LuvofNursing

So, I completed by FNP program... CHECK! I passed by ANCC exam... CHECK! I submitted my paperwork for licensure and to obtain my furnishing number to the BRN... CHECK! BUT I've been told it can take 2 months to get licensed!! In the meantime, where does that leave us? I have a job waiting... can I start? If so, what are my restrictions? I know I cannot write Rx yet, but can I only practice under the RN scope? BTW, I am in California.

As I mentioned before, Chamberlain (as I imagine are most online programs) are best for self motivated people who are able and willing to put the time in. The BEST thing about the Chamberlain program is that they purchase and FNP review for you in the last session, and it is not only an amazing program for the boards, but it helped quite a bit with clinicals! I will continue to use this review company throughout my FNP career, because the instructor has a great way of relaying information.

Walgreens and CVS are constantly taking students. They have a pretty streamlined process, just don't miss the application deadline. I did a portion of my first clinical session there (I ended up adding an urgent care, because the CVS' in northern CA were quite slow at that time. Depending on where you live, some of them are very busy.

sorry it took so long to respond! I graduated in Feb 2016 and just passed my ANCC exam. I am grateful for a program that allows the flexibility that I needed in my circumstances, but Chamberlain is, in my opinion, similar to a self study program. Of course, with an online program, there will be the need for "self-motivated" individuals who take the initiative to study topics which they aren't comfortable with or feel they need additional information on. My advice (if it is still needed!) is to find preceptors EARLY!!! Even if you are in your semester (yes you heard me right), begin contacting offices, NPs, MDs about possibly precepting there. You can let them know that it would not start for a number of months, but its important to get the ball rolling. And get your clinical site contracts/preceptor information in early as well. Many students who were supposed to be in my graduating class were delayed because of this. The instructors, for the most part, aren't great. You are basically fending for yourself in most classes, but you just need to make a point to motivate yourself to learn.

I'm a graduate. Let me know what questions you have.

I actually begin clinicals Tuesday at CVS' minute clinic. I am on course to finish feb '16. I do like the program. They are making some necessary adjustments inter program which will make it flow better. I would suggest it for anyone who is self motivated and in a position to find a preceptor without much assistance.

I am currently enrolled in the CCN FNP program, just beginning my practicum. On track to graduate Feb 2016. Anyone with questions, feel free to message me.

Thank you everyone for explaining the ways that you relate. And anh06005, BSN, RN I just received the Barkley CDs. Enjoying them so far and yes they seem to break down the information into manageable nuggets.

I am currently smack dab in the middle of my FNP degree after being a postpartum nurse for 3 years and labor and delivery nurse for 1 year. I graduated nursing school with acceptance to a Versant program, scholarships to pay off school and recommendations from the best professors and nurses. I went into postpartum and labor and delivery where I lost much of the knowledge that pertained to primary health. Now that I am in my FNP program, which focuses on clinic (vs my hospital experience) and primary care (vs obstetric care), I feel as though I am at starting from scratch. I love the case studies that we are getting, but feel as though I have to look EVERYTHING up. Nothing is coming natural. I even prescribed a lesser med for a UTI when I give patients Macrobid for them all of the time! I feel as though I have forgotten all the things I used to know. Anyone other FNP students feeling this way? Did it eventually click?

I received my RN to BSN from Chamberlain in December 2010, and I am currently in Chamberlain's FNP program. You are given $100 off per credit hour as an alumni who is attending Chamberlain for a Master's degree, which was a plus. I had heard (through the grapevine, not through my own experience) that it is more difficult finding a preceptor when attending an online program. I just began looking for a preceptor in the recent weeks, and there is a practicum coordinator who contacts them on your behalf. The reason I bring this up is because getting a good preceptorship may lead to a job offer, and this, of course, is the goal. One thing with Chamberlain's FNP program is that you are trained to work in a primary care clinic, not a hospital, which is not what everyone is looking for. Good luck

NR510 - leadership. I started in september 2013, but it looks as though some students may have doubled up on classes, so i will not be in the first graduating class

I was constantly speaking to my advisor to decide if Chamberlain program was right for me. I submitted my application and received notification in a week, but I received it from my advisor while I was on the phone. She was able to sign me up for classes right then. I was the FIRST class to get in... i'm sure there is much more exposure now, which may be why it is taking longer.

I have a practicum advisor at Chamberlain. I have to give her the facilities that I am hoping to precept, then she sets it all up. I have one that I would love to go to, then a back up... To be honest, I am going to submit a 3rd back up just in case, but they seem pretty diligent about getting you ready for your classes.

Quime, are you in the FNP track? I may be wrong, but I believe you may be the first wave of students going through the advanced physical assessment course. I am also in the first graduating class, but I wanted to complete all the non-clinically based classes first. My next course is 509. You have to remember that everyone is in the same boat as you. Nervous, new to the material, etc. And of course, when you don't have that bond with your classmates, it makes you more nervous for the lab weekend, but I am sure it will all be fine. BTW, you should private message me, I'm sure I've had you in some of my classes. Just curious, what is your background? I'm ALL perinatal, so I have to be honest... I haven't cared for a male since I had one pass out while his wife was getting an epidural! :) See... we are all going to be nervous!! Best of Luck!

Taking my third class. No tests all papers.

