All Content by sandnnw
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Scope of practice in the emergency department
Probably depends on the comfort level of each provider. I work along side a PA, we see the same thing and bounce off questions all the time. She was trained more surgically, I have been UCC/EM, so its a mixed bag. She generally asks more questions of me. There are plus/minus of each, depending on region. If you want more "hands on" I would suggest the PA route, but again, each school is different. I chose Adult NP, so there wasn't much EM in the curriculum. I had to do a lot of reading and observing, watch one, do one from my EM faculty/residents when first starting. It takes about 3-5 years to get comfortable, but there are still those days...
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NP Salary
Just to piggyback, it does depend on where/how you work AND if you are a senior RN. In my case, there was very little salary increase, I'm figuring a few grand. Granted, my situation is a bit weird - I'm a fed. I was was a senior (near topped out) critical care nurse, +CEN, evening and weekend diff. I actually made more working weekend nights than as a NP now. Money isn't everything and the headaches are much different now. I went from doing and taking to examining and ordering. The politics are almost nil and I do not miss the charge nurse management role. I really think folks need to take some time to soul search before investing tens of thousands and countless hours toward advanced practice. I most certainly would not advise jumping for the cash, many will be disappointed. There are some benefits that outweigh a few more bucks (at least for me). I have a great schedule, super boss and sweet office arrangement. I have options galore to seek a doctorate and work with university faculty that are supportive. There are still "those" days, but I am happy and for this old nurse/NP, that's saying something!
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4th week at ED.. it's hell, we should be called gods of labor
You will learn WHAT is important now, in 5" and in 15". Disgusting as it sounds, feces is not emergent, nor is charting and certainly not stewardess type services. Give it a few more weeks and model folks around you who have been there a few...you'll see! Bravo for your work.
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How do you figure out which imaging type is best?
This will help you: https://acsearch.acr.org/list I find it most helpful, the articles are very interesting reading! And, who better to trust than radiologists?
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Experienced NP desiring VA job
Make sure your peers respond quickly thru Vetpro
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Working for the VA
And it may take three to six months before fully on board. Be patient, good things come...
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VA NPs malpractice coverage question
I do not have coverage. I have been named in three suits and never asked for a deposition. I am threatened for liable several times per year, usually over narcotics or antibiotics. Oh how I LOVE being a NP! Especially a VA NP.
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Experienced NP desiring VA job
Lubbock, I think you'll be fine. As a VA NP myself, it really depends upon the market and you appear to have plenty of experience. I recently interviewed six NPs, 4 with tons of experience, 1 with a year and one new grad. You'd be shocked how folks "present" for an interview. Dress ranged from business to scrubs, some neat, some looked like they rolled out of bed. Resumes can be help or a curse, esp if you jumped from job to job over the last decade. We had 27 people apply for the jobs. The medical director cut it down to the six. It came down to three pretty easily, the new grad was in the final three, but experience won out. My medical director is a great fan of folks working to really want our positions and we could tell who was passionate and those who just sort of showed up with minimal prep. I'd look the part and practice behavorial interviewing. Make sure a few peers review your resume. The VA is a wonderful place to work!
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What's your "must have" app?
First Consult very handy as Medscape
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Advanced Pathophys Textbook
Checkout boundless.com, esp if you have a tablet or don't want to spend a ton.
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Straight to FNP or work full-time first?
This article was handed out to us during my first semester during grad school (VU) Rich ER. Does RN experience relate to NP clinical skills?Nurse Pract. 2005 Dec;30(12):53-6. After studying, observing and now living alongside the e/-e NPs...I don't see anything to worry about.
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Would you do it over again?
Either are fine, I've worked alongside a PA my entire NP career. I believe (my opinion only) that PAs are more surgically and broadly prepared for just about any job out of school. As Ivan noted, it's going to be a load to go thru a PA program vs NP school without much difference in pay after graduation. I'd look at your geographics and examine all options. I don't believe you can go wrong either way.
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current Adult NP considering FNP??
Another ANP here. I thought about the same thing! Took me ~6 months to even find a job. They even offered to pay to send me back to school, but i declined as I did not plan on staying with that employer. Sounds funny, but I've heard the saying when you take a job, do so with the consideration of where you are headed next, ironic, but that's how it worked out for me. Even now, in my second job, I think about and plan for my next job even though I have no idea where or who I want to work for. There are jobs out there for ANPs. Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Endo are huge and going to get larger over the next 10-20 years, not to mention the amount of NP retirements coming soon. In a burn unit, I think your skills would be in high demand from either the Trauma or Plastics side. Sounds like you work for a larger, metro medical center. There has to be a ton of NPs and you might find that its "who" vs "what" you know that matters.
