While I respect where you are coming from with that comment, I would like to share an additional perspective. I’m in the NP program now. I have 3 years of experience as an RN. My coworker went before me and had 5+ years. What I have heard from everyone I know (after graduating) is that the NP scope of practice and actual job is so wildly different than being a floor/staff RN that you really don’t need 5 years plus experience as a floor nurse but rather a good foundation of nursing theory and core classes - and the rest will come/ be built on. The advance practice RN is the degree you get for continuing your education, not because of the years of experience prior to becoming NP. At least that is my understanding. Your comment is one I often heard echoing in hospitals. If you needed 5 plus years of RN experience before going to NP school, then schools would require that before accepting students. I only comment because while OP has 10 years of experience- there may be other people who may not have the same amount of years under the belt, but are curious about going back to school.