Ohm108

You will need your DEA license if you plan to round on PP C/S patients or patients who have 3rd or 4th degree lacerations that we know will take time to heal. We generally will discharge them with opiod pain mgmt and that will require that you have a DEA license so that you can send the RX.

The two most important things are 1) make sure your school is accredited and is NOT a for profit school 2) they find your preceptors and clinical sites for you. It will save you a lot of headaches, time, and not delay your graduation unless you already work in Women's Health and have personal connections that you can leverage for clinical sites and preceptors.

Good to know, I never understood why the RN-MSN students had to move to campus 2 months earlier to get that completed instead of completing with the rest of their cohort. It looks like it is much more streamlined now.

The typical size of each GEPN cohort is between 100-120 students but they will offer admission to around 150-200 applicants usually with the assumption that some accepted students will decline acceptance to go to other schools or choose to wait and defer. YSN is considered a small nursing school. We also only have a graduate nursing program without a pipeline of undergraduate nurses to feed into the graduate program. The number of GEPN students changes every year depending on the slots for each speciality and funding. They can also choose to admit more RN-MSN and decrease the number of GEPN admits. I believe around 115 students went through the graduation ceremony this past Oct 2024. But each specialty admits a certain number of students with the FNP speciality usually being the largest group overall with the largest number of admits.

It has likely changed but I pulled my old notes and you are right that the RN-MSN will complete Pharm and Patho with the rising GEPNs. But looking at my old notes the RN-MSN did get an e-mail saying they needed to start in June to complete their physical assessment class and complete the check-offs before they will join the rising GEPNs. Again this might have changed since I was in the program but if it hasn't, I would expect an e-mail from admissions about coming to campus a few months early to get that completed sometime in the first quarter of 2025.

Yes, can confirm that the Yale School of Nursing does setup preceptors and clinical sites for their students.

For the RN - MSN PMHNP in person (not the online program) because it looks like you are going into PMHNP, you will need to complete the 3 Ps (Patho, Pharmacology, Physical Assessment) the Summer before you join the rising GEPNs at the end of August. With the RN-MSN in my year they started in June and completed their 3 Ps from June - Aug in addition to their check-offs. They then joined the rising GEPNs at the end of August as they transition into their first specialty year. The next Summer there are no classes for the PMHNP track but like another poster mentioned before you can obtain additional clinical hours during the Summer if your schedule works out to do so.

Gov. Lamont just signed the law adding CT to the compact in May 2024 but I don't think nurses can use the compact for jobs until Oct 2025. This allows time for implementation and system changes. Double check with the school to see how they are handling compact licenses. I had to obtain a CT RN license since CT wasn't part of the compact when I was in the program.

Yes, GEPNs don't normally work their first year. As I mentioned before, the program is to fast paced and intense to be able to work during the accelerated year. It will be different fo RN direct entry since they already have their RN license. GEPNs are trying to fulfill their clinical requirements and check offs while they are attending classes at the same time while also studying for exams. Additionally, everyone needs to budget times for last minute schedule changes and simulation labs. As icedcof3 mentioned you also need to budget time for self care and time off in order in order to get adequate rest even if it is meeting up with friends for a quick dinner or a movie not to mention regular activities of life like grocery shopping and laundry!

Send me a message if you have questions about the HRSA scholarships. I completed my degree on a full ride HRSA scholarship and completed my service. Always apply for and obtain scholarships either through the community scholars program, HRSA, or through merit-based scholarships. There is also a lot of money available to individuals if the candidate is from a minority group going into nursing, speak another language, single mothers etc. One individual even got a scholarship because he was a twin. You never know what kind of scholarship or grant money, which you do not have to pay back; is out there so it is important to do your research. You will have less stress after you graduate if you understand financials and financial terms and have a plan for how you want to pay off any loans you might accrue. The Federal Unsubsidized Grad Loan interest rate currently stands at 8.08% before factoring in interest capitalization even though it will likely be lower for you next year given that the Fed just lowered interest rates by a quarter point.

My sister asked me one time when a request for a medical professional was called on a flight we were on, why I didn't respond and I told her that generally as a group, nurses prefer to fly under the radar and we don't like to advertise we are nurses when we are going about our daily lives. My own attendings have also said when they go on vacation, they do not advertise the fact that they are MDs and would prefer to just enjoy their vacation. Additionally, it would have to be in my specialty and I would have to have some knowledge of what is going on from my own experience as a nurse and APRN. During that particular flight, it was hypoglycemia and DM2 and the person had 2 EMTs and 1 IM MD helping him out so I could just sit back and enjoy my flight.

