Iridescence

I see 15-25. It totally depends on the nature of the visit. Is it routine? Is the chart organized? How stable is the patient? Are the family members at the bedside, if so are they CRAZY? Most routine visits you can breeze through in 10 minutes. With some of the more complex cases, you have to consult dietary, the rehab department, contact the DPOA, refer to appropriate specialists, call the family, make the decision to keep them vs send them out. It can be mind numbingly boring/monotonous vs somewhat exciting. I am happy to talk with you if you have any specific questions.

Having an 11month home is probably the biggest part of the challenge. I have an 15 month old, who I leave at *daycare* everyday so I can go to work and deal with many ungrateful a-holes who are demanding an early refill on their Oxy, Phentermine, or Benzo du joir. There are moments (many of them mind you) where I seriously question my purpose in regards to these patients. I think, my god- why am I not at the playground with my babe? Its hard to remember that there are some very redeeming qualities of your job ie. a very supportive doc, correct? However, seriously evaluate the situation. How many positive interactions vs negative ones. The nice thing about being an NP with a DEA # is you are highly marketable. So, my advice is: if you are going to be leave your precious nugget behind for 8+ hrs a day, make sure your work experience is one you enjoy. i struggle with this everyday BTW. Goodluck

From the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Primary Care Outcomes in Patients Treated by Nurse Practitioners or Physicians JAMA Network | JAMA | Primary Care Outcomes in Patients Treated by Nurse Practitioners or PhysiciansA Randomized Trial

God, I gotta just say- yeah, grad school was intense both physically and academically. However, no amount of training from either a piddly online degree mill or fancy prestigious university, could have prepared me for my first job. Hate to say it guys, but it really doesnt matter where you went to school. Your first clinical position will kick your ass and provide you with the best learning experience possible. I really hate how we as a profession feel the need to compare and prove ourselves to the medical community. Doctors have no idea what our programs offer, or what sort of training we come quipped with. They hardly know the difference between a CNA vs a RN, vs NP (trust me, I married one of these oblivious dudes) Here is my point: NPs are trained on the job...period. Our academic preparation is just one of the many hoops we have to jump through. The doctor I work for essentially taught me everything, and he certainly doesnt care about the prestige of my alma mater. He cares about the good clinical judgement I exercise, and the care I exhibit towards patient and their family members. Bottom line, do no harm and dont get sued! My graduate program taught me how to write a damn good thesis, work well in groups, develop PP presentations, network, and perform BASIC NP skills. It was my obscure clinical rotations, where I learned anything of real value. Stop pecking eachother to death on a moot point

I disagree. Go for it. Your brain is young and pliable now. You will absorb the new information like a sponge. I am a recently graduated NP, with RN experience, and in my early 30s. Trust me, NP work is a totally different ball of wax. Sometimes, I feel my RN experience has actually caused me difficulty with regards to roll transition. However, be prepared to look and feel stupid as a new NP. Its part of the learning process...as my husband reminds me daily

ER MDs in San Francisco make 205-250,000/yr ER NPs make 60-80/hr (roughly 1/2 the pay)

Do you both have Acute Care NP certification? Have any leads on Bay Area jobs (namely SF?)

Yeah SkiBumNP! That means we can have lunch in the Mission... -Iris P.S maybe you can help me get a job there too after I grow tired of the pay and lack of autonomy at my current entry level job

SkiBumNP- Job openings in ED at Kaiser San Jose and SFGH. Apply!

So, graduated last Dec and got a job as a new grad *phew* in a Long Term Care/Rehab facility. Feeling like Im ready to move on. Unfortunately, most of the job postings I have come across are looking for very specific experience in the respective fields. I fear Ive pidgeonholed myself into career SNF work. Any advice/tips on to how to break free?

Although I would LOVE to work as an RN before finishing my FNP...there are absolutely no jobs anywhere for us. Any suggestions on how to get this RN experience that everyone says is so vital to being a competent NP? BTW- I worked as an Respiratory Therapist before starting this direct entry program...I had five years experience working in an ICU and I still can't manage to score an RN job.

Second thought: Im in my second semester of NP school, taking Primary Care I and Pharm + over 170 hours of clinic. Just found out Im pregnant. Not really sure how to handle this one. Any mothers or expecting NP students out there? Will I be able to finish and graduate with my class in Dec 2011?

Im trying to get through Pharm myself. The classes of antibiotics are giving me the most trouble for some reason. Epocrates has been helping me enormously in clinicals

Hey Blue! I live in Noe...we should meet up regardless of MEPN status