KimHFNP

I'm not sure why so many of you are being so mean. This woman is asking for advice and it's obvious that she is suffering from depression. Where is your compassion? Neezy- I recommend you find a therapist- (not a psychiatrist). It sounds like you dont have a great deal of support, so having someone to talk to, someone who can help you make decisions that will help you change the things in your life you don't like is really going to help you. If you can't afford to find a therapist, look around to see if you can find a group therapy or counseling thru a local church/synagogue: a lot of times it is very reduced or free. The main thing I can tell you, is that no matter how trapped you feel- you aren't. You just need a little help climbing back out of the hole.

The National Health Service offers loan repayment facilities in underserved areas in the US. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to relocate though- I live in Tennessee and ever county in the state qualifies as an underserved area. I can think of 3 or 4 places to work in Memphis alone (my home city) that offer this program for nurse practitioners. Since you are working as a nurse- I would imagine that number would triple. Here is the website: Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program And you shouldn't necessarily make less than your nursing counterparts working somewhere where they don't repay loans. It might be a little more emotionally draining, though. Working with the indigent is a little harder because you have to be a little more creative sometimes to get them the care they need. Take care, Kim

I went to a Master's Entry Program. We, of course, were in our final classes with the NP students who were RNs first. I felt that there was no difference in ability, or understanding in the students who were master's entry vs the students who were RNs first at the end of the program. That being said, you will likely work a little harder up front to learn some basics that RN students are already going to know. Remember, there are plenty of RNs who go straight to an NP program right out of their RN program. Being a nurse practitioner is a COMPLETELY different job than being an RN. (I did work as an RN in a hospital prior to finishing my Masters). You do completely different things. Both jobs are hard, and both require intelligence and organization: they are just different. I will say that because of our lack of mandatory residencies, you may find that in your first job as an NP you will get "baptized by fire" a little. In your first job, look for a doc (or experienced NP) who is willing to teach. That is way more important than salary. Worry about salary on your second job.

Thanks- that's a good idea. I'll do that. Kim :)

I also have contacted the program coordinators. I am interested in both what a student of the program has to say vs what a coordinator of the program has to say. As I said above I have 2 young children and I currently live about 11 hours away from Chapel Hill. I want to gather as much information about this program before applying. I want to make sure that both I and my situation are a good fit. I have not pursued any higher education since becoming a mom and it's not just about me anymore (as it was last time.) �� thanks! Kim

It occurred to me that I should let you know what I would like to know about it: What are the hours like? Is it 8-5 Monday thru Friday? Or do you have to work overnight in the hospital sometimes? I only ask because my children will be coming with me and I just need to have some idea of scheduling. Also, I would probably be staying in the Chapel Hill area after completing the program (since I don't think it would be fair to uproot my children again). Is it hard to find a job in Orthopedics or is the area pretty saturated? How competitive is it to get in? I'm sure it's hard, but is it possible for someone with no experience in Ortho to get in? Thank you in advance for your replies. Kim

Hi! Has anyone completed or in the process of completing the Orthopedic Fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill? I have always been very interested in Orthopedics and am considering applying. I am an FNP with 10 years experience in Weight Management. Thanks!

I didnt read all 39 posts, so forgive me if I am repeating something already said. Remember that often for a staff nurse to make $50 or more per hour, they often have to take shifts at terrible times Weekends/Nights. I also remember from my brief foray into staff nursing that for that kind of money often you worked as an agency RN or flex pool, which usually meant you were on the floors that no one else wanted to be on (usually for good reason:eek:). So you have to look at the whole situation. You might be able to match your NP salary as an RN, but not working 8-5 mon thr Fri- in a lower stress job that is a lot easier on your body, you know what I mean? And as you get experience, your salary goes up- don't forget that!!!