Since you are RN entry, you will join the FB group for the Class of 2027 since you will complete your specialty coursework with the GEPNs that finished their accelerated year and have passed their NCLEX, who are now going into their first specialty year. The current group of GEPNs would have just finished their first semester and should now be on Christmas break. The FB group for them is Yale School of Nursing GEPN 2024.

Depends on if you are a GEPN or a RN direct entry. If you are a GEPN, you won't be able to work during GEPN year because there isn't enough time to work and take classes. It is very accelerated and fast paced. If you come in as an RN or once you sit your NCLEX after GEPN year then you can work. The majority of my class worked when we were RNs.

I have both certifications and if I remember correctly you do need to take additional primary care hours before you can sit for both certifications. It was about 500 additional clinical hours so you get more exposure to primary care which I found useful when I first started in clinical practice. During my time in the program, the student also had to pay additional tuition for the dual certification so individuals interested in the dual program will have to factor in the cost as well as additional clinical time. You will also have to pay two license fees and stay certified with two separate licensing bodies so you will need to keep enough CME hours for both. You recertify every 3 years for the WHNP and 5 years for the CNM. But overall, in terms of scope of practice, a CNM covers everything a WHNP can do. The other option is to pick one certification than come back and do a postgraduate certificate if you feel you need additional scope in your practice like an FNP or PNP.

Thank you for the update. Good to know they kept the dual program.

As hospitals and the general population become more familiar with midwives, there isn't any major benefit of adding the WHNP if you a CNM. Some minor benefits are that a provider can use their WHNP in a OP setting and be more easily hired because malpractice insurance is less since you do not deliver babies as a WHNP. This really only applies to private practice as FQHCs have FTCA protections. The other benefit is if you are planning to care for menopausal or a heavily LGBTQ population where prescribing as a WHNP is easier for HRT, depending on your state and state laws. For YSN, I believe the program no longer offers the dual speciality. The Class of 2026 was the last class to be offered the option of the dual specialty. Every incoming student has to choose either CNM or WHNP when they apply to the program going forward.

You apply for the Nurse Corp and/or NHSC scholarships while you are a student. HRSA Loan Repayment with either Nurse Corp or NHSC after graduation if you desire to work with patients that FQHCs serves.

Usually, it is around March of each year and they give you until June/July to complete the application but it changes slightly each year. I would recommend that you sign up for the e-mail alerts which you can do through the website I linked above. There is a link to "Sign up for emails" at the top of each page.

Hi everyone, Congratulations on your acceptance into the program. I would just add that if you are a GEPN thinking of the Nurse Corp or NHSC program, you will need to complete your first year and obtain your RN license before you can apply for the scholarship program. You can double-check with the financial aid office on the timings. This is especially true for Nurse Corp. Additionally, NHSC tuition and fees are not subject to federal taxes but the stipend is. For Nurse Corp, everything including tuition, fees, and stipend are subject to federal income tax and will be counted as such which will impact the amount of taxes you will need to pay each year you are in the program. The HSPA score requirements are also different for each. There is also special funding within Nurse Corp for special populations that are not in NHSC. NHSC is also open to MD, DO, and PA while Nurse Corp is only open to nurses. Just something to keep in mind when you are applying for either of those scholarships. See program guidance below: NHSC https://nhsc.HRSA.gov/scholarships/how-to-apply Nurse Corp https://bhw.HRSA.gov/funding/apply-scholarship/nurse-corpare

The majority of the new grad L&d nurses on my floor have them on their badges. I asked a few of them about it and they have all told me as new nurses that they do feel that is useful to be able to double check their dilation after a SVE exam. I have never used them, I learned by checking (after consent) cervixes by completing SVEs as a student and as a practicing midwife.

I always go in with a trauma informed mindset. I almost always bring in a chaperone but that isn't always possible. We have a busy practice and both the RNs and MAs have other duties. If I have a new patient I haven't met before and I am conducting a intimate exam, like a pap smear or cervical exam then I will always bring a chaperone in with me. If I know the patient and have seen them for the majority of their pregancy then I will go ahead and conduct the exam if my RN or MAs are busy, if they are not I still have them chaperone with me. If there is a patient with an abuse history, I note it and during their intial OB, I let them know that they are always welcome to switch to another provider and in fact I encourage them to rotate through all the providers during the first 2 trimesters to see if one is a good fit for them. If they elect to stay with me as their provider, I check in every couple of visits to see if they are still comfortable with my care. With these patients I almost always minimize SVEs and only check their cervix once towards the end of their pregnancy prior to scheduling an IOL. In the hospital, I always have a RN come into the room with me during exams and procedures.

