shortlittleRN

"95% attrition rate" !!! WOW!!! I'm glad that was a typo. Big difference between 'attrition' and 'graduation'. I'm currently in an FNP program now and due to graduate in Dec 2010. My initial plan was ACNP, but changed my mind before my clinicals b/c FNP is much more marketable; but still interested in ACNP. I'll have to take a look at Vanderbilt's program.

Not sure my strategy is working cuz I'll probably get my first "C" this semester, and I've never had this much to read before.... Oh and be prepared to put out about 1G for books ( 13+), and that is just this semester.

You can work the first 3 semesters, but on the 4th, many people stopped working. I am PT and I wish I didn't have to work. They call the 4th semester the "weeding out" period. And you can't retain it all, unless you have a photographic memory...

I'm in my 4th semester of FNP with USA. What is the name of your friend? cuz he is my classmate. Be prepared to do nothing else but read... and I mean READ. 2000+ pages per 30-40 questions tests, which are almost every week. The program is very stressful, especially if you work.

The National Cert review? Is that a separate book you bought? The database did take me a long time, and I am finished with the genogram as well. But I am not absorbing what I am reading... YIKES!!! I really have to review the study guides... We have one week:eek:

Blessedx3, Your PM box is full. Can't send you anything until you clear memory. LOL. Here is my message anyhow. Unfortunately, I am in Baldwin County, no where near Hattiesburg. Thank you though. I've been calling the USA's clinic sites, but they are not quick to call back. At this point, I think I'll just show up and talk to someone. How are you doing with the assignments and reading?

I can't find my 40 hr. preceptor either. Is primary care the same as family practice? Because I've been calling family practitioners for my 40hrs this semester.

At the rate I'm going... NOT But my paperwork is ahead. Let's hope I stay that way.

Hello, I am currently in my clinical rotation for the FNP program at University of South Alabama. I am overwhelmed with the amount of reading we have, and scared to death that I won't make it. Any alumni of USA's FNP program here for me to ask what I can expect from here on? How hard is the clinical portion? Thanks in advance.

I was recommended to close all interviews with a question of when one can expect to hear from potential employers. That way, a time frame is established and call backs suggest serious interest from the interviewees. I think waiting a week is sufficient. Being "persistent" is a positive attitude. :)

Please do not wait, if it is malignant, the growth can be very rapid. You want to control it while it is small and positively before any mets has occurred. If by chance it is benign, thank the man upstairs. But do not wait. From what I can decipher of the chart posted. Of the 150000 + people of various cancers, about 2.1% with chemo therapy has a 5 years survivorship. Good luck to you. As the earlier poster suggested... Take one day at a time . Don't let the information overwhelms you.Your body heals better with better mental coping skills. If you need to see a counselor , do you. I'll be thinking about you.

Well, I'm glad to hear that. I graduated in the accelerated program at end of 07 and currently in the FNP clinical portion this fall. I was told by my instructor that South has the 2nd best accelerated program in the country, though I can't confirm it on the net anywhere. I had a 4.0 coming in, and left with a 3.2. Favoritism is played heavily in clinical, so be careful. The instructors decide early on who is going to get A's and who is getting B's, C's. Sucks... I know but I hear that is the norm in nursing school. So welcome to your first experience to 'nurses eat their youngs' adage. Needless to say, if you get accepted to the accelerated program, it is better than their traditional program. My instructors by far, were definitely of higher caliber. They really teach you. Furthermore, 5 classes are bridging master courses that are transferable to all the MSN programs. Thus, you will be able to knock off 2 semesters with any MSN programs if you chose to continue your education further.

Depending on the acuity of your patients. I know our ratio is 5:1, and that is manageable. 6 is too much IMO. Sometimes 4 is too much if they require a lot of care. Pain med q2 with 3 pts., chemo on one and you won't have time to do anything else. That includes eating lunch or having bathroom breaks.

On the hospital floor,not many. But, in an ambulatory clinic, maybe... The really sick ones come the hospitals, thus, oncology hospital nurses probably don't see many survivors.

Lasix would have brought her BP down further. Given she was palliative, morphine IV or nebulizer would have made her SOB better; making her more comfortable. Not trying to be callous but, if she is DNR and receiving palliative care, her death was expected. Nonetheless, it is always difficult to deal with death, unexpected or not. My first oncology patient that passed was very difficult. I knew he didn't have long to live, but I did everything I could to make him comfortable and not pass on during my shift. Though he expired 12 hrs after I left, I was a basket case knowing he not be there when I come back. :-( I remember calling the doctor for his SOB, the doctor just said, give him morphine IV to make him comfortable. Nothing else you can do.