degree in nursing programs for students already holding a bachelors degree in another field.

Which path will you take to the nurse practitioner career?

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Youll Have A Real Impact

Few career paths allow you to positively impact peoples lives. As an NP, youll care for people at their most vulnerable. Youll be instrumental in improving and sometimes saving the lives of your patients. With your advanced clinical training and practice, youll be given the authority to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, provide evidence-based preventive education and even prescribe medications .

Did you know? Care by nurse practitioners is correlated with better patient outcomes. Choosing an NP for care leads to higher patient satisfaction, increased health counseling, more emphasis on prevention, better provider-patient communication, improved follow-up, fewer visits to the emergency department and increased time spent with patients. States that allow NPs full practice authority see fewer hospitalizations and better outcomes for Medicare and Medicaid patients, which is especially important for our aging population .