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

I have to hand to you my dear....you are pretty dynamic!

Nice to hear from you Karla- Im Iris, I have been lurking around these postings too with the occasional comment, but lately I feel that the vibe on this thread has gone south. I understand that everyone is really anxious, but there is no need to make snide comments in order to legitimize our worth. Thank you MEPN student for putting you two cents forth. I think we needed a reality check. Ive applied to the Pediatric specialty and I am currently a respiratory therapist at a childrens hospital and a home based asthma educator. In regards to being supportive....I think thats really cool that you are a doula. Do you work in the city? My aunt is considering becoming one as well. Any suggestions as to where to obtain certification?

Hey rinnop- my gres: Verbal 580 Math-650 Writing 5.5 It falls in an acceptable range, but nothing eye popping I dont believe that GREs are really going to tip the scales one way or another. I just dont buy that it accurately represents a candidate's potential....but thats just my opinion. What do you think?

Hey Elizabells, Can I ask you a very honest question? So I have quite a bit of patient care experiene, I am an RT in the NICU and PICU. I went to school for 2 years to get my credentials, but this was all post-bac work. My undergrad GPA is nothing to be excited over (3.3), but it was a really long time ago. In your opinion in regards to MEPN acceptance, how much do you think undergrad GPA really matters vs patient care experience? By the way, which NICU do you work in?

This question is for Teenyjo: I just read part of your blog....and congrats on putting something together like that. In regards to city living, I live in Noe valley SF, which is about 6 blocks away from SFGH and I have ample parking opportunity. There are lots of little neighborhood enclaves that feel somewhat suburban...so not to worry. Out of curiosity, how did you pick pediatric oncology as your focus?

Amen my dear....we are all freaking out hoping that by some strange luck, we get interviews. We all have completely different backgrounds/education/life experience and who is too say what the common thread will be. I work with 3 MEPNs at my hospital and they all have very different stories to share about their "pre nursing" days. One is a recent UC Davis college graduate, another is a seasoned LCSW, and the third is a ex- soil science major who subsequently volunteered as an aid in Iraq. There is no common denominator, but all three of them are fantastic nurses. Lets keep our chins up, because we all have a lot to offer

I think that you are overlooking a very important aspect of the profession... teamwork. You will not last a minute in any unit if you dont how to help and work with your fellow collegues. This is not bootcamp

In regards to the med school vs. NP school- Addie and Newtonian, I think that you must look at what kind of lifestyle you want and your utlimate objective is. If you really want to work with with treating an underserved population via advocacy and hands on care (including education), then I would stick with Nursing. The program is shorter, the pay is not as high, and some would say that it is less glamorous. However the NPs that I know, so sharp and so committed to thier patients. They are among some of the most intelligent people I know and not to mention they provide outstanding medical care care, to populations that would otherwise slip through the cracks. On the flip side My finance is a medical resident and about is about half way through his third and final year. No doubt, he is an excellent doctor- but he is knee deep in student loans, chronically stressed, and has one day off a week( in which he franctically tries to keep up with his family, outside projects, and me.) He feels like he has missed out on so much of life. However, I think after he completes his residency he will feel different (especially when he sees his first pay check.) My point is, if you want to go to suceed in medical school/residency- you have to be willing to foreit your life for a good 8 years. I think you have to decide why you are choosing the path that you are and what you hope to get out of it. Evaluate your motives before jumping into one career or the other; otherwise you will always regret not making the "other choice".

Yes- I applied for the PNP track Ok- Exactly how important do we think clinical experience is? My freshmen year of college, I royally messed up...school was not my priority. By my sophmore year I did much better and from there on out, I was a pretty serious student. Total Cum GPA 3.2 Nonetheless, my stellar 1.58 GPA (freshmen year) is the Scarlet A that I must bear on my University transcript. Since graduation, I became a respiratory therapist at Childrens Hospital Oakland, a home based asthma educator, a member of the transport team, and Ive done volunteer work in third world countries. Ive been working clinicallyin the PICU for the past 2 years and have and visited the most destitute of Oakland domiciles. To all current MEPN grads or students: How heavily are undergraduate GPAs weighted in the admission process? Or to any other applicant who wants to share their experience!:monkeydance: