The final countdown is on. You’ve been accepted to NP school and have begun making plans for how it will fit into your life. Before you start, you wonder – is there anything I should do ahead of time to prepare? Well, you’re in the right place. Today I’m sharing my tips for how to prepare for NP school.
NP school requires different time commitments and personal sacrifices at different points. For example, taking classes and studying is much more flexible than when you begin completing clinical hours. No matter where you are in your program, it is busy and stressful. Doing everything you can to prepare yourself will make it less stressful to manage all the changes and demands of this huge academic endeavor you’re about to go on. You GOT this!
You’ll be relieved to know that you do not need to do a lot of studying or reviewing prior to Nurse Practitioner school. There is one exception which I’ll explain below. Doing some review on this topic, anatomy and physiology, will set you up for success in all of your courses and allow you to focus on learning new content. Otherwise, the recommendations I am sharing today are all about setting yourself up for success and making a plan for managing the personal, academic, and work demands of school.
So….how do you prepare for NP school? Let’s jump in!
How to Prepare for NP School
Review anatomy and physiology
Generally, I would say don’t over-prepare studying wise. NP school is supposed to teach you everything you will need to know, at least that’s what we’re generally told. You take anatomy and physiology in nursing school which means that in NP school this is skipped over. You go straight into advanced pathophysiology.
Anatomy and physiology is the one topic I would recommend you review prior to starting. Otherwise, review as needed in your courses once you know where your knowledge gaps are. With advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment courses, it’s super helpful to already know and be comfortable with the anatomy and physiology of the body system you are studying. It will allow you to focus on learning the new material instead of re-learning more basic material you could have already brushed up on. Anatomy and physiology are the foundation of everything we learn as Nurse Practitioners. You will always need to know the different structures in the body and how they work. Once you understand the normal (aka anatomy and physiology), you’ll be better able to grasp abnormal.
There are several ways to go about reviewing anatomy and physiology. I’d recommend spending anywhere from 5-20 hours on this depending on how much you remember from nursing school. If you have a textbook leftover from your undergraduate degree or your BSN, great, use this! Otherwise, I would highly recommend YouTube videos as a great resource.
Make sure all of your vaccines and titers are up to date
Since you’ve been in nursing school and are already working as an RN, it’s very likely that you are up to date on all of your vaccines. However, it’s worth confirming ahead of time as you have to submit proof to your university in order to start school and clinical rotations.
If you’re not already familiar with what a titer is, it’s basically a blood test that checks for antibodies against a particular disease to see if you have immunity.
Here’s what most schools require:
- Proof of a Hepatitis B vaccines series plus a positive titer
- 2 doses of the MMR vaccine or positive titers for measles, mumps, and rubella
- Tdap or Td within the past 10 years
- 2 doses of the varicella vaccine or a positive titer
- Annual influenza vaccine
- Annual TB screening – a TB skin test (PPD) or the IGRA blood test depending on your school
Think about how you’ll find clinical sites or preceptors
If you’re lucky enough to go to a school that sets up your clinical experiences and finds you preceptors, then skip ahead. If not, it’s important to start thinking about this now.
Finding preceptors on your own has a reputation for being difficult. If you are responsible for finding and setting up your own preceptors and clinical experiences, it’s essential to start this process early. Start by looking at how many hours you need in each clinical area – family practice, pediatrics, women’s health, etc. Once you know this, you’ll want to start brainstorming and making a list of potential preceptors to contact.
Check with your school to see if they have any resources to guide you on how and when to make contact with potential preceptors. Do they provide an email or phone template? When do they recommend that you start setting up preceptors and clinical rotations? What paperwork is involved for you, the potential preceptor, and the site you will be practicing at?
If you’re stuck, here are some ideas of where to start:
- Do you already work with any providers who may be willing to precept you?
- Network with providers you already know. Do they have any NP, PA, or MD friends who may be willing to precept you?
- Ask your school about how their students have found preceptors in the past.
- Are you a part of a local organization or group that includes NPs, PAs, or MDs? Think about networking opportunities within these groups.
- Join your state’s Nurse Practitioner Association at the student rate. They may have member forums where you can post a request or they may offer networking events.
- Talk to other students who are in or attended the same program. How did they find preceptors? Do they know anyone who may be willing to precept you? What tips and tricks do they have?
Make a plan for your finances
There’s no doubt that Nurse Practitioner school is expensive and will likely put a strain on your finances for the next couple of years. Knowing what to expect with regard to cost can help alleviate stress and surprises in the future. Sit down and figure out the cost of tuition and fees for every quarter or semester. How much will it be for your living expenses? Budget for school supplies, clothes for clinical rotations if you don’t already have professional clothes, and gas/transportation to clinical.
- Will you be paying for tuition out of pocket or taking out loans?
- Do you have any scholarships? If not, are there scholarships you can apply for?
- Does your work have any programs that help reimburse tuition costs?
- Will you be working during school to help cover your living expenses or tuition?
Figure out your work situation
Deciding whether to work full-time, part-time, or not at all is such a personal decision. It also depends on whether you’re attending school full or part-time. Working during NP school is another layer of stress, but sometimes it’s a necessary one that cannot be avoided. I would say just about every single person in my DNP program worked to some degree for the majority of the program. Some worked per diem, others full-time, but most worked part-time as RNs. I will say that by the end of the program, most students dropped their hours significantly because demands with studying and clinical rotations peaked.
There are so many factors to consider in your decision whether to work or not during NP school. Make sure to check out this post about this exact topic.
Make sure you have all the supplies needed
What supplies will you need for school? The most important item is probably a laptop or computer. There are many other must-have items for NP school. Some items you may need include a lab coat, stethoscope, and a backpack or large purse. Don’t forget to think about study materials too – pens, notebooks, binders, highlighters, etc!
Talk with family and friends
Friends and family are critical supports for you while you’re in NP school. You may rely more than normal on your family and friends for support and help with work and home commitments while you’re studying, attending class, or on clinical rotation. Family and friends are one of the many ways you’ll survive NP school.
It can be helpful to sit down with your support people and have an open conversation. Let them know what your plans are with school and share what type of support you may need.
Relax! Take a vacation
You’re going to be working hard and challenged over the next 2-3 years in ways you have not yet experienced. You’ve also worked really hard to get to this point. I highly recommend you take a vacation before starting NP school. Take some time to celebrate how hard you worked to get here and enjoy some relaxation before taking on this next personal, academic, and professional challenge!
How to Prepare for NP School Summary
You’re about to start down an exciting and challenging path! It’s natural to wonder – how should I prepare for NP school? The only topic I recommend you refresh your knowledge on is anatomy and physiology. Otherwise, the best things you can do to prepare are: make sure your vaccines are up to date, make a plan for finding preceptors if needed, purchase school supplies, make a plan for work and your finances, have an open discussion with your family and friends, and finally, definitely take a vacation.
I’d love to know – how did you prepare for Nurse Practitioner school? Or, what questions do you have about starting NP school?
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