Hi, I have a tentative interview with an orthopedic surgeon this week. I am an FNP. I do not have any ortho experience or OR experience. I have a professional history with this surgeon and she likes me- which is the reason I got the interview (for those of you that are wondering :)) Anyway, I want to really sell her on the positives of hiring me. She used to work with several ortho PAs when she belonged to a big practice a few years ago. She now is on her own. I have a couple of questions. 1. Am I allowed to be trained on the job for this job? I assume that I will start out in clinic and then move to the OR later. Or is it determined by the state in which I practice (TN). 2. Are there any differences in the scope of practice that I will have vs an Ortho PA if I am appropriately trained? Or does that depend on my state also? Thanks in advance for any answers. Kim

Why are you depressed? Sounds like you did great! They would not be holding your test for Q and A if you failed- why bother? I hated all of the hype around the NCLEX- it was stupid. It is not a hard test, and if you made it through nursing school, there is no reason to fail. Do you know why people fail? Because they psych themselves out (and the instructors in nursing school don't help with this- so if you are reading this professors, consider this when you try to make the NCLEX sound like the threshold to HELL when you are discussing it with impressionable students. It does not help you or your school to terrify your students). I was a Masters Entry Student, so I took the NCLEX and the Family Nurse Practitioner Boards within a year of each other. The discussion of the Family Nurse Practitioner exam was so much more laid back, and as a result, I was much more relaxed for it- and did great. And I am not any genius or anything. Just relax. You did fine- don't let your retarded Professors in school freak you out. And you will not lose your job because your scores arent in yet. It is way too hard (and expensive) to have to go hire someone new. Hospitals are always going to take the easy (and cheap) way out. They might be acting frustrated, but they arent going to do anything about it. So chin up!!

Have you thought about this...? I knew a lot of people who would get a low level job in a big hospital before going to nursing school. Big hospital systems will often pay for a person to go to nursing school as a benefit, provided that you continue to work there for a year after you are done. Hospitals always need people at night and evenings, which would free you up during the day. Some ideas for jobs would be: EKG tech, nursing assistant, phlebotomist, unit secretary, nutrition (the people who take orders for meals), ER tech, etc. Some of these jobs need training before hand, but many hosptials will train you on the job. Also, you would get exposure to the hospital world, so to speak, and would be more comfortable once nursing school started.

From what I have heard it is really an ok place to work. I've heard REALLY good things about St. Francis Bartlett especially.

Methodist, then Baptist.

Hi! I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and I live in Memphis. I have two small children and am married. We may be moving to New Orleans, but I am having trouble getting good info on the city- esp info on education. I know that the public school situation is dicey, but are there ANY public schools that ARE NOT magnet schools in New Orleans that are good? I dont want a magnet school bc I know you have to apply, and we wont be there in time for that. Or are there any DECENT private schools that ARE NOT exprensive? I have been looking on city data forums and they are very skewed towards the conservative. I like a mixed bag of responses. Also, if there are any nurses out there with kids who used to live in Memphis and now live in NO, that would be great! Thank you so much!

If anyone can give me some information out there, I would really appreciate it. I work in a weight loss clinic and mainly prescribe phentermine. I have worked there for 2 1/2 years and the atmosphere of the office was always very positive. My supervising physician was always very supportive of us and if we had a dispute over whether a certain pt was appropriate for phentermine or not, he would always let us make the decision for ourselves whether we wanted to prescribe to a certain pt or not. In the past 6 months everything has changed. It might be something that has nothing to do with us (like something in his personal life), but he has adapted this "my way or the highway" kind of attitude. If I feel uncomfortable prescribing phentermine to a pt because of something in that pt's previous medical history, and he does not agree with it, he pretty much says that he knows better than I do (bc he is a physician), and if I don't like it I can just get a new job. In fact, he said that very thing to me about 3 days ago. I should also tell you that I am 7 months pregnant, so even if I wanted to get another job right now, I couldn't (or it would be VERY difficult). Do I have any rights here? I work in an "at will" state, so I think he can pretty much get rid of me for any reason. I should also tell you that I am not a troublemaker (other than trying to stand up for myself when it comes to doing something I feel uncomfortable with), and I have a good work ethic, and everyone in the clinic likes me. There is really no reason for him to be trying to get rid of me other than this issue. Any advice would be appreciated.