Go From Rn To Fnp With Herzing University
Take a big step in your nursing career by earning an MSN degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. Get the undergraduate and graduate-level education you need to join a rewarding, growing field in nursing.
Our RN to MSN-FNP degree options are designed for registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing looking for the shortest path to becoming an FNP:
- An accelerated RN to MSN-FNP path for RNs seeking the shortest route to an MSN
- An RN to BSN to MSN-FNP track for RNs who also want to earn a BSN on their way to earning an MSN
Earn your degree online in Herzings Everywhere Classroom, where you can learn on your schedule at your own pace. Learn from experienced, accessible faculty with extensive academic and professional experience.
As your lifelong partner in learning, we exist to help you walk the educational pathway towards the career youve always wanted.
Classes Start September 7th
Ma Vs Rn Employment & Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , both registered nurses and medical assistants, as well as most healthcare occupations, are in high demand and will continue to experience above-average career growth over other occupations for the years to come. According to 2019 data from the BLS, the median annual salary for registered nurses is $73,300 compared to $34,800 for medical assistants.
Generally, registered nurses with a BSN make a higher salary than nurses from ADN programs, and certified medical assistants can expect a higher wage than non-certified. Additionally, registered nurses can become certified in specialties like labor & delivery or critical care, which depending on the state and employer, typically enjoy a slight increase in pay as well.
Learn more about MA Salaries and RN Salaries
How Long Does It Take To Become An Rn
How long does it take to become a registered nurse ? Thats a common question that people ask me when they develop an interest in becoming an RN. The answer is that it depends on a few things. Ill try to explain how long it takes to become a registered nurse, and then Ill share how long it took me to become an RN.
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If You Have A Bsn And Are An Rn
If youve already received your BSN and are a licensed RN, your path to becoming a nurse practitioner is much shorter. You have the option of choosing between two degrees: a Master of Science in Nursing , or Doctor of Nursing Practice . From there, you will need to take and pass the National NP Certification and Board Exam, and then apply for a license to practice in your state.
Either an MSN or DNP will prepare you for work as a nurse practitioner, but there are some differences between the two.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
ACNP programs help prepare nurses to care for acutely ill patients. Some ACNP programs may have a population focus, such as adult-gerontology or pediatric. The curriculum for ACNP programs may include acute care management, clinical residencies, acute care procedures and diagnostics and acute care clinical skills. Learn more about online acute care nurse practitioner programs.
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Definition Of A Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who provides expert, hands-on nursing care to patients in all kinds of medical settings. In the course of their work day, NPs can be found:
- Diagnosing & treating acute illnesses and chronic medical conditions
- Ordering & interpreting lab results
- Developing plans of care & advising patients on disease prevention, lifestyle changes, and better health
- Supporting & counseling families through difficult medical decisions
- Collaborating with physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and social workers
- Working with the community on public health issues
- Conducting independent research, advocating for patients, and advising on government policy
- Teaching nursing students
NPs may also be able to prescribe medications, perform medical procedures, and practice without supervision from a physician. The ability to do this can vary from state to state, depending on State Board of Nursing policies.
How Long Is Certified Nursing Assistant School
Certified Nursing Assistants, or CNAs, are also referred to as Nurses Aides, Patient Care Assistants or Nursing Assistants. As the title indicates, they report to and assist Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses.
Completing a program to become a CNA generally takes 4-12 weeks. You can become a Certified Nursing Assistant by taking a state-approved training program offered through local hospitals or at community colleges.
After you complete the CNA program, you will be eligible to take a state-administered competency exam that consists of both a multiple-choice written exam and a practical skills exam. Once you have passed this exam you will be certified and eligible to apply for a CNA job and to begin working.
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Maximize Your Prior Training And Experience
One of the most abrupt challenges in making the move from RN to nurse practitioner has been described as taking a step backward in expertise. Youve likely grown comfortable in your role as an RN, mastering the daily tasks and developing well-earned instincts. Your first year as a nurse practitioner will require you to master learned tasks and develop new instincts.
However, your years of work as an RN are crucial and will continue to serve you well as you grow into your new role. For instance, much of your time will be spent navigating the core elements of health care you already know well, including:
- Patient interaction and care
- Working relationships with other health care providers and staff
- Foundational medical and health care knowledge
- Effective communication skills
Your first year will be spent building new expertise in your transition from RN to nurse practitioner. Still, youll be well-prepared to adapt by leveraging the foundation of knowledge, experience, and intuition youve already developed as a nurse.
