saraltx

Crazy me, now I actually started considering going to medical school for an MD instead of the DNP. It's a bigger commitment, but other than the DNP it does lead to a significantly higher salary and should directly improve my clinical practice. Besides, I think I would enjoy it and I'm still just young enough that I could still work as a physician for at least 2 decades if I graduate in my early 40s. Now I just have to decide if it's worth the time and money involved... Apparently it's not unheard of for NPs or PAs to go back to medical school, and the experience should make it much easier to get admitted to the school I'd want. Cutting back my work hours or possibly giving up working completely temporarily would be the hardest thing about it, especially since I genuinely do love my job. On the other hand I could return to the same employer a few years later as an MD.

I still remain undecided about the DNP question - in part because I have yet to fet a clear answer from my employer regarding how supportive they would be of that endeavor. Silly me had assumed they would be glad if I want to learn and improve myself in my role. Instead I'm afraid they may be unfamiliar with the degree and may fear I'm trying to leave for another job after graduating, which is not my intention at all. Then again maybe they've plainly been too busy to give me a proper answer so far. I definitely feel a need and desire to continue to learn and grow in my professional role. But at the same time I've been having second thoughts if the DNP program could even hinder a clinically meaningful growth, because I will have less time to read medical literature with the focus of becoming a better clinician.

Most DNPs that I read from online seem to think the degree was worth it for them in hindsight. It's a hard decision to make, since the benefits are certainly not as clear and forseeable as my previous degrees.

I'm an NP trying to decide whether or not to go back to school for my DNP. I love to learn and enjoy academic work. I know the DNP program focuses on translating research to clinical practice and improving outcomes. I'm quite passionate about my current area of employment and would love being able to help improve outcomes in that area. However, ultimately I think I just want to keep the job I have in direct clinical practice ratjer than any sort of management positition (I don't really know of any NPs or DNPs in management positions anyway). So the only benefit might lie in personal development and improving my own practice by applying more research. Seems kinda hard to justify the time and financial commitment for that, as tempting as I find it...

I'm German, and completed my RN education in the US. I'm assuming from your post that you're already in the US and taking your nursing classes here? In that case it's really not much different than for US citizens, and from my experience it really doesn't matter that I'm German. You have to pass the TOEFL in order to get accepted into a US program, so I'm assuming that English proficiency won't be an issue. My visa status becomes relevant mostly in my limited possibilities for employment, but that's the same no matter which country you're from.

I'm an international student and a new nurse currently working on OPT. I received my visa screen certificate last week and now want to plan the next steps in order to have everything ready once retrogression is over. I'm wondering about the best way of finding an employer and preparing the paperwork so that everything will be ready by that time. I'm currently working with a small employer that has no experience with sponsoring foreign nurses, but said they would be willing to sponsor me. Would I just hand them the I-140 and have them hold it until there is an opening? Or can it be sent off by me as long as it is prepared by the employer? Also, the form seems pretty self-explanatory. Is it usually advised to consult an immigration lawyer for it? I completed all my immigration paperwork myself so far and never ran into any problems doing so. Also, I was looking for a thread that explains the exact documents that go along with the I-140 and the next steps. I know I once saw a thread, but I can't seem to find it anymore. I remember there is something about a job posting that needs to be done by the employer for so and so many days prior? I would appreciate any clarification and assistance with this. Thanks!

I was just about to start a similar thread when I found this one. I recently started my first job as a nurse in LTC and saw quite a few things that make a bit nervous. Nurses routinely give a med hours late because of their own judgment. Or when I document I was told that since I don't know the residents yet and it would be impossible to assess at least 40 people each shift, to pretty much just copy what the last person wrote (and that last person copies from the nurse before etc.). I feel like everyone is making up a lot of things and signing off interventions they didn't do. Today, I saw a CNA straight cath a resident! I don't even want to think how she learnt it, since obviously someone must have taught her. I wonder if such things are common practice in LTC and inofficially accepted, or if it is just a bad example. I do realize that there are a lot of people to take care of for each nurse and it seems almost impossible to actually do every little thing. Also, I wonder what could possibly be done about this situation? I haven't said much so far and I'm hesitating to report such issues, since I'm new and don't want to have the rest of my co-workers against me. I'm just trying to do my best at keeping up my own standards.

