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How to become a Nurse Practitioner?

How to become a nurse practitioner in North Carolina?

  • Okay so I want to become a nurse practitioner, but every time I google the requirements, each website says something differently. Right after high school, I plan on going to school so what should I study and and how long will it take to complete school before becoming a nurse practitioner (pediatric)? *North Carolina* P.S. Is it required to practice as an RN?

  • Answer:

    First, you must get a BSN (bachelor's degree in nursing). I'm doing that right now right out of high school at a 4-year university. But you can go to a community college to do pre-req's and transfer to a nursing school at a 4-year university to get your BSN or you can become an RN from an associate's degree and then do "BSN completion" at a 4-year college while you work as an RN. But you must have a BSN, you must be licensed as an RN by taking the NCLEX-RN. And most will require you to have worked and have experience as an RN, especially in the particular area (in your case, pediatrics) that you want to get your advanced degree for. Most graduate nursing programs will require a minimum 3.0 GPA, but usually more in the range of a 3.5 GPA minimum from your undergraduate studies. It is usually 18-24 months of full-time study to get an MSN which can specialize you as a nurse practioner. Or you can get a DNP which was introduced recently and is designed to almost replace the master's of nursing degree and the AANC wants the DNP to be a requirement of for all advanced practice nurses like nurse practioners, by 2015. A DNP is a Doctor of Nursing Practice, meaning it is a clinical doctorate for advanced practice nurses not just Nurse Practitioners. Most DNP programs that I have seen have options to enter them with a BSN or MSN. Starting from a BSN most programs (again, that I have looked at) are approximately 3 years in length with a master's focus on NP. To get an MSN (focusing on NP) it takes two years for most programs. In a BSN to DNP program, you get your master's during the program, and then are awarded your doctorate. I'm looking into this as well :) Best Wishes, Tiffany

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Here are the ways you can do it. You can get a 2 year associates degree in nursing (ADN) and take the NCLEX, which will allow you to be a RN. Or.. you can get a 4 year bachelors in nursing (BSN), take the NCLEX and become an RN...or... you can get the 2 year, transfer into a 4 year and finish the BSN that way (which is what most people do, because you can work as a RN as you are finishing your 4 year program). Then you get your master's in nursing (MSN).. but many programs are now 3 year "doctorate' in nurse practice (DPN) programs. So, it is about 7 years total. and yes.. you have to be a RN. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

John

Get your BSN. Get several years of nursing experience. Complete an NP Masters program.

Lori

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