SebagoLaurel

Maybe you dont. But I also had no way of being 100% sure I would really like being a nurse when I did a 180 turn at 44 and switched from being an engineer to go to nursing school. My past interests, talking to people in the job, studying about it, etc. gave me some knowledge - but if I had the attitude I should not do something new without trying it first I would not have done it. And yes, I have disadvantage of being older, no health care experience, etc. over others with many years experience - but I have faith in myself that I can become a great NP (mind you - I am talking Family NP not midwife for myself) despite not going the standard route.

Not at all. I have not worn a skirt/dress on any interviews in my life. That includes 20 years in computer engineering jobs and 2 years nursing/nurse practitioner. So far have hiring rate of about 99% for any interview - so pretty sure it is not because I wore pants. I do wear professional suit/outfit, not casual pants. You dont dress for the job, but for the professional position you want to be considered for. I was always taught to dress for the potential for your future in any job.

I am getting very frustrated at the constant comments and advice to those considering advanced practice with no experience. While I do not for one minute doubt that 1 or more years of experience as an RN is a good thing, or even that they probably do have an advantage over those of us with no experience. However, I just graduated with about 20 GM students with no experience in a Family Nurse Practitioner program. We have 100% pass rate on the exam and I believe just about 100% hiring rate after graduation. Many of us did clinicals with NP's with no RN experience (nor interest in it, nor felt anything missing). I think the area you work in makes a difference. If planning to work in acute care or ER, probably experience as an RN in such a fast pace environment probably helps. My only point is that more and more of us are joining the ranks with no RN experience (I had almost a year, but am SO thankful to skip any more - I think nurse managers have an obligation to treat new nurses like sh&*^, looking only for what you do wrong - heaven forbid a compliment for a rough, busy night spend successfully helping very sick patients). I am SOOO much happier working directly for a doctor - feel like I am being treated like a professional with a lot left to learn, versus a peon with no brains. Some of my class got the NP (finished school and passed test), but are choosing to keep jobs as RN to continue getting the experience for their area, but at least dont have to worry about going back to school later. I am sure I will be blasted for this, but I think we all need to get to the end of the journey in our own way. I just hate to see anyone motivated to move on stop and quit now. So many people find it hard to go back to school later - people get married, have kids, life happens. If you have the means and motivation to go on, go for it. It is similar to getting your MBA. When I got mine, after several years of experience, it frustrated me to meet those who had the nerve to go for it with no work experience. How dare they! I had to work hard before I went - why shouldnt they? Well, I got over it. Yes, I brought a lot of experience to the table due to real world experience first, but you know what? Those I kept in touch with did alright. Just took a different route than I did.

Ok - maybe it is me, but why would CNA be the one to answer a question about whether CNA should be requirement for nursing school? Seems like a question for nurses and/or advanced nurses to answer. Personally, if you have never done any patient care, I think CNA experience would be very helpful. Not sure it is required - most of my class never were CNA and they are some of the best nursing students (now nurses and advanced nurses I know). But for several of us new to nursing initially, the CNA experience certainly helped us gain experience, learn hands on, and most important - learn how important CNA's are to a patient and how they help the nurse do a good job when they do a good job :-)

I think it is nice that someone volunteered, but I would suggest that an interview is a different activity than having someone that, for all intensive purposes, you have never met fill out information. For all you know, any of us here could be anything - no guarantee we are RN's. But I would suggest at least asking your professor if having someone simply fill in some answers off the internet meets the criteria of the assignment? I would also suggest that meeting an RN is not a difficult task and this would be great opportunity to meet an RN - maybe in an area of nursing you might be interested in. For example, find the pediatric floor of local hospital if interested in pediatrics - maybe find nurse willing to spend a break with you. Or if geriatrics possibility, go to LTC facility.

i had a semester similar to this that i survived - but with no kids, no housecleaning (for myself or others) and no life :uhoh21: i would seriously suggest, if you do this, that maybe you find someone else to help do the cleaning for your mom for semester, and maybe to watch kids for hour or two after school to allow study time. you mentioned you will be going 8-5 eventually anyway? there is a lot of study required for those courses - lab and homework. good luck.

