RNcDreams

angelala-- Is the Graduate Entry program the one for non-nurses that allows them to ultimately obtain a bachelors and a master's? I'd be going just for a Graduate (MSN) degree, so a little bit of a different scenario, but still... holy debt. I keep reminding myself that every other lawyer and business major out there with debt isn't suffering or in a terrible place-- they're getting along, and we will too!

LookingAhead-- Thank you for sharing that! Really good questions to guide the process. My only debt is for my undergraduate degree. I still owe about $35,000. I know-- not good. However, I own my car, I rent, and I have zero credit card debt. I don't have kids and I'm willing to move around for a bit, so the "underserved area" concept is certainly an option for me. I'm between areas right now in the geographic sense, but I'd ultimately choose a higher quality or better-fit program over one that happens to be where I want to live, if it means a better preparation. Siiiigh. So many factors! Basically I'm trying to figure out if taking on another $70K in loans will be worth it, if it means going to a noteworthy program that is perceived to be of high quality. I'm only doing this once (on my dollar, anyway) so I want to do it right-- even if that means living on a shoestring budget when I graduate to start paying the loans down. GAH!

LookingAhead-- I'm on the fence about the cost thing! Is a high quality/noteworthy program something that's going to work to your benefit when it comes time to get hired? I've been leaning this way. Plus you mentioned the tough job market. I feel like maybe a degree from a really well known, competitive school might make you stand out in a pool of applicants. Thoughts?

Ugh. I'm doing practice problems right now, and I do believe I'm royally screwed. I'd have to repeat all of elementary and high school to cram this stuff back in my head! The fact that the new one is fill- in for math is really just going to kill me. Good thing I'm applying to 6 schools, 3 of which waive the GRE because my undergrad GPA was >3.4! Can't wait for this to be over.....

jmalid, I've got 2 GRE 2012 prep books, one of which is all math. I'm plodding along... it's rough!

... that's a really good question! I don't have any idea. I'll have to poke around and see what I can dig up. It never occurred to me that they might do that. Hm.

I'm curious how much value they will place on the GRE's this time around, considering all the changes and alterations in scoring. Maybe it will work to our advantage?

Thank you, Category X! I vaguely remember seeing that one in my searches.... there's so many!

I would also add that you could touch on how the process of going through school has helped you to learn to multitask, time manage, and focus in your personal life as well!

Oh no! I always work backward from the available answer choices. This is not good. Thanks for the heads up, acl0272! Time to go practice....

Same here, APatriganiRN! I am aiming for the ACNP track as well. I've got a few other "reach schools" on my list, including Johns Hopkins and Georgetown. I'll be applying to a few state schools as well, which are more realistic. But, you never know until you try! Have you heard anything about what kind of GRE scores they look for? I'm having anxiety about not getting them done in time. I've got a date for the end of the month, but I just don't know if I can get all my stuff together RIGHT for Nov 1. So, I might just accept that I'll apply within the window of rolling admissions, and let things unfold. How is it going on your end?

Hey everyone! So, I've done quite a bit of soul searching. Here's a few thoughts I've been toiling with, and some possible plans I've mapped out to help me reach my goals. I considered the Educator role/preparation for a bit. However, I don't think it meets my needs at this time. My reasoning is that I'd like to choose a program that will allow the most flexibility with employment, including clinical practice AND teaching options (even if that teaching is just a basic A&P class every now and then, for extra money and a change of pace). As such, I've decided on the NP route. What do you all think of these possible "game plans"? a.) Acute Care NP with a post-graduate certificate in FNP b.) FNP with a post-graduate certificate in Acute Care NP I just can't picture myself fully happy in JUST the office or JUST the hospital... which makes me think I should just create a plan that incorporates both. There's hardly any Dual-Certified programs out there in the adult realm for Primary and Acute care, so I'll just make one myself with a Post-Grad certificate. Hahaha. Anyway, I'd love to hear what your thoughts are! Also, if you care to share what kind of jobs/areas you work in, I'd love to hear about it. Will report back with my experiences shadowing! Thanks for your responses. :)

Very nice! I saw quite a few posts from last year geared toward that program. I'll just be applying to one of the regular nursing Master's specialties. I'm still flip flopping when it comes to choosing one, so I'm completing a few shadowing opportunities in the near future to help me see what life is like in each role. Have you heard any pointers/news so far?

