MathewB

A little thread necromancy here! Just to round out this discussion, I graduated in May, with a 3.9 GPA. Passed the AANP boards on the first crack, and have had a few interviews so far. Looks as though I am well on my way. Thanks to everybody who provided input and insight. It definitely was a factor in continuing to pursue my DNP-FNP. Good luck to you all, in all your endeavors!

Thanks! I would love to go back to Alaska, but my wonderful wife has deep roots here in the midwest. I plan to look into Summer locum temens work once I get some experience under my belt.

Not sure anyone cares, but I was accepted to a brick-and-mortar nursing school with a DNP program. I am graduating in a month with a 3.95 GPA. If I can do it, you can do it.

Do you know what they call a nurse who graduates at the bottom of their class? A nurse. My point is, try not to get to spun up comparing yourself to other people. All that matters is your learning. Let them do them, and you do you. If they snicker when you ask clarifying questions of your instructor, don't let it get to you. You are paying to learn. The instructors are paid to teach you. Your fellow students don't figure into it. And you know what? I'd bet my salary that you aren't alone: There are probably a lot of people in your class who feel the same way, you just can't hear their internal dialog saying it. Hang in there. Focus. Exclude the unhelpful negatives from your consideration. It will be over before you know it, and you can get through it.

This is huge, if enforced.

Thanks! I think going forward with education is kind of like having kids. There's never a "good" time to start. In 3 years, you'll be 3 years older, whether you've gone to school or not! Personally, I wish I would have started this journey 10 years ago. Good luck whatever you decide!

This is just sort of a reflection post. If that kind of thing bores you, now's the time to click the "back" button! I had my first day last Wednesday in a brick and mortar NP (actually, DNP) school. Wow. I had thought that the workload would be significant, but I think I did not realize the extent to which that would be true. I am wrestling with a few confounding factors. a) I am no spring chicken. I'm in my late 40's, and I know I don't absorb information as I did when I was in my 20s. b) School was a while ago. I am continually checking the course material to make sure I haven't missed an assignment. This school has tucked some assignments away, rather than in the big "what's due when" chart. c) I live in a rural area, and my home internet is S-L-O-W (1.5mbps) on it's best days. Plus I have two teenage daughters who are data leeches. They looked like I kicked their puppy when I asked them to read a book or something, because I was trying to do homework. It's not going to work to study at home. On the plus side, the instructors were kind and encouraging. Additionally, this University arranges clinical experiences, which -as I have come to learn by reading many posts here on Allnurses- is infinitely easier. So, onward and upward,I guess!

I think more NPs would like to precept, but are constrained by their facility's policies. Before being accepted at a local B&M university, I had applied to some "reputable" online universities. I began talking to NPs with whom I worked about being a preceptor for me. All of them said they would be willing, but my institutions forbade it: They already had agreements in place with local universities to precept students. I have spent a year here on Allnurses. I am saddened to read posts literally (not practically, not metaphorically, not figuratively...literally) begging for a preceptor. There has got to be a better way.

How was your first day?

I don't think officially there are any jobs that we can't do. However, I think there are several jobs that you almost never find men in. For example, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. There are other instances where you man not be welcome as a male. When I was in the ER, I was not allowed to know the street address of the "battered women's shelter." When I went up to Women's Health department to put in an IV, I sure got the stink eye from a lot of patients and even a few staff. But hey! Nobody said life is fair. It's best to do the best you can, and let negativity roll away. We're men after all: Complaining doesn't become us.

There are two questions I would be willing to bet $100 they will ask: 1) Why do you want to be an NP? (Includes subquestions such as: Why do you want to be an FNP or a Pediatric NP or an AGNP?) 2) Why do you want to go HERE to be an NP? I spent a great deal of time formulating my answers to these questions, and it paid off. Other questions were things like: 3) Describe a time you failed. 4) Tell us about yourself. 5) How do you resolve conflict. 6) Where do you see yourself practicing Take it for what it's worth, but it's my theory at this point that if you have been selected for an interview, you are 90% accepted. They just want to talk to you and see if you are a calm, rational, smart and stable person. Look, we all know a nurse who has behavior that makes us wonder how they got to be a nurse, right? Somebody we wouldn't want taking care of our kid? I feel that the interview is there to weed out people like that. If someone's answer to question 1 above is "I want more money" and their answer to question 2 above is "Short commute, I guess" it demonstrates a lack of passion, social skills, and judgement. Those are not people that the University wants representing them, even were they likely to sucessfully complete the program. Again, this is just my theory. Take it for what it cost you. Lastly, I did a lot of research preparing for my interview. There is a YouTuber with the screen name of "Nurse Liz" who has a really great and concise video titled NP School Interview Tips. I watched it after I interviewed and found that she was pretty spot on. Good luck.

Honestly, I just kept applying. As I mentioned in the earlier posts, I was really looking for a Masters level program, so I had delayed applying for this DNP-FNP program. But as my options were whittled down, I elected to apply. The good news is that it's only 3 years (year 'round), I'll have a terminal degree when I am done, the program arranges clinical sites, and it's only 25 minutes away. Good luck, and if I can help further, please PM me.

I think conscientious people are frequently their own harshest critics. I am sure everybody has at least a moment of self-doubt, but don't let it paralyze you. If your honest and level-headed introspection shows you a genuine area for improvement, improve. Otherwise, keep on keepin' on!

Congratulations!

I cringe every time I read a newspaper story about some male nurse doing something bad. It just seems to reflect poorly on all of us. There are ways to protect yourself. I frequently have a female nursing assistant, or even family member in the room with me when I have to do EKGs, or cath UAs, or the like. I usually offer to have a female coworker do it. I say that it will probably delay their care by a little while, as my female coworker is busy right now, but I always give the option. I have found that if you are friendly and professional, most of the time women are happy to allow you to do your job. Some are uncomfortable with it, and that is OK. I don't know their background. Maybe have been the victim of abuse in the past. I don't take it personally. In short, I would say keep it in the back of your mind, but don't let it make you afraid to care for women.