middleageNP

I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties. Sad to say, Alabama is not the greatest state for RNs, pay and positions. Hiring freezes everywhere. Your best bet is try looking for a position in an outpatient, LTC or palliative/hospice. Given that you've experience in psych, palliative may be an option. Good luck... PS. In all honesty, what I see is that many corporations, hospitals included, use the excuse of the "bad economy" to force more work on their employees. For RN, higher nurse patient ratio, knowing that few will rebut due to fear of losing job. It's a very difficult environment out there for we nurses. We are the first to be thrown under the bus, work the hardest, and last to be recognized as exemplary employee. But then that is nothing new there. Good luck again with your search for a position...

Here are some examples... My ability to decipher an Xray/CT or EKG is 3,0,3 respectively on a scale of 1-10 (we were never taught). I won't even mention MRI or compliments labs...

I wished I was smart enough to realize I really liked medicine at an earlier age; I would have gone to med school. Instead, I played, owned my own business, got married, had kids; raised my kids until they were teenagers & decided to go back to school after realizing I hated cleaning house. Medicine always fascinated me, but I figured I'm too old to start medical school, so I chose nursing. At first I intended to have just an ADN, but decided to get my BSN. Before I finished my BSN, I knew I wanted to go further. Needless to say, I've just graduated with an FNP program & wished I went to medical school instead. Because I want to be able to do everything... and as an FNP, I can't. I'm 49 and too old to change my path and not enough money to support 3 college funds (mine, my son's & my daughter's)... Long story short, go for your MD. Nothing in medical school says you can't care for your patients like an NP... Also, NP school does not teach you anywhere near the amount of crucial information you would get in medical school. Trust me on that. 50-75 % of NP school is of insignificant non-science STUFF ! This is why I wished I went to medical school. I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING about medicine, not nursing theories !! I precepted at a clinic where interns & PAs do their residencies. And what I witnessed is that the instructors are supportive of their students. Whereas, my nursing instructors (including BSN) were more busy trying to see who they can weed out of the program... What a bunch of crap! Having said that, I love the nursing b/c of the caring aspect. I just feel the nursing authorities have no clues on how get the respect nursing deserves. Internal fights (nurses eat their youngs), encouragement from administration to "write" each other up, understaffed, not enough focus on medicine, ect...

OK. Looking at Houston TX now. Most still want 1+ years experience, which I don't have. Few willing to take new grads. I probably can do rural with loan repayment, but I may have to be away from my family for 2 yrs. Yikes!

emtreel, I agree about the DNP role not being a significant benefit clinically. I spoke to several people who completed the DNP program, all said it basically involves research rather than clinical improvement. Frankly, as it is, I feel that most if not all NP programs are lacking in the clinical exposure area. NP programs focus too much on the nonclinical subjects such as advanced nursing theories, leadership BS which IMO is a waste of time & money; exposure to these subjects ONE TIME in undergrad is sufficient. I would have preferred additional classes in pathology, pharmacology, working with cadavers or more clinical hours. This is where MD & PA outshine the NP routes. While eventually, after 3 -5 yrs of practicing under your belt, some NP may feel they are comparable to a primary MD (some probably are, but for myself, I won't pretend my NP education is equal to that of an MD).... So, for me, I won't waste my time racking up students getting a DNP just to be called Dr. If I'm going to spend another 2 yrs in school to become a doctor, I might as well apply to an out of country NP to MD programs. I would rather be called an MD than a DNP... Having said that, those that want to pursue the DNP route, kudos to you for having the discipline to tolerate more nursing school. Just not for me. Note: I may eat my words down the road since I'm just a new FNP graduate, but I don't think so.

Is it easy getting a job at corrections as a new grad NP?

Since it is an FNP program, clinical settings should be in the ambulatory environment. My program required for us to do the same. However, during the last clinical rotation, my instructor allowed me to do an ER rotation b/c so many FNP ends up in urgent care or ER departments after school. Your program sounds like mine, SELF TAUGHT.

OK... Graduated 5 wks ago; passed board 3 wks ago. Had a job offer, which was too low IMO & to which I countered. Now I'm worried I should have just taken the job just to have some experience, b/c I've applied for 4 other positions but no call back whatsoever. Recruiters say it's harder to place u without experience... Trying not to worry since I don't even have a license, but can't help it since I hate my employers at the moment (corporate hospitals...you know the kind) and want to quit.

Your condescending tone of an RN BSN accelerated program is one of ignorance. Actually, an accelerated RN BSN program is not for the faint of heart or brain. Most of my classmates had prior bachelor or master degrees in various sciences; one with a law degree. The program requires the same number of clinical hours, the same required courses as the traditional RN programs. Additionally, admission to such a program is even more competitive than traditional programs because few can handle the intensity. Nursing school is hard as it is with the typical number of units per semester. Try 27-30 units of medical information in one semester & see if you can handle it.

Speaking as a recently graduated USA FNP... Their FNP program is very lacking, it is basically a self taught program with excessive weeding out students process (about 30% survives). Very little support from instructors. This may be b/c of the high demand for the FNP programs. I heard they have 3x the number of applicants this year b/c of the possible DNP requirement by 2015. As far as I know, other NP tracks are OK (less number of students).

USA is basically a self taught program... But having said that, they definitely prepare you to pass board. I just graduated this Dec & passed board with ease. And so far everyone that took board passed as well. The problem I'm encountering now is securing a job with the right numbers... And worried I won't be able to find a job since everyone looks for NP with experience...

Well, Patty & BlessedX, I know who you are... ARE you ready for the AANP...Still waiting for my last test score to make sure I will joining you guys on the AANP train. Not likely that I wouldn't pass, but you never know... I think I was in a different zone that day... Can't remember what was on the test... Senility kicking in already..... I picked up the ANCC review book to study the basics... I hope we all pass with flying colors. :) Hien

I wanted to be an NP b/c I found out I really like medicine & too old to handle 10 more yrs of school. If I was younger, I'd be in medical school.

I'll be graduating this Dec as an FNP and am worried about the job market out there. I was thinking the new health care bill would boost up the demand, but I really don't see it happening yet... Any recent new grads or old grads out there have any input???

Pink Monster... My personality is like yours; nervous, obsessive & lack confidence. I've been an RN for almost 2 1/2 years & still feel like an idiot as a floor nurse. . My hospital just added more pts to RN ratio in addition to tacking on more responsibilities for us to do. I don't feel connected to my pts any more & the demanding ones that act like they are the only pts get on my nerves. Certainly not the compassionate person I once was as an oncology nurse. Last night, I called an MD for a medication that shouldn't have been given to a bleeding ulcer at all & couldn't connect the dots. Mind you that I'm also 2 semesters away from getting my FNP degree, so I really should know better & never mind that the MD didn't connect the dots either but nonetheless, the event made me feel like maybe I'm too inept to be an NP. I don't know what the answer is but I feel our type of personality is our weakness & strength. I know you strive to do your best, otherwise you would not be so hard on yourself. On the otherhand, the less confident we feel, the less we perform to our capabilities. In your case, maybe a step down unit is too stressful for you? Have you thought of a less critical unit?