NPs Save Lives

It's pretty clear but pretty stupid in my opinion. Why the differentiation between the subtypes. I wouldn't be so steamed if it was all of us. I just want to get started with things and this may hold up me up for a while. Thanks for responding!

I just finished my FNP and will be sitting for the national certification boards soon. I found out that because of the wording in the law passed that general NPs must sit immediately before they can work? Nurse anesthetists and midwives have a year to sit for their boards. What's up with that! I have a job waiting to start June 4th and I probably won't have the paperwork even set by then. Any news regarding this issue? Thanks!:angryfire :trout:

I live in Lake City. I have been here since 1991. It's a nice place to live and the people are friendly. It's convenient to Gainesville, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. I came up from Vero Beach and never went back to live there. My entire family is still down that way but it's too congested.

I just graduated from FSU's online NP program and couldn't rave about it more! It was the only way I could complete a program while working full time and being a wife and mother. Whatever program you decide on will only be as good as you put into it. Good luck!

I would probably stay for a year to start and if it wasn't something I wanted to continue to learn, move on to something else. I have a tendency to stay for long periods of time in one place because I get comfortable. I want to get lots of experience in different arenas, unlike I did as a regular nurse without "jumping around too much".

Worrying about losing the information is a concern for me as well. I will be continuing to read up on the current meds and issues in order to keep up to date. We are responsible for maintaining our "memory banks"! I hope to hang in for the two year contract that I signed and learn a lot.

I had to work full time (3 12's) while doing the FNP program online. I also have children who wanted to have the computer all the time when I needed it. I broke down and bought a lap top. It was a hard row to hoe but I think that it will be worth it in the end. There were 2 of us who had to work full time and have plenty of loans to show for it! Good luck!

I think that anyone's education is what they put into it. I've seen incompetence on both sides of the coin (MD or NP). We diagnose, treat and take care of patients very similarly to MDs. I think the main concern should be taking care of people and not quibbling over what kind of degree they have.

I have been doing Med/Surg nursing in a hospital and will graduate on April 27th as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I had two options for employment. One with a primary care doc and one with a neurologist/pain management doc. Specialty makes more money and I will learn new skills. Primary seemed like just continuing the same old same old. Teaching is in my blood and I will eventually teach nursing students. I have to pay off my student loans first! So I will "pump them through for the man" and bang out those loans for a few years. Then who knows?

I did my BSN online through Florida State University. I am also finishing my MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner) through FSU online as well. 15 weeks to go! I would have liked to be able to do some classes face to face but I work full time and didn't want to drive an hour and an half one way to school. It has worked well for me! Good luck!

I think as a FNP you could work in Women's health without dual cert because it covers women's health in the process.. FNP is more marketable. I hate the pediatric part but will do it to get finished. I love children but sick kids scare the crap out of me. Teens are okay because they can tell you what's going on..

I attend Florida State University's online FNP program and have had a wonderful experience with it. I have had no trouble finding preceptors (both NP and MD).

I have responded to his site several times. I think he enjoys the controversy. I don't mind because it drives more traffic to my site.

I have shadowed NPs and MDs by just discussing the fact that I am in NP school and need clinical hours. I haven't been turned down yet! Good luck with your program!

You're very welcome.. I like to find Nurse Practitioner/student blogs to read. If you know of any more, let me know!

I find it very interesting that PAs seem to be touted as those who will "save the day" while NPs are left in the dirt once again. I would think that physicians would rather have an NP that they don't have to cosign every detail with. Nurse practitioners have worked with physicians in collaboration for many years with exemplary results. Why do we continue to have to scrap for every recognition? I never hear of anyone complaining that PAs are "trying to be physician extenders" and hear constantly how NPs are trying to be just that??? Are MDs so worried about losing their patients to us? We are not here to steal patients, just give them the best care possible. I don't think speeding up the educational process will do that.. I don't want someone who sped through their program taking care of me.. NPs Save Lives http://www.arnp.blogspot.com

I am currently working on my adult health NP and it did cross my mind about medical school for a second. I don't see the need to go back and do 4 years of Chemistry, Physics and Calculus and then do a full time residency just to do what I can do, without it, as a NP. In Florida, I can do everything a doctor can do except prescribe narcotics with the collaboration/supervision of a doctor. I will carry my own malpractice insurance and apply for admitting privileges at the hospital I currently work at as a nurse. I know it burns physicians butts when they hear this and they take it as competition. I always hear "If you want to prescribe, treat, diagnose like a doctor then go to medical school" all the time. I prefer to spend time with my family and take care of my patients from a nursing/medical basis instead of worrying about all that. If they eliminated the bulls**t and let NPs cross into medical school without the filler classes then I would reconsider..

Are you in the FSU online program with me???

Try http://www.fsu.edu.. That's where I went.. It's Florida State University.. Jenn

At our facility, no one cares if you have tatoos. In fact, quite a few of the nurses have tatoos which they show off to each other regularly. As long as they are not offensive, I wouldn't think they were a problem. The older population (women) may be a little nervous.. The old men would probably show off their navy and army tatts!! Wear the long sleeves under your scrubs if you have too but definitely try to get into a nursing program.. We need great people out here.. Good luck!!! JScott BSN http://www.arnp.blogspot.com

Sorry to hear of your loss. Cancer is such an evil thing... My Dad died of brain cancer 6 weeks after diagnosis...

My degree doesnt' state that it was an online program for my BSN and it won't for the NP track either. The classes are the same material as the face to face on campus and it is more convenient for most who work full time to do it online. Either way you do it, I feel that I will be just as qualified to practice regarding which route I took to get the degree. I have spoken to some that like the online format better and those that do better with the face to face. I personally like the online because the instructors tend to be more flexible regarding deadlines in that format. I do miss the comradrie of the classroom setting. Sometimes we set a place to meet others in the online class or we send pictures to see other so we feel closer. Hope this answers your question.. Thanks for posting!! Jennifer :)

Check out Florida State University at www.fsu.edu.. They have a great RN-BSN program and they just started the Adult Health NP track online. You set up local clinicals where ever you are. The entire program is online for both versions. I have had a lot of success with their programs. The instructors are awesome!! I am currently in my first semester of the NP track right now. Good luck!!

Sorry, I've been off the boards for a while. I'm in Lake City way up here!! PS I hope you passed your boards!!

Sorry, I've been off the boards for a while. I'm in Lake City way up here!!