Ooohhh c'mon, I know you're out there somewhere :)

Just checking to see if anyone else is considering Yale for Fall 2012 for any of the Masters specialties. I'm compiling my list of schools and check out application dates. I am *pretty sure* I'll apply to Yale.... yikes! Anyway, I'd love to hear from you if you are too!

All excellent suggestions so far! Thank you :)

Hey everyone! I'm posting today to get some advice and opinions regarding the next move in my nursing career. I've got 4 years of bedside experience, with time spent in ER (at a community hospital), Telemetry & Medical Stepdown, and CCU/MICU currently (at a mid-size trauma/teaching hospital in an urban area). I had a similar issue when I was in college for my BSN. I knew nursing was for me, and was a very dedicated and engaged student, but wasn't the type that had a pull toward a particular specialty. I had to try a variety of nursing specialties/care areas until I found a good fit. While I enjoy MICU, and learn something new every day, I have somewhat come to the realization that I'm getting a little bit... burned out. I'm not feeling bitter or jaded, but I am starting to feel some of the passion slip away. Coupled with the fact that I'd love to move on to a role that did not involve night shifts, weekends, and holidays... I'm ready to move forward. Overall, I feel tired from the night shifts, stressed by the crazy workloads, and like most of these issues could be prevented in the first place. As a result, I have been exploring all the different programs out there to advance my skills and change up my practice. I've ruled out CRNA, because I think I'd become unhappy with having such a narrow (albeit intense and very complex) area of practice. As for NP degrees, I've been gathering information on FNP, ACNP, and even considering education roles. I've tried to look at what I've enjoyed most about my work over the past 4 years, and am trying to work backward to arrive at whatever master's degree/advanced practice role encompasses these qualities. While I do enjoy acuity and complexity, I think eventually I'd get tired of the hospital setting. I feel most satisfied when I get a patient that is pretty sick, and then I have them for a few days, and we get them better and back to their families. I think this means I enjoy wellness and prevention more than I do "crisis" care. Thoughts? As for age groups, I know that I don't love babies or little kiddos. I'm comfortable with teenagers up to the old folks. I don't really love the super-old folks much, though. (and by super old, I mean the 85+ group with 3 page long med lists, PEG tubes, contractures, etc). However, I'm indifferent with them in my current role. I think I like to teach, too. Silly things like explaining how to start an IV and then watching the person do it, and talking about the process after, makes me feel good! When I was in college, I was a gym class instructor and took quite a few nutrition courses. I think there's a part of me that really feels a pull toward prevention/wellness, and overall just keeping people happy, healthy, and self sufficient. In summary, this makes me think that an ideal role for me might be Family NP with a focus on young/ middle age adults, and then maybe a little teaching on the side in a nursing program. I can always return to school for a post-masters certificate in ACNP if I feel that I want more acuity. Lastly, I am paying for this degree myself. As such, I'd like to choose the program that will give me the best preparation with the widest scope of options. Based on your experiences and current roles, what do you think? What was the degree process selection like for you? Thanks in advance for your thoughts, and my apologies for writing such a LONG post :) P.S. I will be shadowing an ACNP soon, to get a feel for their daily role. I'm pretty clear on what the FNP's do, as I have seen them before for my own healthcare needs, but I'd consider shadowing for further clarity.

Thank you! Good to know...

