If you were in NP school again, what would you do different?

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · Mar 7, 2009

Pay better attention, record lectures, study and read more vs work. Be more socially active in the university/grad school gatherings. Take more risks, get to know more folks from other specialties.

Just like highschool and undergrad. Only then I didn't have a mortgage! HA!!!

JDCitizen · Mar 7, 2009

Ask for and do more clinicals..............

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · Mar 8, 2009

Yes, no joke, more clinicals in different areas. That's what I expected from the DNP curriculum, to be more like the PA/MD clinicals, and perhaps be able to specialize on top of the 700+ from the MSN.

Oh well, perhaps when when the BSN is entry (circa early 80's), we'll have a clinical DNP. One can only dream...

Trauma Columnist · Mar 9, 2009

Gathered more knowledge about billing, contracts and some of the non-clinical info that is still very important.

NPs4health · Mar 10, 2009

When you say billing, what specifically should I be asking about? What the codes mean? or what things get billed to insurance and what doesn't?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 10, 2009

How to word your charting so that you bill at the highest possible rate.

mrspopeye · Mar 10, 2009

I would have found a cheaper school- that big monthly school loan payment sucks. Especially so when working alongside colleagues who passed the same board exam and make the same pay I do and accomplished it for half the price. I would have researched programs more thoroughly before deciding.

*RN123ABC* · Mar 11, 2009

I would have found a cheaper school- that big monthly school loan payment sucks. Especially so when working alongside colleagues who passed the same board exam and make the same pay I do and accomplished it for half the price. I would have researched programs more thoroughly before deciding.

Do you mind sharing where you went?

allnurses Guide · Mar 11, 2009

Oh yes, billing stuff. Agree - we learned it and it was good, but I hope it's repeated until it soaks into my head! I do know my hospital runs a billing & coding course for APNs so I'll do that too once I finish.

VivaRN · Mar 11, 2009

Billing, coding and the business aspects of how to run a practice. Sadly in my program they said they didn't have time to go over those things (we asked).

Trauma Columnist · Mar 11, 2009

Exactly what I'm talking about Viva - we as nurses don't have the business acumen needed to get what we deserve but we also don't know how to document to get the highest reimbursement. These are huge issues.