mbuchanan2107

University of Miami in Coral Gables sets it all up for you. They have an accelerated MSN program. Was a tough one year....but so worth it.

I can answer part of your question.....Most hospitals are not hiring LPNs anymore as they need the supervision of an RN so they just now are hiring RNs. From what I understand, they are really pushing LPNs to be employed in SNF or clinics. I do not know about the VA as I don't know anyone who has worked there or have worked there myself. Hope this helps.

I am a newer nurse practitioner and was a RN for 5 years. I have to say that I am torn with some of the posts. I think you can find good and bad in any profession. There are RNs I've worked with that have been nurses for 20+ years and were awful, and many were great. I've met doctors that scare the crap out of me with unethical practices. I was skeptical with NPs with no RN experience and have met a good amount that went on to become wonderful NPs. The problem I think that is happening is that NPs are being pushed more and more to take on more, have a huge patient load, with little time to really look at things. I know that is a problem that I currently am experiencing. I'm double booked and overloaded and don't have the time to do a good job because the doctor I work for is money hungry and just wants to get in as many patients as possible. That is really sad. I do see your point on the amiodarone. That is pretty bad. Everyone has limits and everyone needs to know what they are. If I don't know something, I sure will ask someone, even if it's a RN/LPN who is experienced.

Lots of great information. Thanks so much. Being a new NP, I want to protect myself. This doc has already done many shady things that make me very apprehensive. I appreciate you all for taking the time to answer my question and give me a resource so that I can present this to her.

I have a coding question for anyone out there. I recently graduated and was taught that for us to bill incident to and get the 100%, the doctor must be physically be in the building. I ask this because I'm finding out I work for a shady doctor right now. She is out of the office in the OR at the hospital across the street while I'm seeing patients. She said that I can still bill because she is available by phone. But I thought there was a new change that they had to be physically available. Or maybe it is just Florida. Also, when our notes are dictated they said.....patient was seen by doc and myself. I brought this up to the doc that she obviously is not there to see them with me if she is in the OR, but she said once again that she is available by phone. I don't want to be committing any fraud, but having a hard time knowing if billing 99213 and 99214 while she is not there is legit. Can anyone clarify for me? Thanks

It is hard to keep up, so finding ways to do that are always helpful. I am with you on liking to do my assessment first, but then you get behind with giving meds, patients are then needy, procedures come around, or it's bedtime and they don't want to be messed with....then you are behind. I would quickly walk by all of them to make sure they are alive and well first, without saying hi. I would gather my meds for the person I need to see first based upon report, and do my assessment AND give my meds at the same time. It always seemed to work well for me. Good luck with finding a routine that works best for you, because what may work for some, might not work for you.

I am a FNP and I don't like pediatrics at all. I thought it would give me options though in the event I would like to in the future. In regards to the phasing out the ANP, from what my professors said, was that it wasn't necessary. You can be an ANP and care for adults and gero or you can be a FNP and care for the entire spectrum. So it isn't necessary to have it.

I am a FNP so I can't answer specifics, but my program I just graduated from has them getting dual certified. So you will be certified as a ANP and ACNP. From what they said, the ANP's may get phased out. I don't know the truth of that, but is what my professors said. ACNP's will work in more specialty practices, the hospitals, and ICU's. Many magnet facilities will only hire ACNP's. Hope this helps.

I just graduated from the University of Miami with my MSN and know a little about their DNP program. They do meet face-to-face once a month on a friday, saturday, sunday for one year. From a few that I know that are in the program, they really like it. A lot of it is like an open discussion format and not just sitting in front of someone while they lecture. It is UM, so tuition is a little more, but you can get it done in one year.

I guess you can only see the preceptors. I thought you could post that you needed one.

I just graduated from down there and wish I had names for you. Since many of the bigger schools are in Miami, most students have preceptors in Miami area. So you should be able to find more preceptors willing to take you on in Broward County. I wish I could give you names, but my school would be very mad at me for giving out any names they have on their list. I would just try to call any and everyone. Maybe call Broward General or Plantation General (or other hospitals in that area) and ask their HR if they can be of any assistance. Or look on the hospitals website to get a list of doctors names and numbers and call them that way. Ask to speak to the office manager of the clinic and see if they can help you out. I wish you luck and you are coming down during the nice time of the year :)

I cannot give you any info about the BMT unit, but can tell you that I did see a posting a few weeks back about a teaching position at UCF (University of Central Florida). Since I just graduated with my MSN and moved to Orlando, I have been looking at tons of sites, so I couldn't tell you exactly where I saw it. I guess you can try googling it. I have lived all over the state of Florida and love Orlando. My husband and I found a place right downtown and are so happy with our decision. We are close to Lake Eola that you can go walking, take your kids to the park if you have them, be there for festivities, and walk to many restaurants. It doesn't feel like a normal downtown, but more of a quaint downtown. Orlando is more than just Disney :) You can always just submit your resume and cover letter to random oncologist offices too. I did that and actually did get a few interviews out of it, even though they did not have any jobs posted. Florida Hospital is HUGE downtown and Orlando Regional (ORMC) or whatever they call themselves now is also a large facility. ORMC is the level I trauma center for our area. I think they are pretty comparable, but Florida Hospital may be a little bigger, and they have the newer facility. I have never been to Winnie Palmer, but my sister-in-law just delivered her kid there and she really liked it. I've only here good things about MD Anderson, but the one in Texas; so I don't know anything about the one here. I wish you luck and welcome you to Orlando when you come. You will LOVE it:lol2:

Do you mean Acute Care NP? I don't think there is a certification like an RN can get certified as an CCRN. I could be wrong, but I think you need the ACNP master degree to sit for the acute care boards to be certified in critical care. I hope someone else responds as I am not 100%.

I've heard rumors that they want to make this a federal thing and some states are doing this. BUT, they are having a hard time coming up with how to regulate or enforce it. Some hospitals/doctors offices will state they want....Ex. ER wants an ACNP, but offices are ok with FNPs. I did hear that specialty offices "should" be manned by ACNPs and not FNPs since FNPs don't have the "advanced" knowledge. I think it depends on your background and your willingness to learn personally..... so I have not heard anything formal on any of this, just rumors.

When I worked night shift I would talk with my patients that I thought would have more pain before they went to sleep. I would give them their nightly meds and ask if they would like to just be left alone throughout the night, or would they like me to come and wake them to take them and they can decide if they want to be medicated. Only a few times did I medicate with IV narcotics when someone was asleep, and that would be the med seeker that no matter what would request the meds exactly on time and I can verify they get it say Q4hr on the dot for the past few days. Being a newer nurse you have to learn judgement calls, but you need to always make sure you are looking out for the patient. They do not know how some of the meds work like you do, and what they "think" could harm them. Don't worry, it is one survey and one patient. You will get more that just don't like you for whatever reason or give you a bad review.