Yikes, then I wish you the best of luck with your studying. Obtaining C-EFM without any OB experience as a new APRN reading EFM strips on the floor by your academic teaching hospital seems....harsh. This is why you usually start off on the floor and obtain your basic and then your intermediate AWHONN EFM certification while simultaneously getting experience by reading strips on the floor of the patients that you are managing. C-EFM comes much later if you choose to go through certification once you have gained sufficient experience and usually after you also completed and passed the Advanced AWOHNN EFM certification. Perhaps you can talk to them about this requirement or changing the requirement for future providers who are new to practice and give a 1 year grace period? Like klone said, the C-EFM is a very difficult test and it is to demonstrate that you are an expert in EFM. If I remember correctly it is 125 questions and 2 hours long that delves into a lot of the nuance of EFM. I would suggest that you look as many strips as possible and ask questions of your more experienced providers. I agree that Mosby's is great and as I suggested on the other post, the EFM Guide app if you are on the Apple ecosystem. Try and complete the basic/intermediate/advanced AWOHNN EFM certification if you can prior to taking the C-EFM. Intermediate and Advanced are in person/blended classes which will give you the opportunity to ask questions. Basic is an online course only. Good luck!

@Tracy Windy Apologies, I posted my response to you on the other thread that you added to. Agree with klone, you generally only need basic and intermediate AWOHNN EFM certification to start as a CNM/WHNP. You do need at least intermediate AWOHNN EFM certification in order to call categories in IP though not every IP provider does this. There is also advanced EFM through AWOHNN if you want to dive into detail and the nitty gritty of EFM. If you are only in clinic, I would also ask why you would need the C-EFM certification through the NCC since you aren't actively monitoring patients who are in labor and just starting out? Could your institution be asking you to only complete the AWOHNN basic and intermediate EFM certification and not the C-EFM through NCC?

Just to clarify, you are taking the C-EFM as a requirement for graduation from your midwifery program or because your employer is requesting that you complete the C-EFM certification as a newly licensed CNM? Normally taking the basic and intermediate EFM training and receiving the certification from AWOHNN is enough, you can be certified and receive the C-EFM but normally completing and passing the basic and intermediate EFM with AWOHNN is sufficient. You will need at least the intermediate certification to be able to officially call categories on the L&D floor as a CNM. There is also the advanced EFM training with AWOHNN if you want to go into the nitty gritty of the physiology of EFM.

Yes, if OB/GYN is your area of interest then don't go down the FNP route. A lot of people do the FNP route to be more marketable or have an easier time finding a job because you can see pts across the lifespan. But what I remind most people who are trying to make this decision is that CNM/WHNP is a specialty while FNP is a generalist role and it is a specialty because we have very deep knowledge of the subject matter within this sphere. If you want to be a specialist then as a provider then you need to specialize. If you go down the FNP route, you will end up learning things that are not of interest to you though you might find it useful. At the end of the day, I am still a primary care provider though I still stay mainly within the OB/GYN world like WWV and WCC. But I have had to send the occasional neb or take a look at an earache or a rash but not very often; that might be when FNP knowledge will come in handy. There are some FNPs that do want to specialize in women's health but they either 1) have to go and specifically find more women's health sites during their clinical rotation, 2) find a fellowship after graduation, or 3) find a good mentor who comes from or works in women's health. My experience with FNPs who want to go into WH after graduating is that their skill set in the area is lacking and that they have a lot of catching up to do because they never received the same training that we received in school and when they did complete a WH rotation it was very short. They eventually gain the skills they need but will need more time and support to do so. In my facility, most of the IBCLC counseling is done by my very capable nurses who are IBCLC certified. I still plan on obtaining my IBCLC but more so to have another skill in my pocket and to just learn more in general and when I am rounding on pts PP who need some help with lactation or when I am older and don't want to take call anymore and want a more 9-5 role like as a lactation consultant at a large hospital. CNMs prescribe a lot of medications especially BCP, STD medications, and medications for morning sickness, prenatal vitamins, HB medications. If you are also MAT trained you can also prescribe suboxone. We can also prescribe nebs and inhalers if they need a refill while they are pregnant and are seeing you as their PCP. There are also MH medications that I use to stabilize a pt before I send them to a PMHNP or BH specialist. There is a long list of medications I prescribe every day for my patients. I truly love my job and the subject matter especially. Though I will say that the job is very demanding both emotionally and physically but ultimately very rewarding. You need to establish appropriate boundaries and know when to say no, when to push back, and when you need to take a break so you can be an effective midwife to both your current AND future patients and babies.