I received my ADN to BSN from Chamberlain College of Nursing. I was very happy with the program... here is how I would rate it. 10/10 - convenience (including applying, access to classrooms and contact with teachers) 7/10 - quality (i have to be honest, i just wanted to get a BSN behind my name at this point) 7/10 - Cost (they counted many of my credits from my previous Bachelor's and looking at other online programs, this was a very reasonable program) They give a discount to Chamberlain Alumni of $300/class, which turns out to be about a $4500 savings, so before all of the additional costs, the program is around $24k for me. I will be starting their FNP program in the fall. Completely online except the immersion weekend (like the other post stated, in addison IL). Practicums are found by you in your home town, so you definitely need to have contacts. With the FNP program, there are 5 classes of practicums which are different topics (pediatric, womens health, etc). You can use an MD or NP for the practicum. I'm not sure which program Scrubing77 is referring to, but you can do all 5 practicums at different sites, there is just more work involved with getting background checks, etc done for each site. September '13 is the first cohort for the FNP program. The advisors are readily available by email or phone with questions and if you just want to inquire, go to the chamberlain website and click on the 'chat' button.

Be sure to be especially aware of symptoms that be indicate emergencies like abruption, imminent delivery, preeclampsia, etc. You always have to be prepared for these even though they can be rare (preeclampsia isn't all that rare to be honest). One big tip... don't be afraid to ask for help or question your judgement. Good luck to you!

Looking for comments on the following scenario.... Mom delivered lady partslly, GBS + treated only once, no other risk factors for baby to have an infection. We automatically order a CBC, CRP, blood culture on the baby since it had less than 2 treatments and GBS +. Labs come back (drawn approx 3 hours after birth). WBC 26.4 (critical high in our unit), CRP During the night, one RR is observed to be 64 (the others were normal, mid to upper 50's, just like the previous shift). The MD was mad that he hadn't been called with this bit of information, THEN orders a f/u cbc, crp, which comes back WBC 17.9, CRP 0.23, Bands 6. He sends the baby home. He also states that had that ONE 64 RR not been observed, he wouldn't have ordered a f/u lab and sent the baby home (with a 25.9 wbc and 17 bands!) Would you be comfortable with this as an RN?

hazelstudent, yes, if it is her first pregnancy, she is a G1P2. As far as fundal height, it can be in a number of locations. You would be more worried about how firm it is and how much she is bleeding (or the number/size of clots she is producing). Since this is her first pregnancy, you may not even see a difference in fundus location than your other moms, but she IS at more risk for uterine atony, so you will need to do fundal checks possibly more often than with your other moms.

If you send me your email, I will send you my mother/baby report sheet.

Upon admission, a newborn's vital signs are taken (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, sometimes Oxygen saturation if baby is having questionable respiratory effort or blood sugar check if there were risk factors). If a baby is cold (a common issue that newborns experience) he or she needs to be warmed up. We either put the baby skin to skin with the mom or if mom's recovery is difficult, we wrap the baby in warm blankets until the temperature is stable (97.7F or above). If baby's blood sugar was low, I will have the mom feed right away and check the blood sugar again after the feeding. After baby is warm and blood sugar is normal, I will bathe the baby and give him his first hepatitis B vaccine (baby's receive vitamin K shot and Erythromycin eye ointment while in the labor and delivery unit). During the baby's stay at the hospital, we do a full assessment of the baby every 6 hours. This includes vital signs, checking baby's coloring, capillary refill, bowel sounds, feeding/voiding/stooling pattern, weight, TcB results (monitors bilirubin levels in baby). If baby appears jaundice (yellow in color) or the TcB level is high, we will order a bilirubin level via the blood (more accurate than the skin test). If baby has vital signs that are out of normal range or if baby is not feeding well, we may order lab tests to see if baby may have an infection. Along with the baby's symptoms we also look at risk factors for baby (mom had an infection in the birth canal, mom's bag of water was broken for a long time, etc). LMK if you need anything specific.

You read my mind, i found a good post from a discussion here.... https://allnurses.com/nicu-nursing-forum/nicu-end-shift-444284.html

I have worked in mother/baby for about a year, and I also created my own report sheet. It is very comprehensive. Anyone who would like it, email me (click on the envelope next to luvofnursing to do this) and give me your email and I will send it to you.

Don't pass up opportunities to work in mother/baby. I am currently on this unit, and I feel it has given me a great base of information for an easier transition to NICU. You get to learn everything about a healthy baby, which helps you recognize when things aren't 'healthy.' it is a great place to start if you would like to be a NICU nurse, but cannot find a job. Also, if you are in mother/baby (at least in our hospital) you are the first to float to NICU when they are short. Generally we take care of the growers and feeders, but it is also a great way to become familiar with their charting system.

The floor that a person is admitted to should be the floor where the patient can be stabilized and treated for her condition. Postpartum floors are given standing orders to deal with things like uterine atony, but we cannot stop the bleeding of someone who has a retained placenta, because all the massaging and drugs in the world does not cause a retained placenta to necesarily be expelled. Manual or surgical removal would very possibly be necessary, so you are left caring for 3 other moms and 4 babies (on our unit, at least), while you are spending most of your time with this mom with a retained placenta, crossing your fingers that she expels the remainder of her placenta (as mentioned before is still a stage of labor) and hope she does not continue to bleed. It sounds like some physician education is in order.