Thinking about how to become an APRN? You’ll first need a BSN. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the essential first step, and you may be able to earn it on an accelerated timeline. You’ll also need an RN license, clinical experience, a graduate degree and board certification.
Nursing can be a great career field for many reasons. It’s meaningful work that makes a positive difference in the community and offers many career options and advancement opportunities. For example, after becoming a registered nurse (RN), you can pursue a career as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), such as by becoming a nurse practitioner (NP).
Curious about how to become an APRN? The RN to APRN pathway begins with earning your nursing degree.
At Averett University, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows students to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months. No matter where your career takes you, Averett’s ABSN curriculum serves as a solid nursing foundation on which you can rely.
Below is an exploration of what an APRN is and how you can become an NP.
What Are APRNs and Nurse Practitioners?
Nursing offers a diverse range of career paths, including advanced positions, such as APRNs. An APRN is a nurse who has undergone higher education and earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Several types of APRNs exist: Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Nurse Practitioners. Nurses must choose a type before enrolling in the appropriate graduate program. In this blog, we will explore how to become an NP, a popular choice for nurses wishing to expand their scope of practice.
NPs are advanced clinicians who diagnose and treat patients, help patients manage health conditions and promote preventive care. NPs tend to focus on the health of the whole person and provide comprehensive patient education, guiding patients toward healthier lifestyle choices. Depending on the state, NPs work with considerable practice autonomy compared to other nurses and collaborate closely with other healthcare providers.
NPs provide primary, acute and specialty services to patients. Their specialty areas include oncology, pediatrics, adult health, mental health, and women’s health. Their daily work responsibilities vary, depending on their specialty area and the needs of their patients, but, in general, an NP may do any of the following:
- Order, perform and interpret medical tests for diagnostic purposes
- Prescribe treatments, including medications (in accordance with state law)
- Provide patient counseling and education
- Diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions ranging from infections to diabetes and beyond
Here’s a look at the differences between an NP and RN.
How to Become an NP
If the role and responsibilities of an NP appeal to you, you can start working toward your new career right away. Even if you have been out of school and in the workforce for a while, switching careers to nursing and advancing within the field are entirely possible. Here’s a look at how to become an NP, starting with earning your BSN.
Step 1: Find the Right Nursing School for You
People come to the nursing field from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. You must reflect on your academic background and career goals to determine which path is best for you. If you have a high school diploma but no college credits, you will need to enroll in a traditional BSN program, which typically takes four full-time years to complete.
Becoming an RN is possible with just an Associate Degree in Nursing, which typically takes two years to complete. However, an associate degree will not allow you to become an APRN; you would need to return to school and complete an RN to BSN program. Therefore, earning a BSN right from the start is preferable.
If you have already earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or have a minimum of 60 college credits, you may be eligible for an accelerated BSN program, such as the ABSN program at Averett University. With an accelerated program, you can earn a BSN in far less time.
If you qualify for an ABSN program, spend time researching and comparing your options, looking for a program that suits your needs and offers the following:
- Accreditation
- Multiple start dates per year
- Values-based education
- Highly supportive admissions counselors
- A hybrid program with online classes and in-person labs and clinicals
Averett’s ABSN program offers all of the above and an accelerated nursing curriculum that fully prepares students to confidently take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and become practice-ready RNs.
Why is a BSN important? Explore the top 8 reasons here.
Step 2: Navigate the Admissions Process
Once you’ve found the right nursing program for your needs, it’s time to take a closer look at the admissions process. At Averett, applicants work closely with a dedicated admissions counselor who creates a personalized admissions plan to guide students through every step of the admissions process.
Every nursing school has its own requirements. For example, Averett’s ABSN requires students to have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 60 non-nursing credits from an accredited school to apply. Your admissions counselor will help identify which requirements need to be met, including passing a criminal background check, an entrance exam and completing prerequisite courses.
Step 3: Earn Your BSN
A BSN degree program lays the groundwork for your future career. In Averett’s ABSN, our hybrid curriculum combines the flexibility of online coursework with valuable experiential learning, so our students can apply foundational nursing concepts to real-world nursing practice.
You will complete online coursework in curriculum areas such as health assessments, patient outcomes, global health and mental health, as well as participate in in-person nursing labs and clinical rotations.
Nursing skills and simulation labs are held at the ABSN Learning Center in Norfolk, Virginia. The nursing skills labs allow you to develop fundamental skills such as wound care and IV insertion. In nursing simulation labs, you will work through simulated patient care scenarios, using high-tech medical manikins as your first patients.
These medical manikins can mimic various functions and behaviors of actual patients, providing the opportunity to refine your nursing skills and clinical decision-making within a safe environment.
Additionally, you will participate in in-person clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities, providing real-world patient care under the supervision of preceptors and healthcare staff. At Averett, our nursing students complete clinical rotation hours at top facilities in Norfolk and Hampton Roads.
Are you ready to start nursing school? Read more to learn how to succeed in nursing school with these actionable tips.
Step 4: Become an RN
After earning an undergraduate nursing degree, the next step on the BSN to APRN journey is obtaining state RN licensure by passing the NCLEX-RN.
This rigorous exam evaluates not only your nursing knowledge but also your ability to apply evidence-based reasoning to make appropriate nursing decisions in various clinical situations. A good idea is to prepare for the exam at the start of nursing school and then dedicate the months after graduation, leading to exam day, to full-time study.
After obtaining licensure, you can apply for your first job as an RN in the state where you are licensed. Before taking the next step toward becoming an NP, you must gain several years of clinical experience. This is a good opportunity to explore your chosen nursing specialty to see whether it is the best fit for you.
Step 5: Go From BSN to APRN Degree
After gaining some work experience, you must earn a graduate degree to become an APRN. Obtaining licensure as an APRN is currently possible with just an MSN. However, professional organizations have pushed for a DNP to be the minimum education requirement for NPs. Because of this, you may wish to earn a DNP instead of an MSN.
When researching graduate NP programs, ensure that your chosen program is accredited and offers NP specialties that interest you. You must select an NP specialty to enroll in a program.
Step 6: The RN to NP Transition
After earning your graduate nursing degree, you must pass the board certification exam for NPs in your chosen specialty area. Then, you can apply for licensure as an APRN with your state’s board of nursing.
How Averett Can Empower You to Become an APRN
When you are ready to begin your journey toward advanced nursing practice, you can develop a solid foundation for the future at Averett University. Our ABSN program in Virginia offers three start dates, meaning that we can accept more students than schools with fewer start dates. Here, you can graduate in as few as 16 months and be fully prepared to sit for the NCLEX and become a practice-ready RN.
The accelerated courses at Averett provide the perfect foundation for preparing for the challenges of pursuing advanced practice nursing. Contact our admissions counselors today to get started on the RN to APRN pathway.