[katie07]

Hi all,

I was wondering if one or acouple of you would be able to respond to questions I have reguarding this profession. I am enrolled in a college Health and society class which is the lead class of the health and bioscience academy at my high school which I have been apart of for three years. A project in this class is a career investigation project. I have been interested in becoming a NP for some time and am currently applying to nursing schools for my BSN; hence I have decided to do my project on the profession of an NP. A section of this project is an interview with a professional. If one or several of you could answer my questions it would be greatly appreciated. You can respond to the thread or send a private message. thank you

Your Name: (last name initial is fine)
1- How did you decide to become a NP?

2- How did you get your first job in the field?

3- Is continueing education a requirement?

4- What aspects of your job do you find to be rewarding?

5- What aspects of your job do you find to be most challenging?

6- How has this kind of work changed since you first entered the profession?

7- What do you do during a typical day/week?

8- What are the most important skills (or knowledge, or attitude) necessary to be succesful in your career?

9-If you had any advice to give to a high school studetn considering your profession, what would it be?

10- What reading/resreach would you suggest that would help me to learn more about your profession?


Thank you for any respones! I would appreciate responses by thrusday night, thanks agian.

Katie

[katie07]

Can someone please help me out? I would greatly appreciate your answers to the above posted questions! It is for a project on advanced nursing careers and I need interviews with a NP,CNM, and CNS! thanks

either reply to the post or private message me!

[sirI]

Hello, katie,

I sent you a pm.

[pinoyNP]

1. As a nurse, I always thought I'd do something advanced as far as education. Always wanted to go for a Master's degree but was not quite sure in what field at first. Struggled with deciding over CRNA vs NP but eventually decided on NP because I enjoy in-patient management from admission to discharge and would like to have the one-on-one patient and provider interaction that the NP role offers.

2. Looked around for job openings through word of mouth (classmates, faculty members, NP preceptors), looked through hospital career web pages, and attended NP professional organization meetings to network. Got a few interviews and picked the job I thought fit me the best. First job was in Physical Medicine and Rehab - real easy job, 9-5 routine with no weekends and holidays or on-call duties. Decided the job was too un-challenging for me so moved on to a different job.

3. Yes, both for state and national certification.

4. Seeing patients get better and receiving a personal thank you for the work you did.

5. Dealing with patients' medical conditions taking a turn for the worse. However, it poses a challenge for me to try to come up with solutions to help the patient get better.

6. Personally, I've gained more confidence in my knowledge and skills. Professionally, I see more acceptance of my role from fellow nurses, physicians, and other professionals.

7. Get sign-out from previous NP or resident. Round with attendings (Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Intensivist) to come up with plan for the day. Order stuff (meds, tests, etc.). Troubleshoot problems as presented by nurses. Answer calls for possible admissions to ICU such as post-op hearts and lungs, patients not doing well in step-down who needs to return to ICU. Perform invasive procedures (triple lumen cath's, A-lines, etc, swan-ganz catheters). Receive admissions (mostly post-op hearts and lungs) and manage post-op complications (low cardiac output, hypotension, post-op bleeding, hypothermia, etc. Many other duties but will run out of space if I put it all here.

8. Good inter-personal skills, willingness to learn and receptiveness to being taught by an interdisciplinary team, ability to be flexible, ability to work in a team environment.

9. Talk to nurses and NP's, ask to shadow one and see the daily routines they do. Read up on different roles and find out which one appeals to you.

10. Maybe go to NP association websites. Talk to practicing NP's.