Can Family Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medication
Yes, nurse practitioners hold prescriptive privileges, including controlled substances, in all 50 states and D.C. Additionally, 95.7% of NPs prescribe medications, and those in full-time practice write an average of 20 prescriptions per day. The scope of their prescriptive authority varies, however, depending on the state.
- Some states imbue FNPs with full prescriptive authority, able to prescribe without physician oversight.
- Others require that an FNP complete a certain number of hours with a physician before they transition to prescribing medication independently.
- Finally, some states require the FNP to maintain a relationship with a physician to prescribe medicine.
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Nurse Practitioner Professional Organizations
Once you have become a certified nurse practitioner, you can join national, international and state organizations that provide support, education and advocacy for NPs. These organizations are also a great way to access networking and continuing education opportunities.
National nurse practitioner organizations include:
Almost all states also have their own nurse practitioner organizations.
How Long Is Nursing School
The answer to that question depends on a number of factors including:
- What type of nurse do you want to be?
- How are you going to go earn your degree?
- Are you going to go to school full time?
- Are you going to take classes in person or online?
- Do you want to get some hands-on experience before you move on to a position with more responsibility?
Every nursing degree will prepare you to care for patients, but each does so in a different way. This guide will explain the different types of nursing degrees and how long each will take you to complete each of them.
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Is Biology A Useless Degree
With a BS in Bio, youll be competing against a lot of people for relatively few jobs. Its not a great scenario to be in. Youll want to get another certification, skill, or graduate degree that is more marketable/in demand. It isnt a useless major, but it definitely needs something extra to supplement it.
Develop Skills In A Nursing Program
An important aspect of pursuing a BSN to MSN program is developing essential skills as well as strengthening your foundation of knowledge. Since the day-to-day responsibilities of a nurse manager or nursing teacher can look very different from those of a family nurse practitioner, it is important for you to develop practical skills catered to your specialty.
A BSN to MSN program can help you enhance your communication skills as well as interpersonal skills, and prepare you to work with patients and fellow healthcare professionals. Through clinicals, you will also develop critical thinking skills, as you learn to make efficient decisions and solve real-life problems. As you earn your MSN degree, you will also learn how to work as an effective leader, no matter your specific concentration.
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Family Nurse Practitioner Vs Physician: Whats The Difference
Nurse practitioners’ and doctors roles overlap in several areasthey each diagnose illness, prescribe medicine, and make patient treatment plans. But key differences exist:
- An FNP holds a masters at a minimum, while a doctor must complete medical school and a residency.
- An FNP has 6 to 8 years of postsecondary education, while a doctor has an average of 11.
- An FNPs ability to prescribe medicine and diagnose illness independently varies by state. Doctors can prescribe independently in all 50 states.
- An FNPs median salary is $120,680, while a doctors mean annual wage is $208,000.
- Both professions have a positive job growth rate, according to the BLS. But the 52% projected rate of growth for NPs far outpaces the 3% growth rate for doctors, which is slower than the average for all jobs.
Getting Registered Or Licensed By The State You Practice In
The final step to becoming a nurse practitioner is registration or licensure for the state in which you will practice. There is wide variance in the conditions for registration or licensure that states may impose on NP practice. Some, for example, may have requirements for completing a supervised or collaborative practice.
A related issue to state regulation of nursing is full practice authority. Nurse practitioners, depending on where they live, may have the autonomy to perform their job duties like interpreting diagnostic tests or prescribing medication without the supervision of a physician or physicians assistant. There has been a recent shift in expanding the practice scope of NPs and APRNs, with legislation being passed in increasing numbers that grants full practice authority through a state nursing board.
Full practice authority in many cases is being leveraged to bring high-quality care within reach of underserved or rural patient populations. Leaning on NPs to deliver this care, as well as meet the increasing demand for health care amid a nursing shortage, has spurred several states to reconsider their laws on full practice authority.
As for the remainder:
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Advancing Your Nursing Career
Working as a registered nurse may be a common nursing career path, but your career doesnt need to stop there. There are many advanced nursing roles you can explore once youre working in the field.
Some of these positions include:
- Clinical nurse leaders
- Nurse educators
- Nurse anesthetists
How long does it take to become a nurse leader or land another advanced nursing role? It depends on your past experience and your desired career path.
