manursing

I am a little nervous that nobody knows about this program, I didn't think it was new. Are most MA people on this site from Eastern MA? I would have thought lots of people would be interested in their program since it is one year and on-line and most other rn-bsn take longer. Oh well, I figured I would try to keep the thread going and maybe someone would come around!

I have never heard anything about a specific GPA, I personally have a 4.0. I know at our orientation they said everone who was accepted qualified for the honors program which means everyone had a 3.5 then. I do know that your science grades like A&P are looked at much more closely than some of the other classes, as well as passing the HESI. Are you a current STCC student?

Hi everyone, I talked with them and they said if you took CPR at STCC you do not need to turn in a copy Jonathan Miller already did that for us. I am so excited as I am sure everyone else is. I am going to bring a notebook, couple pens, a copy of the schedule they gave us and the reading list (in case they make any changes) I am going to bring my new PDA phone too, but I must admit I am not yet used to putting stuff in it yet. Oh, and I am going to bring a few bottles of water and snacks in case I get hungry...lol!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have shadowd a CRNA and a FNP. With the FNP, I liked that you do have the ability to form bonds with your patients and at least in this case you could choose your own hours, etc. I just didn't feel "at home" per se, maybe ACNP would be different. I certainly liked enough about the job and all the different routes I could take to personally satisfy me, like volunteer opportunities, that I would be happy - if I can't make CRNA work for my family right now. It is just so exciting to really know what you want - and I would SO regret not at least applying, like you said. I was talking to my sister today and she even suggested I look into school in NY (she lives on LI) Columbia and a few other school are within 45 minutes of her ( I actually know nothing YET about CRNA schools in NY). She has an inlaw apt and said I could stay there and enroll the kids in school in her town for the 2+ years. I could drive home on the weekends to see my husband or vice versa. I have not even brought this up to him yet and am not so sure that is a fair alternative to him either - taking the kids with me. BUT it would allow him to keep his job while I am in school, we would not have to sell our house, the kids would be uprooted temporarily but still be around family they know. It is a definite possibility and maybe one that I don't even need to discuss with my husband unless it becomes a real choice. I really do not think Boston is a real choice for me because I do not want to comute and the cost of living is so high so I think maybe I will apply to a CT school and one or two in NY (after I check out their rep) Anyway, now that I have practically written a book here, thanks again for your pep talk, I do want to follow my dream and I know I should not feel selfish for doing so as long as I communicate that dream with my husband that is and he is on board!

Umass has several campuses (obviously) I have seen many posts about the Boston Campus on-line rn to BSN as well as Amherst's BSN program but nothing that I can find on the online RN to BSN. HAs anyone been accepted to the program or know about it? I ask because the program in Boston takes two years but the Amherst program starts over the summer and you graduate in Spring. I have been to the website and looked at the program specifics so please don't misinterpret this as me wanting to know what the pre req's are or what the application process is. I am just looking for real live people who might have experienced this program first hand. I am looking for a program I can finish in a year after my current program. The only other I have found is Worcester State but it starts in the spring semester - which means I could have a break from school but it also would mean that I would not graduate in time to begin a Masters program in the fall (which is when most start) I would have to wait an entire year. YES some would say then I can get more work experience, I know this:wink2: Just weighing all my options. Anyway, I know faster is not always better but is it in the instance? Thanks for any comments even if they are not nice. It is always a bummer when nobody comments on your post especially when you can see how many people looked at it LOL!

ok, So if I could choose any path to take in nursing it would be CRNA. I would be darn good at it too. I have no doubts that this is what I want to do with my career. BUt my career is not going to be my life. There is my confusion. I have two wonderful boys aged 2 and 8 and a great husband. We live in Western MA and there are not any CRNA schools near us. You have Northeastern and Boston College (both 2 hrs away if I am lucky to not hit any traffic on the highway) There are 2 schools in RI which are just as far plus the clinical work is in MA, CT, and RI so I would have to pay to be licensed in all 3 states. Then there is CT, New Britian and New Haven are about an hour and a half at least away. We bought a beautiful house 3 years ago and my husband is currently the bread winner of our family while I am in school. It sounds so easy to say to just move closer when I find out which school I will attend. My parents moved me around as a child and it was so hard, I am worried about the affect on my kids. I can't see traveling 3+ hours a day on top of the demanding schedule of school or getting my own place near school and just seeing them on the weekends because my kids need a mom too (and my husband needs a wife AND I need him). My husband has had the same employer for 12 years and worked his way to a six figure salary - He would most likely take a 40,000 pay cut to take employment elsewhere. PLUS he likes his job. He loves me and want to support me but I feel like it is a lot to ask. I do not want to resent him or my choice if I chose to go the NP route - which there are many programs in my area. At the same time I don't want him to resent me for uprouting the family. I would love to hear anyone elses experiences on the road to their "dream job", maybe that will help me. I also just want to clarify, I am sure that being an NP will make me happy too - I would never chose a career that could not make me happy. You need to enjoy your job. Maybe in the next two years they will build a state of the art CRNA school in Western MA, but I don't think I should hold my breath! Thanks!!!! Enjoy the Holiday Week End:D

I bought the Dove brand tops after orientation that day in an XS, they do seem a tiny bit wide and stiff, i wish I had waited to get the cherokee ones they are much softer.