Good question. I am not best to answer, but an allergy is when for whatever reason, your body has antibodies (?) that fight the allergen. Allergens can be (not sure they always are) dangerous, causing anaphylactic reactions. I heard an expert MD speak once (mainly about food allergies) but when discussing different allergens, she said that most things that cause people to say they have "allergies" are really just "irritants" in the body. These are not dangerous, and since the symptoms are similar (sneezing, coughing, etc), not sure what difference it makes. With meds, if the the reaction to a medicine is a side effect, rather than allergy, then there are workarounds - especially with pain managent. For example, if s/e is mild, it can go away after few days (for example, if makes you lethargic, start taking when dont have to drive for couple days, take only at night for while, 1/2 strength, etc.), then gradually add more. If n/v, start taking compazine for few days with it. If too strong, try another form of the opiod - maybe no reaction to that. Probably why someone who THINKS they are allergic (strength of reaction does NOT make it allergy) to morphine, can take Tylenol #3. Not really allergic to morphine, but in form of Tylenol #3, less/no reaction. The reason I think it makes a difference is that I dont think doctors do patients any favors by letting them continue to think their reactions are allergic when they are not. It is more than just thinking, well since reactions are not pleasant, would not want to take it anyway. The reason I think this is that I am a brand new Hospice NP and RN (part time each). You would be surprised at how many people will reject ALL pain medicine because 10 years ago they had an "allergic" reaction and nothing anyone can say will convince them it was not allergic - nor will they consider working with palliative care MD or NP to find good pain management. Oh well - as they keep telling me - everyone has the right to be in pain. Just frustrating when I think maybe they could be made to feel better. In my clinicals it was opposite sometimes - perfectly healthy younger people not willing to try anything to help themselves with pain cause they are afraid they will lose their narcotics. Say it took so long to find what works, etc.

The real question is whether the patient is REALLY allergic to morphine. From my understanding (which is new so maybe wrong), very few people are really allergic to morphine. However, probably about 99% of the patients I have ever seen (as student and as a new nurse) all list morphine and/or codeine as allergy. I think they mistake allergy with side effect (which of course, not being pleasant, is something everyone wants to avoid - not realizing that the side effects might go away, be minimized or avoided with another narcotic).

Regis College, Weston, Mass has a 3 year direct entry program (just graduated myself - taking test in 2 days), which awards BSN after 2 years. Since I started, they re-arranged things so you can actually qualify to take the NCLEX after 3 semesters, but still get BSN after 4, then MSN in two more semesters. It does require summer courses for the 2 summers. A lot of people considered stopping after BSN and changing where they got MSN for NP but as far as I know, those "accelerated" programs still would require they do another 18 months (which did not look so accelerated when we were looking at 2 more semesters to finish).

There was a lot I didnt like - mainly the clinical portion of the nursing section was not great - which is not good for us direct-entry w/no nursing experience - but I think same complaints everywhere. I feel prepared to prepare for the role - wish I had another year to focus on the clinical learning now that all the academic stuff is over. Mind you - I am not claiming that nursing or np only need the clinical stuff (I agree that is what separates a "service" profession from "professional"), but wish I had more and better clinical stuff. I am in the Family NP program. Test is all multiple choice. For AANP and ANCC (sp?) 4 part questions. Another certifying body has 3 question format for Women's NP and Pedi (I think). Test seems much more straightforward and based on knowledge, not "nursing interventions" than NCLEX, but SO MUCH to learn :-) 2 more weeks.

Hello, Good luck at UMASS-Worc. I just graduated with MSN. Studying for my test (end of June). I am SOOO nervous.

Yes - the science lab courses needed to be within 5 years. Others not. My psychology class was MANY years ago and it was counted. Same with my computer (of course that was my career and I had a degree in computer science).

Hi, I took most of my pre-reqs at Middlesex CC in Bedford or Lowell. The A&P there was great (interesting, since growing up in Bedford I would have considered Middlesex "below" my level then). I took A&P I online - it was fantastic but a LOT of work. Definitely have to keep up with the reading and research. There is a lab - it is an afternoon 1 times a month. I took the A&P II in Lowell (had a job by then). It was ok - but not as challenging. Human Development has to include birth to death (at least where I just finished my NP program at Regis). A lot of Human Development courses only cover birth to 18, or 18 to death). Find a combined birth to death is easier than 2 different semesters of Human Development. I was able to do all the requirements except Nutrition and Ethics and HD in one year. I was allowed to start my program as long as I had all lab pre-reqs done. But would recommend finishing them first if possible. Regis had the most pre-reqs required when I was looking (cannot believe that was 4 years ago and I am FINALLY done).

Last final in two days (last one ever I hope :-), then NP boards in another month, then finally an NP. Time to get a real job after 3 years as a middle age broke student. Very excited!

I believe it depends on which state you are in. In MA, NP need to be associated with or work under a physician. But I think in other states (NY?) they can be independant.