In most cases, advancing your career will require not just professional experience, but also an advanced nursing degree such as a Master of Nursing . With an MSN, you could focus your degree on any number of nursing specialties, including:
- MSN – Nursing Education
- MSN – Population Health
Most masters degree programs will take about two years to complete. Depending on your past educational and professional experience, you may be able to complete your degree faster. If you take fewer courses each term, it may take you more than two years to graduate.
Depending on your career path, you may also need to apply for additional certifications and licenses after completing an MSN. To become a nurse practitioner , for example, you must pass an NP licensing exam.
Learn more about what an MSN is.
Benefits Of Becoming A Nurse Practitioner
There are many reasonsboth personal and professionalthat may drive a nurses decision to pursue an advanced degree. The opportunities abound for this profession.
Becoming an NP allows for increased autonomy, more specialized and intense training in your field of interest, more freedom and flexibility with your career, and usually, a higher wage.
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Are Online Programs Available
There are online programs available for nursing students at all levels, including students pursuing an MSN or a DNP. In many cases, youll take your classes online, then be placed at in-person, clinical locations in the community to get the hours you need. You might have the option to use on-campus resources like libraries, study groups, and more when you need them.
How Do You Get Into Nurse Practitioner Schools
As mentioned above, to apply to nurse practitioner schools, you need to be an RN with either a BSN or an ADN degree. There are a few nurse practitioner schools that accept students without a nursing background and offer a combined BSN and NP program, but these are uncommon and will take significantly longer than standard nurse practitioner schooling.
If you dont have a background in nursing, you will likely have to complete prerequisites in several course areas before you can begin a joint BS/RN program. Prerequisites will often be in the following areas:
- Biology
- Psychology
- Statistics
If you are an RN, you will also need to have passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing .
Most nurse practitioner programs also require you to have some experience working as a nurse before you start your nurse practitioner degree. One to two years of experience is generally the minimum amount required, but, on average, nurses have ten years of experience before they go to school to become nurse practitioners.
Youll need solid grades, but they dont need to be as high as they would be if you were applying to med school. Generally, a college GPA of 3.0 or higher is enough to get you into many nurse practitioner programs. Your grades in human biology/anatomy and other classes related to nursing will be the most important.
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Why Should I Transition From Rn To Nurse Practitioner
The nurse practitioner role is growing exponentially, as is the need for dedicated professionals who want to advance from RN to nurse practitioner.
Those interested in transitioning from RN to nurse practitioner enjoy a wide range of benefits including high job satisfaction, more career autonomy, and a bright career outlook.
In fact, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked nurse practitioner as the #5 job on its overall 100 Best Jobs of 2020 list, the #4 best healthcare job, and the #5 best job in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Aanp Is A Pearl Advancing Np Practice Education Advocacy Research And Leadership
As an NP, you become an advocate of wellness. You listen to and partner with your patients. You provide lifesaving care. AANP is here to support you every step of the way from your start as an NP student to your retirement. Now, join 121,000 in strengthening The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner® by becoming an AANP member or renewing your membership.
No one represents you like AANP does. AANP is working hard in Washington, D.C., and across the nation, taking a stand for NPs and patients, raising awareness of the NP role and championing regulatory improvements to allow for direct access to NP care. Together, we can continue to help lawmakers increase their understanding of the core issues influencing NP practice.
AANP makes learning easier. AANP understands the challenges you face as an NP from staying on top of the latest research and treatments to meeting the demands of running a practice, earning continuing education credit and maintaining your certification. The AANP CE Center offers convenient access to hundreds of contact hours, made available completely free to members! Explore the AANP CE Center. Register for the 2021 AANP National Conference, where you can earn more than 100 contact hours of CE online, plus save $160 on your registration fees as an AANP NP member.
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Types Of Nurse Practitioners
âNurse practitionerâ is an umbrella term. Once you have decided to become an NP, youâll be expected to specialize in a population focus area. That means youâll hold a job title such as:
After you have decided on your focus area, you may even wish to sub-specialize. For example, youâll see listings for both RN to MSN Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and RN to MSN Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner programs in our directory. We talk a lot more about your options under each NP specialty page.
Obtain Your Nursing License
Upon graduation from our Direct Entry MSN program, the next step is to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination . This step is crucial, as you must pass the NCLEX to receive nursing licensure. To help students prepare for the NCLEX, we administer practice exams each semester.
One of the great things about applying for a nursing license in the state of Wisconsin is that the state belongs to the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact . This means that nurses can apply for a multistate license, allowing them to practice in more than 30 states without the need to apply for a new license.
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