Bidwillty

I did critical care until deciding to go back to school I then moved to the ED, it definately helps with schedulding, from a school-work-clinical aspect, and also you learn a more problem focused approach and deal with all age groups, and disease processes, which was a great help with the FNP program

I passed ANCC today, strangest exam ever, lots of theory, research related questions. Good luck to whoever has still got to do it, I am glad that monkey is off my back.

I got mine, took 6 weeks, and someone I know applied same time as me, paid the extra $$$ to expedite and we got our letters same day. I test on friday, keep fingers crossed.

40 patients a day is an exaggeration or you are obviously working 20 hrs a day or not offering good care. Be realistic please.

I am completing my FNP degree, and I have done clinicals in our local Level 1 trauma center ED, with the Docs and midlevels, you see a lot of primary care in the ED's, becasue people have no other options, my course director was fine with me doing clinical hours here and as an added bonus, I got a whole lot of practice with all my skills.ie suturing, I&D, xrays, splinting etc

There are always going to be the " haters", do wht is good for you, letting other people influence your life is really not practical.

you can work, do clinicals and go to school, but it sucks you dry and you barely recognise yourself and your family start to wonder who you are, but its only 2 yeasr, so go for it......

I am graduating in May and have paid for school while going, no grants, tuition assistance etc, the school I went to ahd a payment plan each semester, so the fees were divided over about 4 equal payments. See what the school will do, many of them do have payment plans and will try work with you. Tuition reimbursement requirements change and you may not want to commit to staying when you finish. Good Luck.

The VCNP conference is in Reston, VA from march 4th -7th 2009, usually well attended and informative. http://www.vcnp.net

I graduate in May 2010, I have continued to work full time in the ER while going to school and found it was a great help in practising my advanced assessment skills and the docs have been awesome in letting me see pts and report what I think, then when they have seen the patient we share ideas or they point out what I may have missed. I love the enviroment but the NP's and PA's there still do shift work and work weekends, holidays and nights, thats what I would like to get away from, bedside nursing adnd 12 hr shifts for 18 years, I am ready for something different. All the graduates from the group ahead of me in my area got jobs by word of mouth, so there is hope when I finish.

As an ER / ICU nurse, in my last year of my FNP programme, I have noticed those of us with the clinical experience definately have an easier time, both in clinicals and in many classes. It has also been a help in getting practice sites, whichs is not easy in a smaller area with a PA program and med school in the area and all students looking for sites. The students with little or no RN experience have verbalised there frustrations in the clinical expectations they have faced, during there clinical roatations. Just my 5 cents!

kids is not my forte, but that being said, I am currently completeing my peds rotation in FNP and thanks to a phenomenal preceptor I have learned so much. I am not a peds person but I do think all that I learned will benefit me in my future rotations as well.

I am currently an ER nurse and have 10 months left till graduation as an FNP, many of the docs I have worked with have offered me a job, even though I would be the first NP, (they currently only have PA's), I know the offer was made based on my ER and critical care background. You have to market yourself and also FNP lets you see all ages as well as ob/gyn, you canot do that with ACNP for the most part. Hope that helps.

I am currently completing the peds part of my fnp program, dont let it deter you, I have limited peds exposure, just find yourself a great preceptor, thats what will make or break peds. I am really enjoying it which is a huge surprise to me. !

it is very possible to go to school and work, it just requires good organisational skills and sticking to a schedule.