University of South Alabama Family Psych NP program?

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booklovinrn

118 Posts

catslady,

I have sent an email to someone I used to know that graduated from the UAMS psych program about 1 year ago. If I hear back from her and hear anything helpful I'll pass it on. Have you heard anything about the quality or rankings of the different programs you are looking at?

Specializes in Psych, Chem Dependency, Occ. Health.

I'm planning on applying for the Spring semester at USA as well for family psych NP program. I have gone back and forth on schools and will apply to others as well but if I get into USA I'd likely go. I could afford the tuition without having to take out anymore loans. That would be nice!

Sue, RN

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Im planning on applying for that semester as well :) So maybe we will be classmates. I'm planning on just going part time and still working full time, I have no choice, ugh.

What other schools have you considered?

Do you have any idea when they will open up the spring 2011 application??? I still just says "Coming Soon!" lol

I'm planning on applying for the Spring semester at USA as well for family psych NP program. I have gone back and forth on schools and will apply to others as well but if I get into USA I'd likely go. I could afford the tuition without having to take out anymore loans. That would be nice!

Sue, RN

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Ok, I have to admit that the part where you forgot to turn in the nursing application made me giggle lol ;)

Wow, that is a tough one. I think I would start where you know you are accepted (UAMS) and then transfer over to where you *want* to go, but I have no idea how that works or how hard it is. I also understand about not wanting to do the 3 year commitment. I'm ready to just get started with it all. Can you not take a slot at UAMS just to be safe and then go to USA once you get the final go ahead? That would be a hard decision to make....what do you feel most comfortable with?

We have Amedisys Home Health here as well. Ive thought about doing that but I dont know anyone who work for them here and what they think of it. Will they be flexible with your grad school schedule?

Hi Marilynmom and cameador: I work for Amedisys Home health out of Van Buren (50 miles away) and I really like it. I just see patients around where I live , I mainly do this with another nurse and we are both part time, but the pay is decent for part time. Since the state no longer cares for the mentally ill unless they are a real danger to others the mentally ill are all over the place in assisted living facilites and in the community. We usually give injections or monitor clozaril therapy. It is quite interesting. As for UAMS I don't know what to do. I'm excited I got in but not about a 3 year committment. USA rolled my application because it was late April 6, UCA turned me down because I forgot to send my NURSING APPLICATION. Yes I sent the other 10 pages of stuff. I'm still not over that. So do I wait or start at UAMS then transfer if I get in at USA? I will probably start at UAMS. I looked at their(USA's) website and you can transfer 9 credits (I thinK). But how hard is it to transfer? I just want to do it now!
Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Does anyone know how many applicants USA gets for psychNP and how many they accept a semester??

I'm so nervous about getting turned down from them....

Specializes in Psych, Chem Dependency, Occ. Health.
Does anyone know how many applicants USA gets for psychNP and how many they accept a semester??

I'm so nervous about getting turned down from them....

I don't know. It concerns me too. I'm going to apply to Rush, UAB, and the University of North Dakota for Fall 2011 just in case.

I'm still considering applying to St. Joseph's College of Maine's FNP program which I could start this summer and just do the family psych NP as a post Master's in 2012 but I have not made a decision on that yet.

Sue, RN

catslady56

11 Posts

I will start at UAMS, it is a good school and then make up my mind if I get accepted to USA. Clinicals at UAMS don't even start until the 2nd year. I have no idea how hard it is to transfer. USA has contracts in Arkansas with the VA and Dept of health for clinical sites and I am hoping it all doesn't have to be with an NP since there are not many around here. Amedisys since it is home health and I'm part time I can set my own hours. I have worked 3-11 for years and it's hard to get used to days so I usually go to work around 11:00 until 4-5 just 2 days a week. Psych visits also pay more than medical visits. They do know about school and are very flexible. I'm just glad for this site so I could vent about options.

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

That would be great, thanks :)

catslady,

I have sent an email to someone I used to know that graduated from the UAMS psych program about 1 year ago. If I hear back from her and hear anything helpful I'll pass it on. Have you heard anything about the quality or rankings of the different programs you are looking at?

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Catslady:

Thanks for the info about your HH job. Is it scary at all going into people's homes? Do you see a lot of the same patients frequently or is there a fairly high turnover? What skills do you think are necessary to do psych HH?

Thanks :)

catslady56

11 Posts

Hi marilynmom, I really like psych home health, sometimes it is kinda strange or scary but most of my patients are in an assisted living center and so always someone is around. At their homes its strange at first but then you get used their quirks and know what to expect. And yes some are strange but if you ever feel like you don't need to be there you can leave. I have never felt threatened or anything, most of them know their meds help them. Most schizophrenics are honest but the ones with paranoia until they get to know you are very wary. Usually you have your patients for awhile because they are on long term injections or you draw blood for CBC for Clozaril therapy. Most live alone or have no caregivers to take them to DR. And alot of them chain smoke. Some are short term and just need teaching, not many though. The skills needed are what most nurses have, a lot of patience and a sense of humor. I would love this job as a NP, and do med management, guess I'll have to wait and see what happens. So have you applied to USA yet? UAMS is online except for the first day of each class. But I would still rather go to USA because it's a shorter time commitment. So I guess we'll see. Good Luck!

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Catslady: thanks for your job description. I put in my resume today for Amedysis psych hh to talk to them whenever they have an opening.

Can I ask your opinion about Amedysis as an employer? I ask because I know some of the posts in the HH forum are negative (but almost all was medical hh ).

I know our outpatient med management clinic here referres all our psych patients to Amedysis so I think they are the main source of psychiatric hh here in Oklahoma. It sounds like something I would enjoy. Do they have any psych np's in home health?

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Have you applied anywhere yet? I emailed one of the contacts asking about how many applicants vs spots at USA, I'll post on here if I hear anything back.

I'm planning on applying for the Spring semester at USA as well for family psych NP program. I have gone back and forth on schools and will apply to others as well but if I get into USA I'd likely go. I could afford the tuition without having to take out anymore loans. That would be nice!

Sue, RN

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