Atl_John

I am in the ACNP/RNFA program at UAB about to graduate in 65 days. To the original question I'd choose ACNP over the ANP. You can sit for both boards, you get primary care training within the ACNP program. USA or UAB, it doesn't matter. You're going to get a good eduction no matter. They have a nice DNP program down at USA that gets you a ACNP/FNP/DNP. They have a surgical NP program at UAB that gets you the ACNP/RNFA.

Hey, Yes I'm sure it is more than possible. I actually found out about the RNFA route while I was getting my BSN. I got to watch a few CABG's and the assist was a RNFA. So I was able to ask her lots of questions. As for shadowing a ACNP/RNFA I don't think there are many out there right now. There are only two schools that I know of that even have the program. However, just because your not a RNFA doesn't mean you can't assist in surgery as a ACNP. I'm sure you could find a ACNP or any NP that assists in surgery and you could shadows them. All you have to do is ask, whats the worst they could say....no. I've run into quite a few ACNP's and many of them are more than happy to talk to you and "teach" you. They have all been very receptive. EDIT: Forgot to add this. [PM member for name] The person at UAB that is incharge of the program. You could contact her and ask her about possibly shadowing or even coming to class and watching for a day to see what it is that you will be learning. Shes very approachable, and I have enjoyed the few times I've gotten to sit down in her office and chat.

I'm at UAB in the ACNP/RNFA program. I like it so far. You have three surgical rotations or you can do them all as one large one. You can do them in any surgical specialty you wish. As well as your ACNP rotations you may do them in any specialty as well. They also have a NNP program, you can do your clinicals at UAB Hospital which has a pretty intense NICU. But not being int he program i coudln'tt tell you how it is.

I'm in the ACNP/RNFA program at UAB currently. You may do your surgical rotations in any surgical specialty that you wish, from General to Neuro. If you know you wish to do a specific subspecialty this may be the way to go for you. I'lll probably pick General Surgery and Trauma Surgery to get what I think is a well rounded surgical experience. You can also do specialized classes a Minor if you will in Cardiac, Neuro, diabetes, Trauma, etc. :) Hope that helps. Its a good program so far. I know UAB has a pretty good NNP program. With a pretty intense NICU nearby at UAB University Hospital.

You do certainly seem to have a dilema there don't you. If we looked at it logically. Your husband is the "rate limiting factor". He has to go to T-town to finish his degree. He has no choice. So to Alabama he must go. The next question is where will you live once he is done. AL (I hope not, bad NP laws here), MD, etc. If you will be living in Maryland you may want to keep the house, rent it out for a year so that you can still "pay the mortgage". If not sell the house as quickly as possible. If you will be living and moving to AL....well.....first I'm sorry. :) Been here since 95 and can't wait to leave. Second.....buy a house here and begin looking for a FNP job here. They use NP's extensively at UAB University Hospital in the Stepdown and certain ICU's. If you are not going to live here OR in MD. Then you may want to take a travel job in the city that you will be moving too once hubby graduates. Start getting contacts there and putting your name out to the various MD's, Hospitals, NP practices, etc. Find a house, etc There is also the take a travel job. You could do that as a break before you go work as a FNP. But if your like me I'm sure I won't be able to wait to work as a NP and get out of bedside nursing. But just as your husband supported you while you were in school, its important to suppport your husband now while hes finishing up school. But think of it, once hes done....he owes you so you could use for leverage....Honey, I want to go here because they have great NP laws!!!

I'm a ACNP/RNFA student in my third semester of NP school. I remember when I first started. I had just graduated with my BSN, JUST moved, JUST started a new job, and JUST started grad school. All in the same month!!! Talk about a plank. So far I do not regret doing what I'm doing. I know that this will open up doors and let me do what I really want to do. I choose ACNP over the FNP only because I have no desire to learn about pregnant women and the process that they go through. I also believe, and this is just my belief, that since I wish to work in critical care type areas MICU/SICU/NeuroICU/ER/OR that the ACNP/RNFA is more practical for me. I don't realy care to see children, but in various states even though I'm an adult, certain adolescents classify as adults (15/16 yr old). If I find that I need to work with children or gasp (pregnant women) I can always go back and get my FNP so I can get those skills. There is also the possibility of doing the Pediatric/Adolescent Acute Care NP program as an add on as well. But I know that overall I really wish to work in a critical care area. SO yes its normal to feel that way.