I'm a new grad and just recently passed NCLEX. I have a stipulated license. The writing from the BNE says I need to comply with the stipulations within one year (just taking some class) and that once I have done so I will receive an unstipulated license. I already took that class just shortly after I got my license to get it out of the way. Does anyone know how long it should take for them to process everything and give me the unstipulated license? This is in Texas by the way.

I'm a new RN considering to apply for a position in LTC. However, I admit that I'm not very clear about the responsibilities on an RN in LTC, since it seems that most is done by aids and LVNs/LPNs and RNs hold mainly office jobs. I have seen nursing homes advertis positions for RNs without specifying that it would be a management position, so I'm a bit confused. Also, what exactly would a LTC weekend supervisor do, and would a new grad be qualified for this position?

I'm aware of the retrogression issue. That's why I want to try and make enough money during my OPT to be able to go for my BSN afterwards.

I passed NCLEX last week and have 3 more weeks before my 6 months of fulltime OPT. All the way through school I was sure that I already had a future employer, but the way things are going right now, I'm beginning to have some doubts. My college is in a small town and I had a scholarship from a local hospital here during school. I've been working there as a nurse tech part time during my last year of school. In late April I had my interview for an RN position, and it seemed like everything went perfect, except that they don't seem to have any experience with OPT and sponsoring nurses, but I was told they will do whatever they need to do to get me to work for them. Then, for weeks I didn't hear anything. I asked for an update and was told I needed to submit a whole new application and come for a second interview. I sent an email asking why they can't use the application they already have, but didn't hear anything back, so I submitted another application. I also applied at a local nursing home where I was told that they have a lot of positions, but never contacted me, even after I asked for an update of the status of my application. To come to the end of the story, it all seems to go so slow and they seem to know so little about my situation here, that I've started thinking about going to another hospital and move to the Dallas area, where I guess they should have more experience with foreign nurses. Is it generally hard to be hired on OPT as a new grad, since it is only for 6 months? And what hospitals in Dallas might be willing to hire me? Is it reasonable to think that I should get a job there within about 2 weeks? Sorry for making this so long and thanks for any suggestions. I'm just beginning to get a bit discouraged about everything.

I took NCLEX yesterday. I started out feeling like I don't know anything, then after about 50 questions or so I started feeling just slightly more confident, and at 75 it promptly cut me off! I got an insane amount of "Select all that apply". I got so many that I was glad whenever I got a normal question for a change. I believe that easily one third out of the 75 was "select all that apply", if not more. I felt pretty bad at first, but I guess if I would really have done so bad, it wouldn't have kept giving me those questions, but something easier. So I actually convinced myself that I passed But I did wish that we had more parctice with "Select all" in nursing schools, or that at least we wouldn't have been told explicitely not to worry so much about it because only about 2 to 4 will be alternate format questions.

I'm in the process of preparing my application for the visa screen certificate. I took part of my prerequisite classes at a different school, and then attended the full 2-year ADN program at another school. The application differentiates between professional and non-profession-related schools. So I was wondering if I would need to include transcripts from the previous school (with the prerequisites) as well? However, the "Request for Academic Records" form seems to fit more for the actual program only. I hope anyone can help me out with this.

I'm in my last semester of nursing school as an international student in the US in a few days and I'm trying to figure out ways to extend my stay here beyond the 6 months of OTP that I'll have left after graduation. I know about the retrogression thing and I'm not sure if I will be able to afford to continue my studies and go for my BSN. I found out about the J1 visa for internships, but I can't quite figure out if this would be an option for nursing. In my understanding the J1 visa is given for 12 months and then can be extended for another 12 months. In that time I could easily save some money for my BSN then. However, is it possible to adjust from F1 to J1, and then switch back to F1? I'm pretty sure that once I would have to leave the country it would be almost be impossible to get another another nonimmigrant visa, since it would be very hard to proof that I don't intend to stay here after going to nursing school here and doing OPT and all. Any suggestions and info are highly appreciated. Thanks.

I'm planning on doing the OPT at a hospital where I'm having a scholarship. They do have tuition reimbursement, but only after working there for a year I think. Silverdragen, what do you mean with no visa currently to adjust? Would I not still be on an F1 visa while doing OPT? I know my plan may be a bit too crazy, and luckily I still have some time to think about it and hopefully for some good news to happen about the retrogression. I would just hate not to be able to work in the US at least for a while because of this.