Congrats to those who received funds this round! I am hoping to apply in 2011.... I work at a severely underpaid DSH hospital, and in theory my outstanding undergrad loan balance exceeds half of my yearly income, including a bit of OT hours. My question is.... if you are awarded funds and sign the contract, are your service years retroactive? Meaning, if you have already worked at said hospital for a year at the time of application/acceptance to the program, do you still owe 2 years from this point? Or do they include your previous year and require only one more? Thanks for the help.. I'm going to do everything I can to be prepared, and give this my best shot at the beginning of next year. Congrats again!

Great, thanks for the information! I will be living in the city but further north. I plan to drive in since I will be doing night shifts. Thanks for sharing your experience!

That was exactly what I was looking for... thank you! :)

Thanks! Sorry if my response came out weird.... it's a touchy topic. Makes the nurses stressed and spread to thin. And it's true, at some point you end up having to ignore them for the acute, new patients. It's a terrible way to work, feeling as if you are falling short no matter what!

well, based on my little notebook where i keep track of job applications, i have applied to...... 35 separate positions over the past year (2009). these are at both community hospitals, tertiary care centers, and teaching hospitals. these are full time, part time, and per diem positions. i aggresively call them each week or two, repeatedly utilize professional networking, and attempt to directly contact nurse managers. i have even been able to organize shadowing at several large icu's, and have repeatedly made attempts to speak with those nurse managers to no avail. *(just to clarify, i work in a community hospital, so i do not possess trauma experience. we also ship out anything cardiac that's serious, as we do not have a cath lab. i think this has greatly disqualified me, but it is what it is).* ---on the rare occasions that i am actually able to speak to hr/ a recruiter/ nurse managers, this is what i am told: a.) er is not critical care, and you need critical care experience. i even got an interview for a very intense pedi cicu, and they decided my interviewing skills were great, but that i lacked the correct experience. b.) i need icu experience to work in icu... rrggghh c.) i have even been told it might be an issue that i haven't done a formal "tele" certification/worked on tele, even though i took a class as part of my novice nurse training program and am acls/pals/tncc certified. i have started to take it personally; i wonder if i am just poorly qualified. people sometimes ask me why i haven't tried to get a job in a bigger ed/then try to switch to icu after a year; my answer is that i can't spend another day being anxious, tense, and feeling like i can never make the patients happy. i acknowledge that i need to remve myself from the emergency setting, for my well being. i know that i love acuity, but in a more controlled setting. i decided after awhile to think outside the box, since it's doesn't make sense to expect different results from doing the same thing over and over again. i wasn't making any progress or getting anywhere trying to squeeze my way into icu's, even on a part time basis. nobody is interested in me around here because i don't have any icu experience. i have even made attempts to train in the icu in my little hospital.... and i received a very blunt "no" due to staffing, money, and the fact that they do not give a full orientation to per diems & currently lack ft positions. my thinking was that if i can obtain employment in a large teaching hospital on a serious, high acuity telemetry unit, i will be both more prepared in terms of knowing how to care for patients over the long term (as opposed to "temporarily" in ed), and get more intense cardiac training. in combination with my ed experience, i just might be a better candidate. i think being in a tertiary care/teaching hospital will perhaps give me more opportunities to advance/move about within the facility. aftert 6 months to a year, i'd hope to make attempts to move forward into icu. i currently have two interviews upcoming, one of which is at a level 1 trauma/burn hospital which also specializes in cardiology, peds, and oncology. it appears to be a great hospital, 800+ beds, with plenty of specialties/opportunities to advance clinically. the floor i am interviewing for is in a new cardiovascular/heart center. my feeling is that the acuity level will be on par with what i need. what does everyone think? any and all opinions are appreciated.

I must say... It's so refreshing to hear a positive story these days. Everyone is so frustrated and depressed over the state of the job market/economy... this is a breath of fresh air! Congratulations!!

I will be visiting these floors next week, and will attempt to make contact with the staff during that time to assess how they feel about their environment. Even if I can't have an improved relationship with the patients, I'd at least like to acclimate to the pattern of knowing everything about a few people, as opposed to needing to know a few tidbits about many. In your opinion, will some Tele help me be more marketable for ICU? Thanks again!