I think its sad that a NP would go back to working as a RN. But maybe that is because I do not always enjoy the work as a bedside nurse. I personally do not enjoy cleaning up my patients, and turning them and bathing them. With two bachelors done and a masters degree on the way I almost feel like this is work that is "beneath" me. Don't get me wrong I know its part of the caring aspect of nursing and that it has all sorts of good medical benefits. HOWEVER........I don't have to use my knowledge or skill. Things like trying to figure out if that patient is suffering from flash pulmonary edema or is about to plug off, or trying to figure out what is going on with that heart rhythm is what I got into this for. Not to mention I work a night baylor shift so I don't have a normal schedule or normal life. However for the chance to have a normal life in 2 years this is well worth it. To not have to worry about cleaning up poop if I don't want too, not having to work weekends (well I might here and there), and not worrying about jerky doctors. For those NP's who are not making as much as a RN, thats just sad. I am in more of a position that I can move anywhere in the country. I have already made plans to leave AL as soon as I graduate and if that takes me out to Phoenix, AZ or up to Seattle, WA it doesn't matter. I'll go where I'll have a great job, working with a doctor who is willing to pay me what I believe I deserve, and willing to teach and guide me as needed so that I can become a great addition to his/her practice.

I think you may find your salary will not be the same ehre even Flexi. St. Vincents has a Baylor program and I know they need Baylor Night folks. UAB new grad rate is 19.85 as of four months ago. St. Vincents New grad rate is 20, baylor addition is 65%, not sure about UAB. So thats 33/hr working Sat/Sun night. I have been told that Shelby County Hospital has a baylor night flexi position thats 44/hr. Hope that helps.

Hey, War Eagle. I think we have/had similar situations. I graduated from AU in 03 with a BS in International Business and I too felt that I had made a mistake. I ended up going back to Auburn for their Accelerated program in nursing in 06 and just graduated this past December. As an accelerated student you get your BSN in 4 semesters. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the program. At first I wasn't impressed to be honest But now that I am out and working in a SICU I can tell you I was very very well prepared for being a nurse. Not only have I felt that I was well prepared for work, I have also started working on my Acute Care nurse Practitioner program up here in BHAM at UAB and can tell you that AU's program has also prepared me very well for Graduate studies. Having graduated from AU wil also give you an advantage getting into AU. They like to have a large variety of students. We had graduates in everything from excercise science to business and biology. Plus you get to stay at AU. :) If you would like to ask more questions you can PM me. Just put in the subject Auburn Nursing or something like that. Hope that Helps John

Excellent excellent suggestions. I've been in ICU as a new grad now for 4 months and having read this four months ago I woudln't have believed it. But it is really true, and such great advice. Thanks

I work a 12 hour shift Sat7p-Sun7a, Sun 7p-Mon7a, then off for the rest of the week which works well for me with school. :) And St. Vincents is located in Bham I believe they are needing more Baylor Night folks in the SICU, so if you are wanting to move to bham. :) Also, I have passed NCLEX, so now I am officially....RN. :) Felt really weird writing my name with RN on the back of it yesterday (first day on the unit). It was like holy hell.....I'm a nurse. :)

I just got a true weekend job (Baylor) Sat/Sun nights and as a new grad I'm getting base plus 65% which equals out to 33/hr. This is at St. Vincents in the SICU.

:Bump: I'm wanting the same info, moving to Bham in December/Jan.

