Rocknurse MSN, APRN, NP

Rocknurse has 32 years experience as a MSN, APRN, NP and specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Rocknurse's Latest Activity

1. 

   • Ky-lo
   •   
   • Rocknurse

   Hello, Rocknurse. I am an RN and I am currently looking towards pursing my NP education. Where did you pursue your NP schooling or do you have recommendations? Thank you 🙂

   • Nov 18, 2020
2. 

   Help...need AWAY from bedside but don't know where to go...

   Rocknurse replied to Soon2BNurse3's topic in Nursing

   I left the ICU to work in informatics for a few years. I loved having a regular normal schedule, being home for dinner every night, every weekend and holiday off, and working from home during snow storms. It was, in a way, the perfect job. I had a nice big cubicle to myself in a brand new office, a laptop to use and take home, free coffee, on site parking etc. After 5 years I was ready to tear my hair out. I was so bored and had no interest in what I was doing. I was, at the time, in NP school, and so the schedule worked out great for a while, but in my last semester I left to go to the ED because I wanted to be in a clinical position when I graduated so that I was a more attractive job candidate. I missed clinical but now that I'm back I'm also burned out and not enjoying myself. It was good for my career and resume, but now I'm a nurse practitioner I'm ready to move on. I'm waiting to start my new NP job in the ICU while my credentialing is processing and I'm not cut out for the ED honestly. I feel beaten up literally every day. Nurses are abused and treated appallingly. Mo wonder they want to leave. Informatics was an eye opening experience, and I was treat well there. I could come and go when I wanted to, take a day off whenever I felt like it, or work from home if I decided to. It wasn't easy and required a lot of training, but I'm glad I did it as it showed me how nurses could potentially be treated with respect. I love clinical, and I love medicine, so I'm excited to start my NP job, and I'm definitely looking forward to not having to deal with all the nonsense and being treated like a servant.
3. 

   Social Media and Doxxing - Your Thoughts???

   Rocknurse replied to traumaRUs's topic in Nursing

   No one supported the patient or what he said, but the crucial point is that the patient doesn't work for this organization....Josh did. It's well known that patients are allowed to behave any way they want with little comeback. They're paying customers after all. An employee is a representation of that organization and I believe they frown on using cuss words in a public forum by an individual who is identified as working for them.
4. 

   NP and DNP students- hours studying??

   Rocknurse replied to yourgoodneighbor's topic in NP Students

   When I was in my program I worked 5 days a week. I felt like I studied every spare hour that I had and I had no days off for months at a time. When I switched to 3 days a week I still had no time off because I had to accommodate clinicals 2 days a week. I graduated with a 4.0 but it was very stressful. Plan on not having any time off.
5. 

   New NP pay

   Rocknurse replied to Guest1059175's topic in Advanced

   New grad in New England in a major university-affiliated Level 1 medical center. Acute care AGAC-NP in critical care/cardiac ICU. Starting out in first job out of school at $122,000. Differential is not included in this figure and is extra as some nights and weekends. 40 hours per week with all the usual medical and dental benefits.
6. 

   ICU Nurse Practitioners

   Rocknurse replied to otterpop1989's topic in NP

   I've been a nurse for 30 years, with more than half of that in ICUs at various facilities. I also have a CCRN certification. I was offered a job in a cardiac ICU of a major teaching hospital before I graduated and it was too good an offer to turn down. I suspect it was because I had 5 years experience in a cardiac ICU so they deemed me a perfect fit. My school is the major school in my state and hosted a hiring event and invited HR reps from all the large hospitals. I was shown interest at that event and had several phone calls within a few days of attending. That is how I found my job.
7. 

   Social Media and Doxxing - Your Thoughts???

   Rocknurse replied to traumaRUs's topic in Nursing

   I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet, but the reason he got fired was because he used a swear/curse word and had his hospital badge visible. He said that the patient told him to "go f&%$ himself" and I'm assuming that his use of this word, and the fact that he identified the facility, is what got him fired. I completely disagree with the person that reported him, but one made known the hospital had no choice. If he had used a different terminology maybe they might have just given him a warning.
8. 

   Spouse of nurse

   Rocknurse replied to martymoose's topic in Nursing

   I am the breadwinner in my family as my wife doesn't work. I'm happy that she doesn't as she looked after me all the way through my NP degree. She cares for our 3 dogs, takes care of the house, does all the shopping, cleaning and cooking and I never have to lift a finger. I feel that we have an equal partnership because she has allowed me to focus on school and work and never want for anything, and in return I provide financially. That's how a marriage works.
9. 

