LuvTheOR

Check "Advance for NPs and PAs" (membership to the on-line magazine/site is free), they always have a yearly salary report by region and speciality. Another source may be the ANA or the AANP.

Hi I am looking for an online post masters program that would allow me to complete clinicals in my area. I would have no problem acquiring preceptors. I already have my FNP but would like to practice in the psych arena. Anyone have any suggestions for programs that might be out there?

I would discuss the issue with my charge nurse or unit manager. It is your duty to the patient to report your suspicions. Also if you do waste with him knowing that there is a possible diversion your license may also be in jeopardy. If he is using he needs help. Does your facility have an employee assistance program or does your state nursing organization have a program to assist nurses that need help with substance abuse (WI does and works with the BON so that the nurse is not penalized)? Hazelden in MN has one of the few programs for healthcare providers with substance abuse problems. They treat nurses, physicians, and other providers.

Hi I am a FNP looking to expand into advanced practice mental health nursing (mental health has been an interest of mine since nursing school). I am looking for an on-line Post-Masters certificate program or a MSN to DNP program that will allow me to sit for the PMHMP boards and do my clinicals in my area. Any advice on finding a program? Mary K

For several good articles on the role of the peri-operative APN look at Elsevier's Perioperative Nursing Clinics articles. I have also found a few in the AORN Journal. Just do a search on Ebsco. Aorn published its first statement on APRN competencies in 1994 and revised it in 2006. These articles would give you a good starting point in writing a job description for your bosses... Luv The OR

Which University are you pursuing your degree through? Is it an on-line program? I need the versatility of an on-line program with clinicals in my local area.

In our OR an inexperienced nurse gets six months. With experience, it varies nurse by nurse; but usually 2-3 months to go over all of the policies and be orientated to the different services and call.

We just upgraded to a new version of Epic and some of the OR screens were a step backwards. But I do love the ability to see the entire record prior to meeting the patient. We are going to physician order entry soon, can't wait no more deciphering their scrawl...

Go to http://www.rnfa.org/ to learn more about becoming an RN first assistant. aorn.org can also give you more info on RN first assistants. Basically you need OR experience first, then you have to have two letters of recommendation, and you can finally take the course for certification and later do an internship under a surgeon A lot of work for a certification that may not net you very much in return...

Epic...

I agree, you either love the OR or hate it. A job shadow can give you a small taste of what the OR is like. I find that most of the people working in the OR have strong personalities. You have to have a strong personality to tell a surgeon that you disagree with them when you are advocating for a patient and have to stick to your guns. Give it a try, you can always transfer to another unit if you do not like it...

I am currently working in a Magnet facility and we have a great deal of input into how we want to practice as staff nurses. But there is currently a gap in education and in best practices. An APN in the OR would be able to institute best practices as dictated by AORN and other groups. I could also further the use of evidence based practices in clinical decision making. I would work with staff regarding education and the promotion of specialty certification, CNOR in this case. An APN is also a great resource for those multi-doctor, horrendous, everything but the kitchen sink cases. Our facility is also a level II trauma center and we need work on our response time for traumas. We have many new RNs that do not have the experience of some of our more seasoned adrenalin junkie staff that think on the fly. It is best for all involved to do mock scenarios rather than just throw them under the bus... I can think of so many things that would be beneficial it is difficult to list them all here. My employer is working on creating a position for a APN to fill these needs; in this economy it may take several years to gain approval so the timing is right.

Thanks, I appreciate the extra set of eyes. Luv The OR

Called AORN they have no idea of any programs. Still searching, will keep you updated. Luv The OR

I have worked for a physician as a first assistant. The first surgeon, a neurosurgeon, that I worked for was a sweetheart and I worked for him until he died of CA. I then worked for a general surgeon for two years and he was an ***. I do not want to go that route again. I want to work directly for the hospital. I would collaborate with our unit's educator, do quality assurance, and work with putting evidence based practices into use in the OR.

