snoslicer8

There is an MSN track called Family Nurse Practitioner with Education. It would allow you to practice as an NP with the option to teach if you saw fit.

I've just applied to go back for my MSN with Family Nurse Practitioner certification at SLU. There are tons of options for you: Any of the Nurse Practitioner focuses (MSN prepared) - Family, Pediatric, Acute Care, Psychiatric, etc. Any of the above, at a doctoral (DNP) level Nurse Educator Clinical Nurse Specialist Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) A better idea to point you in the right direction is to ask yourself what you'd want to do when moving away from the "shift work" of bedside nursing. Do you still want patient contact? Want to become a research rat? Would you rather assist other nurses further their clinical knowledge? Do you want to practice independently, or still report to a medical staff? Most MSN degrees can easily be sought in an online format (from very respectable schools) if that's your bag, so you don't necessarily need to stop working.

I'll chime in about Barnes - like any hospital, the *unit* you choose plays a huge role in how you'l like your new job. There are some floors of my own hospital that I wouldn't care to work on, while I absolutely love my floor. The "mesh" of the staff plays a big part. Considering the "whole package" (not just salary but benefits, advancement opportunities, etc), I am very impressed with BJC. I've basically gone back to school for advanced degrees twice since graduating nursing school, and haven't paid a *DIME*. My manager is incredibly flexible with school schedules, families, etc. I'm currently going back to get my Nurse Practitioner degree, and already have two surgical teams "laying claim" to me when I graduate - no advancement is too much. A hospital as big as "Big Barnes" on Kingshighway isn't for everyone - but I would highly recommend BJC as an employer. If, however, you want to be on the cutting edge of treatments, I would suggest looking toward Barnes or something like SLU, St. John's, etc.

I don't know if they'd disallow you from the program, but I'm not entirely clear how much trouble you would run in to while applying for a license to practice. Start working now on finding all court documents, proof of rehabilitation, maybe write an exemplar on what a different person you are now, etc. The burden of proof lies with you to prove to the board of nursing that you are not the person who committed the felony however long ago.

I am a firm believer that new grad RNs, including myself when I was, are not meant for critical care in any shape or form. My reasoning? Things are just too quickly paced to be learning time management, accountability, and general nursing abilities at the same time as specializing. Granted, there are always the exceptions. You have the PCTs who've worked in ICU/Stepdown (myself) who don't want to work anywhere else. You've got the thrill-seekers who think they're above "floor nursing" (guess what? That SICU patient you finally transferred went to the floor! Don't knock the floor!) I guess my point is, we get done with nursing school, and we think we have an idea that we want to specialize in higher levels of care before we master the art of nursing. Don't overwhelm yourself. P.S. - This post I guess is more for the un-initiated, as the OP obviously has made their bed and now must lay in it. Just kidding. You'll make it, just hang on.

Graduate of the FP RN program here, glad to see y'all making it through. There are days (weeks) when I wanted to throw in the towel, but made it. For anyone wondering about working while in school, I'll toot my own horn. I worked full time, 40 hours/week during all 4 semesters. I'm not condoning it at ALL, but just know that if the need is there, it CAN be done. Granted, my grades suffered (never had above a B, but never failed a semester), but you win some and lose others.

Do they make crocs in white? I love mine.

I've seen as much as 150mcg/min in my SICU, along with many other pressers/contractility agents in use.

I make 10.18/hour base. After 1st semester clinicals, 10% bonus on top of base for being student nurse. Differentials are between $.60 and $1.30 depending on shift (the most for weekend nights, obviously).

I work for a big hospital in STL, and new GN base rate is in the neighborhood of $19.50/hour. This is base rate, non-inclusive of shift differentials, BSN pay, or anything else. They do offer modest increases for years served as a PCT/EMT/Whatever, and as of this month, a BSN will earn you an extra $.80 per hour. I have heard scattered reports of new GNs negotiating slightly higher base rates on a case-by-case basis, but can't offer any concrete info on what tactics to follow regarding this.

I applied for a few Graduate Nurse Fellowships at SJMMC, and was sent a short "Thanks, but no thanks" letter after the first interview. I did have to call them to have them look at my application. Their HR department is located on the Maryville Center campus, if that helps.

I work for a department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and make a base rate of $10.18. Any nursing student who has finished 1st semester of clinicals and has no corrective action within the previous 12 months automatically gets a 10% bonus tacked on to all of their hours. Then there are the obvious shift differentials on top of this, the exact amounts I don't know. I am full time, and benefits are pretty good. Around $60/month for health/dental, and I can use the $4,500/year tuition assistance program. Tuition is repaid 1/2 upon completion of course, other 1/2 after 1 year of service from completion of course. As far as I know, BJC requires 36 hours/pay period (2 weeks) to be eligible for tuition assistance. Not sure about the healthcare benefits requirements.

I personally see the PACU as kind of an inappropriate place for a new grad. I would think that the PACU requires very close monitoring and a keen eye for anything going wrong post-op. However, it sounds like your hospital is offering quite an extensive orientation, which is always good. Best of luck to you!