   Listing Credentials

   Rocknurse replied to ncnurse123's topic in Nursing

   First your degree, then your NP credential, then your certifications. Mine are now: Rocknurse MSN APRN AGAC-NP CCRN
10. 

    • Kyla RN
    •   
    • Rocknurse

    Hello Rocknurse MSN, 

    I've come across your posts several times while sifting through different posts on this website. You are one of the very few nurses on here that I've seen that have worked a M-F type of job while attending grad school. I also work this type of schedule as a Research RN. I am strongly considering pursuing my MSN FNP online, but have been feeling very discouraged after reading opinions about needing to drop to part-time or quitting work altogether while in school, which is simply not an option for me. I was hoping to pick your brain and ask you about your work/school balance. Please let me know if you are agreeable to this and I will happily send you my questions on this forum or via personal email. 

    Kind regards, 

    Kyla RN

    • Sep 3, 2019

    1. 

       selina keemah

       ·         Clearly and accurately identify at least two academic individuals or teams to collaborate with to be successful in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse.

       ·         Clearly and accurately identify at least two professional individuals or teams to collaborate with to be successful in your MSN program and as a practicing nurse.

       ·         Clearly and thoroughly explain in detail why the academic and professional individuals/teams were selected to support success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse.

       ·         Clearly and accurately explain how the academic and professional individuals/teams will support success in the MSN program and as a practicing nurse.

       • Sep 27, 2019
11. 

    Dialysis nursing pros and cons

    Rocknurse replied to Lovethenurse2b25's topic in Nursing

    I really loved working in dialysis. Life seemed so much simpler then. I worked in acute dialysis though so my schedule was unpredictable. We couldn't leave until the last treatment was done but sometimes that meant the day was over at 1pm, and sometimes that meant 10pm. I worked with a great bunch of people then and honestly I had a blast. I wish sometimes I could go back because compared to my current job it was great. It's a good specialty to get into because there's always a need. Try it and see if you like it.
12. 

    LGBT Nurses

    Rocknurse replied to ShadowNurse's topic in Nursing

    Yes, I am a lesbian, married to my wife for 5 years now. There are a handful of us on this site although there's not much discussion along these lines.
13. 

    Article about a doctor who went through recovery

    Rocknurse posted a topic in Recovery

    I thought you guys might find this article interesting. It's about a doctor in MA who went through recovery and what he thinks about the 12 step program: Former opioid addict turned Harvard doctor hits back at faith-based rehabs | Daily Mail Online
14. 

    Sexual harrassment or just an old creep?

    Rocknurse replied to CBlover's topic in Nursing

    Any behavior that makes you feel uncomfortable at work can actually be classed as sexual harassment, believe it or not. Back when I was with my ex-wife, she would casually mention me at work (she is an RT. I'm a woman and we were a lesbian couple). One of her coworkers complained about her because they were anti-gay and didn't want to hear my ex-wife mention me, even when she was just innocently talking about how we were gardening or something equally innocuous. Her manager actually wrote her up for sexual harassment based on that. She never mentioned sex or anything improper. It was just the fact she was with a woman and it made her coworker uncomfortable. Sad but true.
15. 

    Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant

    Rocknurse replied to Blue Robin's topic in Nursing

    It makes more sense to become a nurse first and then a nurse practitioner. If you have some healthcare experience and really good science grades then PA might be the way to go. But if he already has a Bachelor's he could do a direct entry BSN and work while going to NP school. He'd then have independent practice which a PA can't. I would say that all three professions have equal ability for relocation and generating income.
16. 

    Is nursing still a satisfying profession?

    Rocknurse replied to Christian2018's topic in Nursing

    Nursing is the best thing that ever happened to me. This year marks my 30th year as a nurse and my entire life has been an adventure because of nursing. I was a homeless teen, working crappy jobs in my 20s and then I had an accident on my motorcycle and while in hospital decided to become a nurse. I then used my licence to emigrate to the USA and since then my life has been amazing. I got to travel the world, meet some amazing people and live a comfortable life, all because of nursing. Yes, there have been crappy days and difficult times, but the lifestyle nursing has afforded me has allowed to be absorb those hits and keep moving forward. If you truly love the profession then you'll find a way to navigate it. If you work hard and position yourself at the top of the tree, you can have some amazing experiences. After a few years working a non-clinical office job I am now going back to the clinical area (my last day is today!) and I'll be back among the crazy next week and earning 6 figures for my trouble. My father always used to say that you can't say you don't like something if you've never tried it. If you try it and don't like it then fair enough...move on to something else. At least give it a shot. The best thing about nursing is you'll never be unemployed and you can make money when you need to if you work for it. Just go into it with a "can-do" attitude and don't look for the negative.