FNP Graduate from Chamberlain College of Nursing Dec 2015

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I'm a family nurse practitioner and graduated from Chamberlain College of Nursing's FNP program as of December 2015.

Lately I have been getting a lot of questions from nurses either looking to start Chamberlains FNP program or who are in the program.

I decided that I would create a blog to address these questions. Feel free to ask me anything about Chamberlain's FNP program.

Smils3333,

The CCN library is great! I used the CCN library for everything I did at Chamberlain. The articles are up to date and easy to access especially since you can only cite scholarly sources within the last 5 years for all papers and discussion boards. Also, the foundations class teaches you how to search for articles. I mostly used academic search complete, Medline, CINAHL, and sometimes Cochrane. I also liked how all the articles have APA format to easily copy and paste into your reference section. You can view Chamberlain's library at Library Home - Chamberlain Library Home - Home at Chamberlain College of Nursing , however, you need a Chamberlain ID number given at registration to access articles.

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SOAP Note Format EXAMPLE

Patient Information:

Initials, age, gender, ethnicity

S.

CC (chief complaint): Brief statement of why the patient is here

HPI:

Onset:

Location:

Duration:

Characteristics:

Aggravating Factors:

Relieving Factors:

Treatment:

Current Medications: Include supplements

Allergies:

PMHx:

Soc Hx:

Fam Hx:

ROS: cover all body systems that may help you include or rule out a differential diagnosis You should list each system as follows: Constitutional: Head: EENT: etc. You may list these in paragraph format or bullet format. Always document the systems in order from head to toe. You may focus the ROS to match the chief complaint unless you are doing a complete health history.

Example of Complete ROS:

CONSTITUTIONAL: No weight loss, fever, chills, weakness or fatigue.

HEENT: Head: Normocephalic Eyes: No visual loss, blurred vision, double vision or yellow sclerae. Ears, Nose, Throat: No hearing loss, sneezing, congestion, runny nose or sore throat.

SKIN: No rash or itching.

CARDIOVASCULAR: No chest pain, chest pressure or chest discomfort. No palpitations or edema.

RESPIRATORY: No shortness of breath, cough or sputum.

GASTROINTESTINAL: No anorexia, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. No abdominal pain or blood.

GENITOURINARY: No burning on urination, no hematuria, no urgency, frequency, or nocturia. Pregnancy. Last menstrual period, MM/DD/YYYY.

NEUROLOGICAL: No headache, dizziness, syncope, paralysis, ataxia, numbness or tingling in the extremities. No change in bowel or bladder control.

MUSCULOSKELETAL: No muscle, back pain, joint pain or stiffness.

HEMATOLOGIC: No anemia, bleeding or bruising.

LYMPHATICS: No enlarged nodes. No history of splenectomy.

PSYCHIATRIC: No history of depression or anxiety.

ENDOCRINOLOGIC: No reports of sweating, cold or heat intolerance. No polyuria or polydipsia.

ALLERGIES: No history of asthma, hives, eczema or rhinitis.

O.

Physical exam: include the same body systems as in the ROS. Include the assessment data for the system(s) identified in the discussion instructions. Always document in head to toe format i.e. Constitutional: Head: EENT: etc.

Diagnostic results: when available (from today and past recent tests results if pertinent)

A.

Differential Diagnoses (list a minimum of 3 differential diagnoses).Your primary or presumptive diagnosis should be at the top of the list. Include the ICD9 or ICD10 codes in parentheses next to the diagnosis. Include pertinent positive and negative findings to support your diagnoses from the history and physical exam.

  1. Pneumonia (J18.9): Rationale: Assessment revealed crackles at the lung bases, audible cough, and RR of 28
  2. COPD exacerbation (J44.1)
  3. Upper respiratory infection (J06.9)

P. No intervention is self-evident. Provide a rationale and evidence based in-text citation for each intervention

Diagnostics: list tests you will order this visit

CBC, BMP, PFTS, spirometry, chest x-ray, pulse oximetry,

Rx: list treatments and medications you will order and continue previous meds” if pertinent. State dosages, length of treatment and reason for choosing a specific treatment or drug.