Dean TArbell specifically said that if the XS were too big for anyone to let her know because she can order xxs - same goes for the XL

The office IS Dean Tarbell's office. It is on the 3rd floor. If you take the elevator by the bookstore, get off the third floor and take a right - go through two sets of door and her office is just after that on the right. It has a glass door and there is a shelf on the wall with a place to drop off CPR cards. Hope this helps I am not the best direction giver! All faculty is on campus today so if you get lost I am sure there will be lots of friendly people to help.

Thanks!!!!! Good luck with all that you do too.

Thanks do much for your kind and useful help, it means alot. I am interested in pediatrics, I was just grabbing a classified from this weeks Masslive classifieds...In retrospect it probably would have been smarter to use one for a job I might actually be interested in. Hope all is well at your clinic today!

So I went to the MA BON and this is what they say: My certification is in a specialty different than the job I am working in, is that okay? The Board does not grant you authority to practice in a specific specialty. The Board grants you authorization to practice in a specific domain of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing. Those domains include Nurse Practitioner (NP), Nurse Midwife (NM), Nurse Anesthetist (NA), and Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PC). Your specialty certification is a measurement of your competency to provide services to a certain population. The decision to work with a population different than what you are certified in should be based on whether you are competent to provide services to a population different than your certification, whether you are willing to assume accountability for the outcomes, and whether you are in collaborative relationship with a supervising physician who holds the proper credentials to care for that population.

thaks pinoyNP hearing why you chose your career route was very helpful. The past few moths have really confused me, for many reasons you stated. I have gone to the sites you mentioned about and like you said became really confused. They make it difficult to understand and I feel like I knew that I wanted to go the ACNP route before looking into it more but now I feel like I will be limiting myself because FNP's seem to get all the jobs. What you said makes sense and it is what I felt (although I questioned myself because I do not work in the field) why would an NP trained in primary medicine be suited for the ER, med/surg, or NICU. I guess i thought an FNP would work at a clinic/private practice/doctor's office - seeing people for their well visits, sick visits, surgery follow-up, etc and that ACNP would work in the ER, NICU, various hospital setting dealing with (as the title suggests) critical care patients. Maybe I am just looking in the wrong places for my information. Med school grads seem like they have it much easier - if your specialty is cardiac, neurosurgery, etc that is where you work. They wouldn't post a job for the cardiac floor asking for an MD specializing in dermatology. Maybe I am just looking in to it too much, I am just scarred that I am going to choose my path and not be able to find a job after investing a whole lot of time and money into it. It helps to hear from others already in the field too because sometimes you hear perspectives and ideas that you never considered so thanks so much!!!

Thanks so much Daisy RN for offering to help.:wink2: (sorry I am new to the smiles and thought they were cute) I am a planner and like to understand all of my options. I have two lovely kids and a great husband who has supported me in focusing on school and not working. I want to be able to complete my schooling as efficiently as possible, therefore, having clearly defined goals will help. I am going to be in my mid 30's when I become an NP and want to work in a fast paced challenging hospital environment - preferrably with children. So I was thinking that ACNP would be the way to go. But at the same time after working for 10+ years I might want to slow down and have the opportunity to work for a practice. Can you do that as a ACNP? Below is a copy of a current job listing. When I read it it seems like it would be a position for a ACNP but them it states that emergency medicine OR primary care???? So this is why I am so confused as to if the specialty route I chose is really that important. "The Nurse Practitioner functions under the Neonatologist. Attends high risk deliveries and prepares for potentially compromised newborns. Provides daily care and medical management of high risk infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Assesses patient condition, performs physical examinations and develops appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic plans. Identifies needs for and interprets diagnostic lab reports and or radiologic studies. Manages respiratory interventions and identifies need for and performs medical procedures. Discusses medical problems and therapeutic interventions with attending physicians. Assumes clinical management for neonatal transports from referring hospitals. Participates in data collections and interpretation of clinical research. Develops, coordinates, implements and evaluates educational activities for designated are(s) of responsibility. Maintains and updates clinical knowledge and actively seeks opportunities to broaden clinical expertise. Participates as member of health care team to develop policies, clinical protocols and evaluation tools. Adheres to system and department compliance policies, and any applicable laws and regulations." Emergency medicine or Primary Care experience preferred. Must be able to work independently in a fast paced environment. Certification as NP required" Several other listings say similar - "experience in adult internal medicine and/or critical care medicine". My gut is telling me to go the ACNP route, I am looking to hear others experiences as to job opportunities (in MA or nearby) Some of the posts I have read scare me a bit, hearing NP's are working as RN's because they can't find a job or they do not like the job. I have heard many say that they are NP's working as RN's because the minimal extra pay is not enough to cover the added responsibility. - Money is not everything but is the pay really that bad compared to RN's? - What types of incentive plans/bonuses are area NP's getting? - Some RN's are saying that they can make more than an NP because they get OT pay. What is a typical NP work week FCN and/or ACNP? If an RN works 60 hrs and makes more than an NP but that NP is only working 40 hours - well for me I'd like to spend those extra 20 hours with my family or volunteering. Also as far as perks/drawbacks - I want to be able to offer personal care to my patients and show them that I care and listen to them. Am I kidding myself in thinking that I can do that in a hospital setting? Are there going to be quotas and higher ups telling me to move faster?