Retired APRN MSN, RN, APRN

Retired APRN has 35 years experience as a MSN, RN, APRN and specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

Latest Activity

1. 

   Preceptors for Student NPs

   Retired APRN replied to Retired APRN's topic in NP Students

   Thank you; that clears up several issues for me. I gather that these "less reputable" schools are the ones with the least demanding entrance criteria, as well? I am concerned about this because one of the major criticisms I hear from MDs about nurse ...
2. 

   Preceptors for Student NPs

   Retired APRN posted a topic in NP Students

   I studied many years ago, so I am ignorant about some modern practices in AP education, particularly with regard to the burgeoning online option. Most (all?) online nurse practitioner programs seem to require that students find their own preceptors. ...
3. 

   Scholarship essay for nursing--Critique, please?

   Retired APRN replied to numbersoup's topic in Student Assist

   Yes, by all means, use paragraphs. The essay is representing you; it needs to be the best you can make it. You wouldn't go to an interview with your hair uncombed, right? Also, appropriate amounts of white space frame your words, emphasize them, and ...
4. 

   Hospice failure

   Retired APRN replied to sr2121's topic in Hospice

   This makes me sick. Sounds like the patient was forgotten in what as a nurse I have always considered the flagship of patient-centered care. (As a patient with breast CA with mets, it terrifies me.)
5. 

   Grateful but discontent

   Retired APRN replied to BigBluemadness's topic in New Nurse

   I definitely would not chart "per MD Smith, no new orders at this time" if she didn't respond. There is a huge difference between no response and "no new orders". "No response", at least to my ears, means that Smith did not answer the page or call ba...
6. 

   Grateful but discontent

   Retired APRN replied to BigBluemadness's topic in New Nurse

   There may be cases in which documenting "no response from doc" is important to the preservation of your license. There are ways to document that are tactful but honest and keep you covered. Depends on the situation.
7. 

   Too late to be a nurse?

   Retired APRN replied to woodland123's topic in General Students

   If you have the physical stamina, go for it! You may have to work a little harder than your younger classmates at memorizing things, but you will have a huge advantage in terms of life experiences that have taught you perseverance, kindness, prioriti...
8. 

   Why did you become a Nurse Practitioner?

   Retired APRN replied to wildcatarnp's topic in Advanced

   1. I discovered that I was a better clinician than administrator. 2. I found that I was particularly good at interventions that were more in the NP realm than the floor nurse realm. 3. I discovered a huge interest in psychopharmacology. 4. I wanted g...
9. 

   Passed out during clinical

   Retired APRN replied to HeartsAndLungsRN's topic in Student Assist

   I passed out in the hallway after my first code. As Esme said, happens to all of us. This is not a game changer. Hugs!
10. 

    Am I too young to go straight to get my Masters degree

    Retired APRN replied to Ashstev's topic in Advanced

    Why do you want to become a nurse practitioner? How do you know you want to? I am admittedly old school. After a year in med-surg, I spent a few years as a staff nurse, then charge, then head nurse in psychiatry. I came to realize that * I was a bett...
11. 

    A non-psyche nurse needs advice

    Retired APRN replied to alpha omega's topic in Psychiatric

    In addition to placement/level of care issues (are these patients newly admitted?), I strongly suggest pharm reviews and ruling out physical origin in the first place. It sounds like some of the patients are disinhibited, which can be related to drug...
12. 

    cant decide if nursing is for me

    Retired APRN replied to lucy86's topic in Career Support

    Hmm. It sounds like you have some experience in the world of health care provision, which is a good place to start. You say that sometimes you feel right about it, and sometimes you are not sure. May I ask how old you are and how much schooling you h...
13. 

    Reduce clinical anxiety?

    Retired APRN replied to BanannaFish's topic in General Students

    Remember: this too shall pass! You're more than halfway there. Practical measures to reduce stress: eat a balanced diet in sufficient quantity and at regular intervals, even if you're busy. Get enough sleep. Get some exercise (hiking, biking, running...
14. 

    Is nursing worth it?

    Retired APRN replied to 2016New's topic in General Students

    I'm sorry you're finding school so stressful! From the symptoms you are describing, I strongly suggest that you see someone at student health or your own family physician. Depression, weight loss, frequent migraines, lack of sleep need to be investig...
15. 

    Charting on psych patients

    Retired APRN replied to studentnurse9806's topic in Psychiatric

    In addition, you can describe a situation or an observation and tell us how you think it should be charted. Your question is far too vague for us to help you.