hospicenp

hospicenp has 37 years experience and specializes in Critical care, gerontology, hospice.

Latest Activity

1. Dumb question--What do you NPs do?

   hospicenp replied to Joe NightingMale's topic in NP

   Wow. I sense so much hostility on this thread. Everyone's path is different, depending on where they started and what they want to do, what opportunities arise. Here's a synopsis of mine. I am an RN, first. Did 20+ years in critical care learning lot...

2. Doctoral degree to become an NP???

   hospicenp replied to VickyRN's topic in Doctoral

   The chances for DNP expansion are actually very good. You are just starting your career. Wait 2 years and see what's out there, you'll be amazed.

3. Consider going for MD?

   hospicenp replied to leahvonleah's topic in NP

   I never thought I would say this, because I have been a nurse forever and love being a nurse. But after being an NP and being in situations where I was unsure of a diagnosis or treatment course, I have wished I went to medical school. Not that I wish...

4. Low GPA

   hospicenp replied to check_21's topic in NP

   I would take the GRE, even if the school doesn't require it. Then, if your score is good, you can include it and it will show motivation, scholarship, etc now. Good luck.

5. Where is the best state to move to in the SE?

   hospicenp replied to bglad's topic in NP

   Of your choices, North Carolina is the best. It's still restrictive, but you do have more autonomy than the other states. I lived in NC for 18 years (Winston-Salem and Greensboro) and found an interesting culture there. There are more universities pe...

6. Why become a NP

   hospicenp replied to litebrightgirl's topic in NP

   I forgot to say, no, you don't have to do a pediatrics rotation in a program for adult/gero NP.

7. Why become a NP

   hospicenp replied to litebrightgirl's topic in NP

   NPs definitely do procedures. It depends on your practice. In my hospice practice, the most common thing I do is paracentesis. I also do a fair number of incision and drainage of abscesses. In other practices NPs do many other invasive procedures dep...

8. What are the BEST and WORST States to practice as an NP?

   hospicenp replied to Roland's topic in NP

   One of the worst states: Florida. Prescriptive authority does not include ANY scheduled drugs, which is a real hassle for me since I work in hospice. We have to file our MD protocol annually. We constantly fight the Florida Medical Association in the...

9. Why become a NP

   hospicenp replied to litebrightgirl's topic in NP

   NPs diagnose and manage illnesses. Just like primary care MDs. That's what all that education is for.

10. Doctoral degree to become an NP???

    hospicenp replied to VickyRN's topic in Doctoral

    Actually it was pediatrics. Google "Loretta Ford" for an accurate history of the NP profession. The point of the DNP is to elevate the NP as a profession, not individual schools or programs. There will always be competition between schools, that's hu...

11. Do NPs work only 5 days a week?

    hospicenp replied to Joe NightingMale's topic in NP

    It all depends on what sort of job he wants and is able to get hired into. Remember, not everyone hires new NP grads. I work Mon-Fri, 8-5, except for about every 6th weekend I work 8-5 and then am off the following Mon and Fri as comp days. I also ta...

12. Why become a NP

    hospicenp replied to litebrightgirl's topic in NP

    BTW, I've never like the cutesy scrubs either. How do nurses think they will be taken seriously when they dress like that?

13. Why become a NP

    hospicenp replied to litebrightgirl's topic in NP

    I became a Nurse Practitioner so I could more fully realize the role of the nurse. We are meant to be fully functioning clinicians, not hiding behind MDs, following someone else's orders. That is not to say that I think I know the same things as an M...

14. subscribing to Up to Date?

    hospicenp replied to westcoastgirl's topic in NP

    I haven't used it because of the money. I use LexiComp instead, which is also pricey (Just not as much) but downloads to my PDA and is great. Go to their website for more info. No I'm not in their employ, just a happy customer.

15. Doctoral degree to become an NP???

    hospicenp replied to VickyRN's topic in Doctoral

    I have to make a couple of points in this discussion. First of all, NPs weren't "invented" to relieve the MD shortage, as one person mentioned. NPs were developed to extend the reach of the RN, in ways that nurses historically were able to do before ...