Thanks for the information. I was hoping to find a school that offered an online program with clinicals near where I live. I know that a number of online programs offer this option with little or no time spent on campus. So many of the programs that I have looked at do not really apply to the OR environment. I would be working for the hospital not for a specific physician like many NPs do. I already have the first assistant experience so the RNFA. AORN recently came up with a new position statement on perioperative APNs. I will attach it below. AORN Position Statement on Perioperative Advanced Practice Nurse PREAMBLE The registered nurse practicing as an advanced practice nurse (APN) builds on the foundation and core values of the nursing domain. The APN practices autonomously to design, implement, and evaluate patient-specific and population-based programs of nursing care. The APN practices in many roles and arenas. The purpose of this document is to define the role of the perioperative advanced practice nurse. POSITION STATEMENT The perioperative APN is, first and foremost, a registered professional nurse who is competent in the use of specialized perioperative nursing knowledge and skills in the care of patients and families undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. The APN possesses a minimum of a master's degree in nursing, concentrated in a recognized area of advanced clinical nursing practice (ie, nurse practitioner [NP], clinical nurse specialist [CNS], certified registered nurse anesthetist [CRNA], or certified nurse-midwife [CNM]), which forms the foundation for an advanced practice role. A hallmark of the APN's skills are the autonomy and expertise in diagnosing and treating complex responses of clients (ie, patient, family, community) to actual and potential health problems that are related to the prospect of or the performance of operative or other invasive procedures. The perioperative APN fosters patient advocacy and patient safety. Formulating clinical decisions in managing acute and chronic illnesses by assessing, diagnosing, and prescribing treatment modalities, that may include pharmacological agents, are all inherent in the perioperative APN role. In addition, the perioperative APN promotes wellness, and does this primarily by conducting comprehensive health assessments. The perioperative APN integrates clinical practice, education, research, management, leadership, and consultation into a single, but multifaceted, role. Because the focus of this role is care of surgical patients, the perioperative APN continually functions in a collegial relationship with nurses, physicians, health care organizations and systems that influence care of the surgical patient.

We have nursing assistants (CNAs) that are responsible for stocking the equipment in the rooms at night and keeping our equipment room straight. We page our CNAs during each case to get us our equipment/supplies for the next case, ie: positioning equipment for lateral positioning, yellow-fin stirrups, or harmonic cautery unit... They place it outside of our door. When we are closing we page our POD leader (this is a RN who helps turnover the room,opens with the tech, and counts for the circulator while he/she takes the current patient to PACU and then gets the next patient with anesthesia). It costs $$$ for staff but we have quick turn-overs and can get more cases in per day increasing productivity and decreasing overtime.

Does anyone know of a perioperative NP or CNS program? AORN has published a position statement endorsing perioperative advanced practice nurses. I am looking for a program, preferably on-line, that specializes in the perioperative setting. I know that several programs offer ED, critical care, and other areas but I have been unable to find a MSN program that covers this niche. I currently work in a Magnet facility and they are creating positions for APNs on many of the units. My director is behind me all of the way on working to create this position. Luv The OR

Does anyone know of a perioperative NP or CNS program? AORN has published a position statement endorsing perioperative advanced practice nurses. I am looking for a program, preferably on-line, that specializes in the perioperative setting. I know that several programs offer ED, critical care, and other areas but I have been unable to find a MSN program that covers this niche. I currently work in a Magnet facility and they are creating positions for APNs on many of the units. My director is behind me all of the way on working to create this position. Luv The OR

Does anyone know of a perioperative NP or CNS program? AORN has published a position statement endorsing perioperative advanced practice nurses. I am looking for a program, preferably on-line, that specializes in the perioperative setting. I know that several programs offer ED, critical care, and other areas but I have been unable to find a MSN program that covers this niche. I currently work in a Magnet facility and they are creating positions for APNs on many of the units. My director is behind me all of the way on working to create this position. Luv The OR:nurse:

I would also like to have the NCLEX pass rates for WI. The school that I am going to be graduating from in just a few days brags that they have the highest pass rate in the state and I would love to know if it is really true. You can email me @ [email protected]

I was also interested in the FNP program at Oshkosh. But to my dismay the program is no longer taking applicants after Fall 09 because they are changing from a MSN to a Doctorate program. I believe all of the UW programs in the state are following suit. It is apparently a national push. At least that is what I was told by UW Oshkosh. Maybe try one of the private colleges, more $$$, but at least you would not have to wait while they retool the programs.