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coast2coast, MSN, NP 9,923 Views
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coast2coast, MSN, NP 9,923 Views
Joined: Jul 9, '10;
Posts: 405 (42% Liked)
; Likes: 635
from
US
Concordia might be a good place to do pre-req's, and I think McGill has a nursing school. UdeM is cheaper but 100% French, probably has nursing but not sure.
FYI ... if you don't have citizenship, you are going to pay through the nose for being an international student. And you will need to be legitimately fluent in French to go to nursing school in Quebec (aka above and beyond US high school French).
It will GREATLY expedite your moving process if you are already accepted to a school before trying to get a visa. And you will probably need bank statements (yours and parents) proving that you have x amount of money to be supported by while you are there.
What type NP are you? Adult
Where (state)(rural/urban) do you practice? Urban, California
Are you independent or in a group? FQHC/ primary care with integrated behavioral health program
How many years experience? 2 as NP, 0 RN
What is your before tax paycheck amount? $3800
Monthly or bi-weekly? Biweekly
Salary/hourly/other(explain)? Salary 93k + gov't loan repayment 50k over 2 years (after taxes)
Avg hours on check? 80
What are the perks of your contract? Not great. 3 wks vacation, 3 days PTO for CME but no stipend, a few hours of admin time q2weeks, HMO medical, cheap dental and vision, malpractice and DEA are covered, either 6 or 8% 401k matching. Up to 25 patients/day which I think is ridiculous but other local clinics see more. (They also get paid a lot more!)
In my experience, students are REALLY afraid of histology when they don't need to be. It's a big departure from gross anatomy like muscles and bones and this can be overwhelming.
.
So first piece of advice - don't be afraid. It's actually pretty easy and super helpful for understanding physiology later on. If you ever go on to study cancer it's very helpful there as well.
Next. Somewhere near the very beginning of your anatomy book there will be a chapter about cell types and tissue structures. Read this. Figure out the difference between connective tissue, muscle, nervous tissue, and epithelium. Muscle and nervous tissue are pretty straightforward. Spend some time on "epithelium" - it doesn't just mean "skin." Understand that it includes glands and solid organs - anything that relies on layering cells, bunching them together by function, or forming glands and ducts with them. Understand that connective tissue is largely acellular and therefore will look totally unique on slides. Figure out what connective tissue really is made out of.
Learn what an H&E stain is and the difference between the pink and purple bits on a slide.
If you really understand the 4 basic tissue types, the next step will be MUCH easier ...
Finally, identifying specific tissues. This is what will matter in A&P. The best way to study for an histology exam is to practice, practice, practice. Look at slides in lab, and then go home and google "histology of xxxx". There are TONS of online resources for histo. The more pictures you look at, the more you will start to appreciate how different types of tissue (muscle versus epithelium) look under the microscope.
When in doubt, think about how the structure of a tissue might relate to its function. If the slide in front of you has cells arranged in circles around lumens - that's a gland. Therefore it's a secretory tissue - this narrows down your choices.
I've seen students panic trying to memorize what an individual slide of liver or kidney or uterus looks like. Don't bother. Approach histology at a really basic level - the 3D arrangement of individual cells, groups of cells that form tissues, and how that tissue structure helps it perform its function.
The more examples you look at, the easier it will get. Look at liver and kidney slides long enough and the difference between them will become painfully obvious. Really !
Anyhow, hope that helps. As you can tell I am a huge histology nerd
Personally have seen a good job market for a range of specialties. Graduated from a direct entry program and had a job 2 months prior to graduation, across the country, in one of the worst job markets in the US (California). All my classmates (30+) were hired within months of graduation as well. Never worked as an RN and this has not been a barrier to getting interviews and offers.
Do you LIKE this job? Do you find it rewarding? If so, then stay.
if not - you almost have a year of experience. Start applying! I remember how hard this first job was for you to find, but you are no longer green. If this place makes you miserable, get out!
Personally I would be gone in a hot second if someone from the board of ANYTHING showed up in a place like that.