I'm getting one as soon as I graduate. I've got it all planned out. Its the Lamp of knowledge with a Staff of Aesculapius with a a life like snake and two branches coming out of the top on top of the lamp of knowledge. Then to the left and right just below the lamp are two sets of symbols. One is the chineese for Caring, the other for Knowledge. Then on top is the symbol in chineese for Healing. I am viewing it like this. My foundation in what I do is in nursing (lamp of knowledge) with the help of Medicine (Aesculapius). And through Caring and Knowledge I am able to Heal. :) I can't wait to get it.

As a gay, almost nurse, I applaud you. You most certainly did the right thing. If I was ever hospitalized I would want my husband there, even more so than my parents. However, as they say, nothing can replace a gay mans mother. :)

People don't want you to say anything other than the truth.

Good, however I think you have missed the point. Being pre-nursing means you have been accepted not just talked to a college. I have talked to a college regarding a Masters but that doesn't make me a NP Student or a masters student. Folks on here are very "picky" about how you announce yourself. I have no more class all I have left is one month of preceptorship. But you don't see me calling myself a nurse yet. Be very careful as to how you announce yourself. For BP's a cheap ole sprague will do just fine, it was one of the first stethoscopes I used and I loved it, it was a dual tube dual head. Don't worry about the number of heads, you can worry about that when you get to nursing school which is still at best 3 years away (1yr HS and 2 of college pre-reqs before you start your 2 years of nursing school)

Josh, again I ask you why do you need one right now? Are you starting clinicals immediately? Have you gotten into nursing school yet? You never did tell us why you need it so badly. At 17 I'm assuming your still a senior in HS. As a guy whos about to graduate in two months land has been doing medicine (veterinary) for 7 years previousy, save your money. Short of having gotten into nursing or EMT school and having to have one right now don't worry about getting one yet. Get the LIttmann Card. III or the Master Cardiologist when you have saved up the money and your clinicals start that semester. I've bought 3 different scopes, when what I should have done was save my money and just bought the one I really wanted instead of spending money on all three of them. However, since you seem bent on getting one right now look at http://www.allheart.com for really cheap littmann's I mean CHEAP compared to retail. I woudln't get anything less than a Classic II SE There are prices in there that the job I worked at at one point in time coudln't even get wholesale. John

I would give you the following advice along with a few questions to ask yourself Josh. 1. What are the others that you have found on Ebay? 2. Do you have to have one right now, it said you were pre-nursing, and your 17? You wont' be using it in your pre-req nursing courses (micro, a&p, etc) 3. If you dont' have to have it right this minute I would highly recommend that you save up your pennies and buy a good Litmann instead of trying to get a chepo that won't be of much help in your attempts to learn various sounds. You don't have to have a Cardiology III to have a good one that you can use in your clinical rotations. Now I do wish I had had a good one to begin with so I could learn with it and then be comfortable with it in practice.

CHOCOLATE.....lots and lots of CHOCOLATE...works wonders, better than a Xanax, cheaper and you don't need a RX for it, comes in all sorts of colors and flavors but its always good and satisfying. :)

Yeah see I have no problem with that I can understand why you would want proof of titers and a UDS, I'll do those all day long. But I'm the type of person that believes that personal information is just that personal and unless it directly effects my ability to do my job then its none of your business. Lab work I wrote one of the guys at HR and asked them what was all involved. I don't like this !!!!!!

Yeah they have the drug test as well but I just wanna know for what they are testing, I don't care really I just think a lot of it seems rather unnecessary (X-ray/lab work if for more than titers). So does anyone know what tests ar they will be running?

BLECH !!!!!!! $18.25 an hour for HH, you've got to be joking

Hey all, whats up with this pre-employment physical. Chest X-ray, lab work, titers??? What all is involved with this crazy thing. What is the Chest X-ray for, isn't a TB screen enough or is there something else? Lab work, is this just titers or are there other things involved? Seems all a little......intrusive.....yes/no?

That makes me feel better twirlbaby.....I sent in my application to UAB SON one week ago for their ACNP/RNFA program. Glad to hear that not having so much experience with nursing but past medical experience was most helpful.