Spacklehead MSN, NP

Spacklehead has 27 years experience as a MSN, NP and specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

Latest Activity

1. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   I guess what I find interesting in all of this discussion is the fact that both medical schools and PA schools want their applicants to have so many patient care hours (varies among the schools) before applying while many NP schools do not. The NP pr...

2. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   Oh, and just to add - your JHU FNP program prefers applicants with nursing experience as listed on their Web site. ETA: https://nursing.jhu.edu/programs/doctoral/MSN-DNP/DNP-family/#requirements

3. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   Wow, you really put a lot of words in my mouth. I never implied that NPs without RN experience were the ones specifically sending patients to the ER. That is totally on you if you took it that way. You made it a point in your OP to talk about the RNs...

4. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   They don't necessarily need 3000, but as much as possible helps. I'm well aware of the PA process, my dd is going through it now. Alas, you missed the point of my post.

5. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   ...and just like your anecdotal interview experiences on here and in previous threads where you've posted about this, my anecdotal experience is that employers LOVED the fact that I was a former ER nurse. They knew I could think on my feet, prioritiz...

6. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   Many of the schools don't agree because they saw the DE NP programs as cash cows. They realize how much money students are willing to pay and used that to their advantage to be able to churn out higher numbers.

7. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   I am well aware that ER nurses are not providers, no one is saying they are - but they do work off of protocols based upon a "presumed diagnosis" or presenting complaint. They have to use their in-depth assessment skills and history-taking ability to...

8. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   With regards to point #1, you essentially did what ER nurses who work in small, remote, community hospitals do on a daily basis, minus making the "official" diagnosis. At least you had other staff to assist. Regarding point #2, so you are saying...

9. Experience

   Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

   I don't know who is/was sending the patients to the ER from the PCP office, for I don't find it necessary to keep a tally of who sent who where be it an NP with nursing experience vs one without vs the PA, MD, or DO. It's just an observation of how i...

10. Experience

    Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

    The difference is I shared how my RN experience was extremely beneficial to my career as an NP without being negative regarding NP's who had no RN experience. I didn't have to share those stories to make my experience sound better. As far a...

11. Experience

    Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

12. Experience

    Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

    Yeah - once people need to throw in how great they are or toot their own horn is where they lose credibility to me.

13. Experience

    Spacklehead replied to MoLo's topic in Advanced

    I worked as an RN for about 7 years before going back to school to become a NP - mostly ER experience. I have stated this many times in the past on here - my nursing experience taught me that sixth sense, that gut feeling you get when you just know s...

14. FNP school with a busy family?

    Spacklehead replied to alconnor's topic in NP Students

    When I started and it was just lectures I went to school twice per week - each class was one 4 hour lecture. Once clinicals started, it was class once per week but clinicals at least 3 days per week. It also depended on how you wanted to structure yo...

15. FNP school with a busy family?

    Spacklehead replied to alconnor's topic in NP Students

    When I decided to return to school to become a FNP my kids were 6 mos and almost 2 years old. I went PT and completed my degree in 4.5 years. The one thing I have to say that I feel helped me the most was that I went to a school that was in-person on...