Levaquin 500mg by mouth daily for 7 days

Education: think about covering yourself legally; also indicate when written instructions are given.

  1. Stop smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
  2. Take medication as prescribed and finish all medication
  3. Increase activity as tolerated
  4. Receive yearly Influenza vaccine
  5. Receive Pneumovax vaccine
  6. Stay away from people who are sick and wash hands frequently

Referral/Consults: (if any)

Follow up: indicate when patient should return to clinic and provide detailed instructions indicating if the patient should return sooner than scheduled or seek attention elsewhere.

Follow up in 1 week

References

You are required to include at least one evidence based peer-reviewed journal article which relates to this case. Be sure to use correct APA 6th edition formatting.

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Thank you so much for all the information that you has provided. You should teach on the side. I start this July and I feel you have given out good information.

Thanks so very much.

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Student-nurse2010,

Thank you for your kind words! It means a lot that I'm able to help others with the information provided.

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Another helpful tip I have learned through my credentialing process for my first FNP job is to make sure you keep all your preceptor contact information (e-mails, phone numbers).

Those preceptors are the only individuals who can verify your clinical abilities and skills since Chamberlain is an online only program where there is no Chamberlain teacher present at your clinical sites assessing your skills/abilities as a nurse practitioner. Chamberlain does not have another means of assisting in this process according to Dean John Dissler at Chamberlain.

Each state has a Credentialing Form that is required to complete the credentialing process in order to begin working as a NP.

The credentialing process to start working at a facility involves the new NP filling out the Credentialing Form. This form includes information regarding your education/training, clinicals (where you attended, preceptors names, dates you attended), work history, and professional references who have current knowledge of your clinical abilities (this is where your preceptors come in) in order to verify privileges you and your collaborating physician agreed on and to verify your qualifications and background.

Some credentialing form examples:

State of Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/ACPCI/docs/2012/2012credappglossary.pdf

State of Illinois: http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/2001-09-20-form.pdf

State of Georgia: http://www.pshpgeorgia.com/files/2011/12/georgia-uniform-healthcare-practitioner-credentialingapplicationpart2.pdf

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hello again, ChamberlianFNP2015,

its lexie. So, I'm trying to locate a potential preceptor in my area to finish up the application forms. Any tips? At several places I checked, they told me there is no way for them to make decision on possible preceptorships in almost 2yrs in advance( my starting date maybe 10/24/16, it might be 11/2017 by the time I'll be able to start clinicals) I don't know how to convince them to agree with something that I even found it ridiculous myself. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Lexie

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I just had to explain to them that it's not actually a commitment. They don't HAVE to take you when clinicals start. It's a "potential" option, it doesn't require them to commit to you or you to them. They just have to say that yes they do except students, that's all Chamberlain wants.

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Thank you for all the excellent information ! I'm wanting to attend the FNP program but I'm a little nervous about my experience and how that will affect me. I graduated with my BSN in 06 and have worked only in the NICU since. I do not want to go the NNP route of schooling because that limits me to just nicu. I see myself in pediatrics in a clinic or something along those lines. It's been a good 10 years since school and I'm nervous about having to relearn all of the adult stuff. :nailbiting:

I'm currently working PT 7p-7a and I have 4 kids (8,6,3,1). Am I out of my mind or is this doable? I have a great support system with my friends and family and a husband who is super helpful and on board . I'm just super nervous!

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In regards to the case studies, are these research papers we have to write?

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Can we use our soap notes as case studies for the capstone project?

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Do you possibly still have the syllabus for NR 501 (Theory)? I will be away from home all during preview week without an internet connection and would like to try and work ahead on reading and discussion posts while I have the time off :).

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm currently finishing my BSN at Chamberlain. I was going to go on for ACNP after the BSN, but I just found out my hospital requires dual FNP & ACNP to work in the ER. So, I'm going to do my FNP with Chamberlain and then do the ACNP post-Masters certification with another school (since it's not offered at Chamberlain). I'll hopefully start in January.

Your posts about the program have been most helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to be so detailed. :D

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