MarBug7

Designer NP - I sent you a PM. Thank you!!

Hello All, I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of some reputable companies that do telemedicine visits with NP's for their patients. I have seen some apps that do this as well. Does anyone have a job like this? Or a per diem position to supplement income? I am very interested in speaking with someone who ACTUALLY does this. I am also wondering about the legality... I would imagine in states with independent practice not so much of an issue, but I am curious about other states. I LOVE being a FNP but due to the nature of my husbands job we move around quite a bit (about every two years). I heard about positions like this where you could work from home, and I am thinking I may want to consider something like this in the future. It is a new idea and I really do not know a whole lot about it for FNP.... just looking for any information. Thank you!

That does help. I heard that from Fitzgerald as well, however I was not sure since on the APEA website practice tests I think it said 70% or higher a good chance of passing the exam. Honestly, I don't ever think I will feel ready! Thanks! Anyone else here anything about practice test percentages?

Hey everyone, Quick question for those who are studying for AANP FNP exam, or those who have just passed it... While I am doing practice exams, what percentage should I be aiming for? I know on APEA I think it said 70 or higher and you are good to go.. is this correct? I am taking 150 questions at a time from different sources (Hollier, Leik, etc.) and I am scoring anywhere from 65%-75% usually with an occasional 80%. Am I getting close to being ready? My exam is a little over a week away but I do not want to take it if I am not in the range I need to be. I know on the ACTUAL exam passing is 500 or more, but how can I translate this at home? I felt pretty good until a read a few threads where some were scoring 95% and that is how they knew they were ready! If thats what I should be scoring then I REALLY need to postpone my test! Thank you in advance! Marbug7

WOW! This post is so incredibly helpful! Thank you for this information. I just posted on another thread about possibly moving from California to Texas when I am done with my FNP program (June 2015). This insight was so helpful! Any other comments about the process or helpful hints is greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement! It is very reassuring to hear that there are opening available. I am fine with making a little less at the start in order to get the right job. Tesses- If I understand you correctly, your advice is to apply for TX RN license, and then sit for boards for FNP license in Texas, correct? When you say it takes a while am I looking at 2-3 months or 6+ months for FNP license? Thank You! Any other comments are welcomed, I need as much insight as I can get!

Hi All, I have questions regarding the Nurse Practitioner (FNP) outlook near Austin, TX. I am currently finishing my MSN/FNP in California, graduation in June 2015 (YAYYY!!!). My husband is negotiating a contract for his *dream* job in Austin, TX. We are both originally from California, so it will be a big move, we have never lived anywhere else. I have been a RN for 5 years, inpatient and outpatient experience. My questions are what are my chances of getting a job in Austin as a brand new FNP with no network? Will it be an absolute hassle for me to switch my license over? Do I sit for boards in California and then switch over, or switch first and sit for boards when I get there? I am terrified I will have gone through all this work to finally get my FNP and without my network from clinicals, school etc. I will be unemployed, or struggling for months to find a decent job. We have been focused on my career and education for a long time, so it really is his turn, and he absolutely deserves it. I want to give it a fair chance but I am just so worried. I think if I had FNP experience I might feel differently. Also, if there are any FNP's in Austin who can just give general information about professional climate, employers, etc. I would welcome that also. Thoughts/experience/opinions? Thank you!

Hi All, I am looking to hear about experiences during your clinical hours/preceptorship during NP school. I just started my first round of clinical hours in my FNP program. I worry that I am not "doing enough" but, its only my first clinical. How much did you do in terms of patient management, physical assessment, etc? My preceptor is pretty much always with me and I think she accidentally just jumps in and takes over. She says just tell her if I want to do something, but sometimes I feel like some of these patients are just beyond my level of knowledge at this point. At the end of the quarter I have a faculty come to do my eval, so I want to be prepared. What were your NP clinical rotations like?

I became a RN at 21, finished BSN at 23, started my FNP at 24. I will graduate in two years at 26 (hopefully right!?)... I have always wanted to be a NP. I had my doubts about whether I could do it or not, but I ended up just going for it pretty much straight through, although I did take a small break to get married. =)

Thank you all for your responses. I knew there HAD to be some other opinions out there somewhere...thank you!!!