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ANP scope of practice (or ANP/WHNPs out there practicing)
Another ANP here. Your correct, GYN care is very limited in the ANP world and I think its so for a purpose. We covered the PAP, STDs and BCPs and that's about it. This is why we have WHNP! Imagine a WHNP applying for an urgent care position? I started in an urgent care alongside an MD and/or PA with understanding of 12+ patients. It worked. Now in an adult ED. Most of my ANP friends work in Cardiology, ENDO and Internal Medicine. As far as revamping, i believe it's in name only. We did a fair amount of Gero work in my ANP program and about half my patients are > 65. Best of luck!
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Out of state RX
Actually, your DEA is "practice" setting. If you work for three different employers, you should have three different DEA numbers. If you work for ONE employer at three different hospitals, then you are good to go. I'd be careful with one DEA at three different hospitals. State Pharmacy auditors will eat you alive.
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Out of state RX
It doesn't matter where you call from. Your office, home, Russia, as long as you treat/Rx folks in your state of licensure. The exception is federal practice (e.g. VA, military, PHS, IHS) While I'm on vacation, I use my web based e-Rx software and continue to fill tele-meds, update refills, etc. I had a patient of mine (MD!) in Hawaii who called for a Z-pack, Rx'd at Walgreens in my home state and to my surprise, they transferred. I had patchy strep on vacation, called my family NP and CVS filled out of state, no problem. I would be very careful who I offered to do this for. If anything goes wrong, you are technically practicing out of state as folks above have mentioned. I would NEVER fill a scheduled medication in this manner.
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Can NPs prescribe meds for off label purposes?
Don't sweat this too much. You will find all kinds of usages for drugs, "off label" doesn't mean unsafe. A few examples from my daily experience: Droperidol, Reglan, Benedryl, Magnesium for migraine Gabapentin/Effexor for chronic pain syndromes already on opiates or known abusers Steroids Antibiotics, by class, e.g. COPD on max inhalers+steroids, low dose Zithro HCTZ The more your read and experience in your practice, the more you will learn about off label uses. As someone mentioned, the specialties often find numerous usages for new/old drugs. Read up on the history of Methotrexate, great example.
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VA Nurses! Have a question for you!
Curious, why are you going from ICU to Tele? I figure you'd be a snap for an ICU job. I'm on my third hop in the VA over 12 years. Get to know the managers and keep a great attendance record, no problem if they have positions open. The low turnover in the VA is usually in the CBOCs and primary care/specialty clinics. Otherwise, most units hire 1-2 folks every year at my VA. Best of luck, welcome aboard, you'll love it!
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I feel like I'm wasting my time :(
yes ma'am! I had a 2.97, had been out 15 years. But... I believe I blew them away on my essay(s) and had taken three courses as a "pre" student thru the hospital, so had a 4.0 in those classes. My GRE writing was high as well. I also had smashingly great references, including a recent graduate who is one of their current clinical preceptors. So, in summary, I looked at it like a "fresh start" approach. I applied to a private school who relies heavily on bridge students for their graduate program, so already having your RN, in my opinion, brings a lot to the table. I hear the state schools around me use to be far more competitive before the distance/PC/adult learning boom. Strange as it seems, I actually know some folks who are NOT getting accepted to state distance programs, weird? Again, I'm assuming it must be to protect their pass rates on the national exams, plus the increasing difficulty of faculty and clinical placements, very much saturated in my area. I'm sure faculty reading this have other reasons. My advice, keep hammering away and be sure to tout the AC/BLS and any CCRN/CEN/RNC certifications that you have. Community service, military and teaching/volunteering might help as well. Best of luck!
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ER/ED Nurse Practitioner
Your are most welcome, ask away!
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What would you do?? ugh!
MSN, wisest choice, most options, quickest
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Which certification, AANP or ANCC
And neither will your patients! Take the AANP and be done with it.
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Specialty and DNP
Amen. Honestly, I believe the NP programs ought to teach generalist FNP the first two years, then XNP the last year. This will give you more options.
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Which certification, AANP or ANCC
Feds accept either, I took both...just in case.
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What's the process?
Nutshell: Diploma, no. Transcript, yes. Test Results State License DEA/malpractice Job ??? So roughly, it takes about six months. Some states will allow you to work under your supervising physicians license. Check with your BON. Finding a job is tough in some markets. I found one in 8 months, but was very picky. Best of luck, ask if you have more thoughts.