Skeptic

Question for recent graduates, or honestly, any currently practicing NP. Do you still read/study? If so, how often and what materials do you use? (flashcards, reading textbooks, question banks, etc.)

I agree! I get nervous letting family members see an NP unless I know them well. I know that will ruffle some feathers but oh well. We have to do better and I know good and well we are not the only ones who feel this way.

Hello, does anyone know of any activist groups within the NP community that are actively trying to make NP standards more rigorous? We have so many for profit programs and the amount of NP's that say they are equivalent to MD's is insane. These programs should at the least be similar to CRNA program standards. Which are as a whole tougher to get into, they have less programs, longer clinical hours, deeper understanding of hard sciences. We could go the route of DO's and maker ourselves stronger as a profession like they did. Instead we water it down with easy, for profit schools, with discussion posts instead of testing knowledge. Spending hours talking about founders of nursing and writing papers that could be better spent learning how to read x-rays more in depth, or interpreting labs, forming a differential etc. If a group like this doesn't exist, I'm down to start one with people that share my frustrations.

I'll never understand this whole concept of a "holistic NP" or "holistic provider". All providers should be providing a "holistic" approach. Meaning we should be teaching patients about proper diet, exercise, etc. during appointments. This isn't "holistic" care it is standard care. So when people start talking about these "holistic providers" they also throw in people who are using herbs and alternative medicine like a naturopath. Keep in mind most of these things are not evidence based and a lot of the "treatments" border on the line of psudoscience or quackery. Lastly, these NP programs should be at the least modeling their standards on CRNA programs. These programs are fewer and more difficult to get into with higher clinical hours and a deeper scienctific understanding of medicine. I also find it hilarious that we have convinced ourselves as a profession that we do not follow the medical model but follow the nursing model. As if there is some magical distinction and as if we are more "holistic" than those terrible bedside manner having MD's (insert eye roll). We need to do what DO's did and make our profession more comparable or quit trying to compare.

Looks like I'll see you at orientation! I booked my hotel, I'll be driving about 3 hours from the Atlanta area.

Are there any ACNP's here that work or have worked in an Acute Care Psych Hospital? If so, what was your role/job like?? I have an opportunity to work at one. Mostly handling follow up visits on stabilized patients who were admitted for acute anxiety/depression. Psychiatrist is on site at all times. I am in the process of obtaining my PMHNP cert. Any issues with an ACNP in this area? I know the AACN exam does cover acute anxiety/suicidal ideation, etc.

I'm not too worried about finding preceptors for clinicals. I've been working in healthcare a long time so I have a decent amount of contacts. I just got access to Typhon, that is the system they use to document clinical hours. Typhon has a database of previous preceptors and there are quite a few in my area. I live in metro Atlanta and they have a lot of previous preceptors listed. What area do you live in? The closer to the school the more preceptors the database seems to have. My first clinical rotation would start around May, but I'm going to start emailing some of the preceptors in Typhon in the next month or two just to stay ahead.

I'm starting the post graduate PMHNP program in the Spring of 2024. The process has been a little long. You first do the graduate application and after everything is submitted it takes weeks to hear back. Once accepted to the school you then have to upload the health requirements for the school of nursing (vaccination record, physical, etc.) and do a background check and drug screen. About 2 to 3 weeks after that was done I got an email saying my acceptance letter would be coming but to set up my email and "MyBama" account. And to fill out an electronic form they needed. A 2nd email came after that explaining more of the program/process and stating we should be getting the official acceptance letter soon. Why they sent 2 emails saying you would get an acceptance letter instead of just sending it together is beyond me LOL. Now I have my acceptance letter and I'm waiting until the end of October to register for my classes.

Yes, I think it is the 11th and 12th. Looks like I everything in that they need and registration opens at the end of Oct.

The school gets notified when your results are available. I got an email about a week after my background was done with the next steps.

Hello, I was accepted for the post graduate (I'm already an ACNP) PMHNP program that starts in January 2024. Are you doing the full program or post-grad? I did the background check and drug screen and received 2 emails. In both emails they said the official acceptance letter would be emailed soon but provided links with forms they needed signed etc. Luckily, I already had a CastleBranch account so submitting my health documents was fairly easy.