Hi All, I am looking to hear from anyone who did NOT work during their NP program. Currently, I attend my FNP program full time and work part time. In my program, there is not one student just going to school. All students work full or part time (well, if there is anyone not working I am unaware of it). This is not a requirement of the program, just the way it is. I mentioned to some classmates and a professor about taking time off to just concentrate on my program and was surprised at the response. "You can't! You will lose your skills!" or "You will never get a NP job with that on your resume!" Many of them said they would not feel like a nurse if all they did was go to school. Financially, I do not have to work and my Husband is always telling me to leave my job so I can focus on school 100%. He feels like FNP is such a big responsibility I should devote all my time to becoming one. Did anyone not work through their program? Am I committing some kind of horrible nurse crime if I just go to grad school? I am just looking for any thoughts... Thanks! PS I guess I should mention that while I am a great student, I have to work VERY hard at it, and my program requires a B or higher for passing grades. This makes juggling both at times difficulty and very stressful as well, obviously... we all know how that is, right?!

Hi All! I don't know if this helps or adds to confusion... but I am WGU graduate. I am in California, and in 2012 I did the RN-BSN program in 6 months. Initially, when I mentioned to my mentor about this, he kind of laughed and then planned out my courses to take about 1 1/2 years. I just went at my own pace and finished in 6 months. From what I am reading, this must be the "old" curriculum. The only issue for me was I had to take the community health course before the practicum, which meant having plenty of time at the end to do the practicum. I *heard* that the practicum is more strict in California... but who knows that might not be correct! On a side note... I then used my BSN from WGU to get into my MSN-FNP program at a very well respected local college. Many said WGU would ruin the chance to go to a "brick and mortar" for me, but that was not the case at all. =)

When I was finishing my BSN and looking into my MSN/FNP programs, I was told by numerous people that I had to have my degree posted before I could apply. I applied anyway and was accepted. I think it really depends on the programs, your GPA, academic history, etc.

I am so glad this poll was posted. I was in the process of asking the same question but during the glitch with the website mine was lost. I am considering Walden as well for FNP, so we are in very similar situations. Surprisingly, compared to the other schools I have applied to, Walden is the most reasonably priced so far- but I am also worried about it being considered a "diploma mill." So glad I found this!

Oh my goodness I cannot believe you heard in 3 days- and on a weekend! They must have REALLY wanted you! I have not heard anything yet, still waiting, and I am getting even more nervous since there seems to be a lot of denial letters going out on these threads...

Hi Everyone, I am waiting to hear from Georgetown for the August start date. I am so nervous it is ridiculous! Georgetown is my first choice by far! I am concerned I have applied to close to the deadline- what do you all think? And what did everyone else decide?

Just had a baby and mom in postpartum that had a true knot. Baby and mom were perfectly fine, baby was born lady partslly. I did not even realize how rare it was until I researched a little bit!

Hi All- I have been a RN working in acute care for about a year and a half. I was fortunate enough to get a great position right out of nursing school. My first year was spent on a very busy high stress specialty unit. I told myself I would stick it out for a year, but after a year I changed to a "lower stress" unit. I felt I needed lower stress and time to figure out what I really wanted, and to feel better mentally, night shift is really hard on me mentally. However, in my new unit, I have been having some of the same issues... and I am now not allowed to transfer anywhere else for at least a year within my hospital system. After a lot of soul searching, I figured out the acute care environment is just not for me. The way I feel before, during and after work is just not healthy for me mentally- its affecting my entire life and I am sick of it. So, I started looking at other options. I have been offered a position in a skin care clinic. It is risky, totally new, and a totally different direction than I ever though my career would go towards. However, I feel like I have a chance to be a normal person leaving the hospital. It is scary to think about leaving the acute care environment since my family and friends really feel like the hospital is the end all of nursing, the dream job, etc. I am just looking for some fellow nurses thoughts... maybe those who have left the acute care environment, good or bad experiences, just general thoughts... encouragement, anything really to help me think through this major decision. Part of me feels happiness in life is worth the risk, but on the other hand, the risk is scary and uncertainty is always hard. Thank you in advance!

