LuxCalidaNP

Our program loaned them out, but I have my own: Welch Allyn Pocket set. The otoscope is great, and I didn't need much practice, but the opthalmoscope is HARD to use anyway, and a pint size one doesn't make it easier. I would suggest ebay for a used one. and if you can swing it, try to get some practice using a panoptic opthalmoscope. It'll change the way you think about fundoscopic exam.

Dry, and hot the more south you go, but not as bad as Arizona. High 90's in summer, but yes, all 4 seasons, with snow. Autumn is beautiful in SF and Taos

I grew up in NM. Important. pretty darn important, I might add. If you go, please also challenge the interpreter test, not so bad!

@nursetim: Having grown up in NM and travelling around "third world" south america...WHAT the Heck are you talking about?! I love NM and fantasize about moving back often...I mean...er...it's awful, totally ugly terrible place with no culture or beauty! :) Having not worked there, I have heard from a few NP friends that you are solo...but only as much as you want to be. I would recommend joining a practice where the Doc-NP relationship is colleageal and collaborative...NOT about delegating scut to the solo midlevels.

Agreed with OrangePink. I'm done with NP school this May, and I get Doogie-Howser jokes ALL THE TIME! I'm 28, and even have a thinning hair line, but I guess I look a little boyish. Anyway, I dress a little more formally than other providers (nice fitted shirts and slacks, dress/casual shoes), keep it professional and courteous, and watch my wording. This seems to help a great deal. Interestingly, wearing the lab coat makes it worse! No lab coat = assumption I'm older.

Yup, i got the job. And they were more trusting of my be willing to do procedures like caths because of it.

As a RN, I provided my typhon logs to employers at interviews and they were impressed. I plan on offering it to my NP job apps, especially re: competencies for procedures, most common Dx, etc.

California SB 491 has officially been voted out of legislation until at least next year, as of yesterday. Sigh....

Whiel you may be reimbursed for your tuition, most schools (and I believe there are also state laws re: this) have a clause that makes it illegal to recieve compensation for educational clinicals. In the UK, this is often how they do it. I wouldn't mind getting paid for my time as a student NP, they work my butt off! (It would make all the medical student jealous.)

Interesting question! As a student nurse practitioner and cardiac nurse, I had a hard time striking a balance with the RN staff of the ED. It was really strange being a nurse and idetifying with them, but also being expected to provide orders (cross-checked with preceptor of course) and do procedures. I will ALWAYS be a nurse first, but I struggled with the role transition for sure.

For anyone who is interested, there is a greaet interview with the head of FNP/PA program and Davis and Dr. Finney from CMA on KQES Live, "Forum"

@ Juan DLC: As always, thanks for your updated info and your insight. It's a disheartening speedbump, but let's hope those Dems decide to vote next time!

So very sad. I shall reserve my anger, spare allnurses.com another tirade against territorial physicians, hold my head high and keep moving forward with embodying professional and competent practice. If we can't tell em, we gotta keep showing em!

In most clinics, Telephone Triage Nurses use a manual or protocol to respond to common complaints. But REMEMBER: You are not diagnosing or treating anyone over the phone, you are assessing and determining the LEVEL of care they need. E.g.: watchful waiting, home management, come to clinic this week, tomorrow, now, go to ED or 911 call to location. Without protocols telephone triage is one of the riskier things we can do with our licenses... I recommend: [h=1]Telephone Triage Protocols for Nurses [spiral-bound][/h]Julie K Briggs RN BSN MHA (Author)

I agree...honestly, this isn't an awful situation, IF it doesn't change what is required for "Physician Supervision..." If they DID change those requirements after all of the physician opposition to this bill and NP support, we would be in a bit of a tricky mess... I wonder what sectors might be harmed by this requirement...Currently, California doesn't have NPs who are practicing TOTALLY autonomously, though standardized procedure documents can be tailored to allow something close to this... perhaps the NPs in REALLY isolated places who are the sole providers, but otherwise, this seems like a step forward, no?