Efficiently becoming a nurse practitioner

Question

What's the fastest way to become a nurse practitioner?

Answer 1

First, obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited 3- or 4-year program

1. 4-year programs are the most common and most reputable
2. Chamberlain is a well-known 3 year BSN program

Then, enroll in a one-year Master of Science in Nursing program from an accredited institution with an advanced practice specialty in PRIMARY CARE (FNP, PNP, WHNP, etc.).

1. Acute care specialties almost always require RN work experience before enrolling in your NP programs - depending on one's priorities, that work experience may or may not fit the "efficiency" aspect.
2. Soon, nurse practitioners may be required to obtain their DNP degrees
3. There are 3-year BSN-DNP programs that don't require prior RN work experience

Thus, it can take as little as 4-5 years to become a master's prepared NP and 6-7 years to become a DNP prepared NP.

The key is to look for accelerated programs ACCREDITED by the nursing education/program accrediting bodies.

This is a controversial subject for some obvious and some not-so-obvious reasons. However, these pathways are necessary for some individuals.