Thank you so much for your replies, it is REALLY helpful to have honest opinions from everyone. I really appreciate the help!!! Thank you!!

I am sure this is the same story many new grads have, but I need to vent! I am looking for honesty. I have been on my own for about one month now- working on a medsurg unit. Patient admit for back pain, hx of kidney stones. Also on PCA of dilaudid. I got report from another new nurse who said she had been in pain all day, and was using the PCA very frequently. She also told me the doctor saw the pt and stated he seemed pretty "drugged" but not change anything or give any orders. Throughout the night I focused on managing pain, giving ordered antibiotics and making sure her output was adequate- she was on 200mL/hr fluids. Output was on the low end, but still adequate. During the night she had a low O2 sat, so I put her on 2L NC and that issue seemed resolved, later I took off the NC and she did not have another episode of desat). She also had some other issues: - Low BP but not shockingly low (it was low when I came on, she was younger, surfer, very healthy + PCA pain meds, so I thought this was expected) - Higher end of normal HR (still WNL, and in pain, so I thought this was alright as well) - In early morning c/o "choking feeling"(I encouraged cough and take some deep breaths, which she did, she coughed up a lot of phlegm, then stated she felt completely better... I offered to suction, and she refused, I assessed lung sounds, which were clear, and I assessed for fluid retention, which I saw none) - c/o headache, I explained a lot of our patients get headaches with dilaudid, offered tylenol, she declined. - Around 0400, she had a temp around 100, I used light bedding, offered ice chips and a cool washcloth (my unit usually treats temp higher than 100.3) When I gave report the oncoming nurse told me pt was becoming septic and it was my fault. By that time, labs had come in and WBC were high. During report, the new nurses aide reported a patient temp of over 101. I cannot stop thinking about if this is my fault- yes now, all signs put to sepsis, but throughout my shift, I really did not think of them as that- what I saw was each separate fairly common complications that happen FREQUENTLY on my unit especially with pain management (low BP, WNL but high HR, headache, periods of desat at night, etc). I am a new nurse, and I feel like a lot of times, the puzzle pieces just do not all fit together for me. Many older nurses tell me that one day, I will see "the whole puzzle". Looking back, I feel SO stupid and like a failure. I literally cannot stop thinking about this, and I usually am fairly good at not bringing work home. Can an experienced or new nurse offer some advice here- I just want to know if I was a horrible nurse or if this is a new nurse mistake that can be fixed?!?! HELP!

Hi Everyone, I was looking for anyone who had completed or is attending California State University Fullerton's Distance education BSN program. I am looking for some different programs, and was looking for some insight on this program from everyone on allnurses! Thank you!

I am also super interested in this field, but I am a brand new grad, so no experience at all. I am not even sure if this is a field a new grad could work in? I have been researching this as well, and I have found there is not a lot of answers. It appears to be hard to break into, hard to get certified, etc, but this is just what I have seen so far. Conflicting and a lot of confusing information. I am VERY interested in the replies to this post as well. :)

Hi Everyone, I am currently a nursing student, and I have become interested in gerontology. I was curious if anyone has any input or information about how someone would start a senior care residence home. I was thinking about a smaller home to start, with a few residents. I am just curious as to how the RN nursing role (or even an NP role, I am not sure) would fit into a situation like this. I know how the RN role works in LTC, etc, but this is a little bit different. How would someone decide basic care vs. medical type care, etc? It seems like an amazing opportunity, but I guess I just cannot visualize how it all fits together in a situation like that. I am just starting to look into this, and I admit, I do not have a lot of information! Hopefully someone out there does!

I would LOVE to get more info on the 300 hour program you were in heartsopenwide, but since I have not posted 15 messages, I am unable to private message, but I believe you can private message me? ( I think this is how it works anyways, who knows?!) I am not sure, but I do NOT want to miss out on such valuable information!!! I am not quite sure what to do...

Thanks for the advice! So far, the only externships are for those who are students enrolled in a nurse externship class through their school. I will look into your other suggestions thanks so much!