Great questions..... 1. I think that these NP's would have to be "grandfathered" in and in order for this to work you would have to say any NP's who graduate January 2025 of later these rules would apply to for example. 2. Yes, there would have to be a pay difference since they would be two different career paths so to speak. 3. I agree, let me be clear that I do not think an APRN is equivalent to an MD. However, a DNP educational track could be created that is eventually equivalent is my point. The same thing occurred with DO's and could one day happen with DNP's if there are major changes to the current curriculum and process. So eventually the goal would be to have the MSN be the dreaded "midlevel" provider that is "supervised" and the DNP is the terminal degree that is independent and more equivalent to an MD. Two different tracks for NP education. Again, just an idea I was thinking about one day........

So I was sitting around thinking and reading a lot of the online debates about MSN versus DNP education. The whole independent practice debate where some NP's say they are "just as good" as Docs. The NP versus PA debates on various forums. So I thought of an idea.... just an idea, nobody chew my head off LOL. It seems that a lot of people agree online programs/diploma mills are hurting the profession correct? I also see most people say that getting their DNP did not change anything clinically, with some even saying it was pointless. So here is an idea I propose..... thoughts....... Make the MSN an "entry level" degree for NP practice. Leave the curriculum currently how it is. However, NP's with an MSN would have to work under the dreaded word "supervision" or a collaborative agreement. The NP's that want to work independently would have the option to get their DNP. However, make the DNP tougher with more clinical classes. Heck you could even make it equivalent to MD programs, kinda how DO's did and develop Step 1 USMLE type of tests for licensure. Add in things like gross anatomy, histology, more extensive radiology classes etc. Who knows even make it where graduates from these programs could one day apply to the same residencies as MD/DO's. If NP's want to be taken seriously, especially ones with a DNP then why not? That is one idea.... the other would be certification changes and increasing the amount of one year NP fellowships....but I'll make a separate post for those LOL........

No, the only thing I got was an email back Monday of last week from someone in admissions saying that everything would be reviewed by Friday. It is now Friday the following week and I still haven't heard anything.

Yes, I'll be starting classes on the Oct/Nov. start date. I'll be at the November on site training unless I end up getting accepted into the University of Alabama. I was supposed to know last week if I got accepted there or not. So I'm hoping this week I'll hear something because the deadline at UNA to register for classes is quickly approaching.

I'm still waiting on a decision for their Spring Post Masters PMHNP program. Hoping to hear something soon since they said everything will reviewed by yesterday.

I was accepted to start in the Post Masters PMHNP program this fall. Still waiting to hear back from the University of Alabama before I register for classes. So far the process isn't too bad...other than getting all the annoying health records together (TB, vaccines, etc.) that all programs require. I'm guessing we will be classmates.

Does anyone know what type of questions they ask on the online interview?

I would be careful with this. "You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.” ― Tim Minchin NP's should be practicing evidence or science based medicine. Often times many of these "alternative" treatments are backed by zero to very little evidence. For example, the risks of cupping far outweigh the benefits and should not be recommended. Homeopathic "medicine" are just placebos Homeopathic/Naturopathic "doctors" are mostly viewed as quacks in the scientific community. Many Chiros are claiming they can help with asthma and various other things that are truly out of their scope of practice. Just a few things to think about and be aware of. A great starting point to investigate pseudoscientific claims is over at https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/ while this is more of a blog format they do list the current research with links on each topic. We need more NP's to become members of the Skeptic community.

Does anyone use Anki to study? If so do you know of any good decks that are more suited for NP's? I haven't found many. I did find a new one called AnkiNP (I think you can find it on Instagram as anki_np) that is good, but it is still new and being updated daily. I know Anking is GREAT, but it is 37,000 cards and is made more so for MD/DO students. Any other ones? For those of you that are reading and are lost LOL..... Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to learn information. One of the most effective ways to learn. A lot of people make their own decks or used pre-made decks like Anking or AnkiNP to study.

Both are great! I use Picmonic every single day in my Nurse Practitioner program and it has been awesome! It uses research proven learning methods such as spaced repetition and active recall. I would for sure recommend it! You can actually get a free account and watch 1 video per day. However, it is cheap compared to other programs such as Osmosis, Sketchy, etc. I belive it is around $25 per month. Since I am a premium member I can actually share my sign up link and it will give you 20% off if you sign up through my link in my profile.

Update! I am in my 2nd semester and things are going great! A lotttt of reading is required!

I don't think you could pay me to do 8 week classes, unless it is for a nursing theory class. Far too much information to learn in an 8 week class for something like Patho.

Awesome, I was too. I'll be doing the ACNP program. I have thought about switching to FNP though. Which program are you in?

I also wonder about an NP in DPC, and how that would work. I am starting an ACNP program soon, but would be willing to switch to FNP if I could work in a DPC model.