Finally2003NP-C

Good article, we all age in one way or another and new information when it comes to interviews always helps...

:redlight::smackingf I have read this thread for the last day or so. I am just a little worried about how some of the responses are promoting the idea it is okay to change an entry in a chart(specifically changing an entry documenting the performance of a nursing action that was performed by another nurse). First, the EMR's are relatively new and are still evolving. That being said the discussion about how to change a chart has not significantly changed for years. Look back on what you were taught in school, add in your experience at work, and don't change any chart without seriously considering what you are documenting. The typical administration response is that the change can be accomplished without any problem associated with the person changing the chart. Alarms should instantly go off in your head. I respect and protect my license daily, and will not risk it being taken away for anything. If (knock on wood) this chart would be involved in litigation for any reason don't think a lawyer will not take advantage of the situation.

julie136, Post-Graduate courses are are just that, courses taken after completion of Graduate studies. I contacted the Texas BON and they explained that I would have to complete 400 hours of practice under the supervision of a preceptor. When I contacted the school I graduated from they suggested the easiest way to do this would be to enroll post-graduate and do a precepted clinical rotation. I basically took the last course required to graduate with an FNP certificate, but took only the clinical rotation, not the academic course with tests and assignments. The school was very cooperative with me as they had made a costly mistake in my case and kept me out of practice for almost two years. I found my own preceptor ( I worked at a rural clinic with an MD and a PA) which the BON and school agreed to. Both preceptors evaluated my work and reported to a Professor at the school who then wrote the BON explaining my cases,treatment, followup, etc. You are going to have to either contact the school you graduted from and ask to do post-graduate hours, or find a preceptor (practicing NP/PA/MD/DO) acceptable to the BON and have them document the 400 hours and evaluate your diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients. I graduated in 2001, but the foul up about the signatures kept me from taking the certification exam until November 2002. Then the little problem with the 400 hours came up and I finally got blessed,certified, and licensed in 2003.... which gave me my moniker for this website "Finally2003NP-C". Keep working at the preceptor angle, or contact the school you graduated from and work something out. If I did it so can you.

cr8tivNP, I would contact the FNP program that you graduated from as well as the BON California and explain your circumstances. I had a similar situation where I graduated and did not apply for certification exam because of an administrative error with my program (the Dean and Provost never signed my graduation affidavit). I graduated but could not test because of the missing signatures. After meeting after meeting,and contracting with a lawyer, the missing documentation signatures were discovered and signed (by a new dean and provost.... another story in itself). I quickly applied for the AANP certifying exam and passed. When I contacted the BON Texas for NP licensure they informed me because of the two year delay period I would have to go back to the University I graduated from and apply for post-graduate entry and repeat a minimum of 400 hours of clinical practice under a preceptor before the BON Texas would grant me licensure to practice as a NP. They informed me that just because I had passed the certifying exam I could not practice as an NP, and could not sign NP at the end of my name. Within four months I complied with all the demands of the BON Texas, completed 400+ clinical hours under a preceptor, and re-applied for licensure. I received my license to practice and have never looked back. Do yourself a favor and check back with the school you graduated from and your BON before doing anything else. You may have to do more than brush up on studies and take a review.

I teach the final level of M/S at a local college. This person's eventual understanding of what she is and what she represents is inspiring as well as sobering. You get out of your education what you put into it. Shortcuts and not taking advantage of every situation clinically as well as academically is your choice. However, as one graduate recently told me "It can bite you in the behind." Eventually, as this person found out, you come upon a situation that should be accomplished by any graduate nurse, but cannot be accomplished because you thought you knew it all and never asked. As I frequently state to many students "What are you going to do after graduation and I'm not around." Now before I get bombarded for my insensitivity realize that once your BON gives you your license employers, co-workers, and the public expect you to be able to ACTUALLY perform basic nursing procedures (i.e. suture removal). I am glad the nurse realized she had no idea what to do and asked for help. However her collegue did not have too warm a response to her plight, but performed the procedure. Lesson learned, Nursing is a demanding profession and patients place full confidence in Nurses to know their profession,as well as be able to perfom it. Their are few compliments in many of our tasks, and patients sometimes do acknowlegde a job well done with a look, smile,or sigh. From the content of the story I'm sure the nurse learned a valuable lesson and now fully understands the responsibility we nurses have to our patients, and the priviledge and responsibility of being able to treat them.

I agree with 2ndwind, this is totally insane. IV push Dilaudid with no direct nursing observation, no intervention/followup is just asking for a lawsuit. As usual another administrative directive with little (none) thought attached.....

I finally wised up and took the AANP exam after taking AANC twice. The last time I took the AANC exam I missed the cutoff by two points. As you can tell by my moniker I was board certified in 2003. It took me the better part of a year and several come to jesus moments to figure out that the AANC tests the applicant on research and cultural pedagogy rather than actual practice questions and issues. After just about giving up I was told to go and talk with Aimelee Hollister with APEA. Glad I listened to three of the best NP mentors on the earth! I took the review with Aimelee and filed with AANP. Waited for three months to get the exam date and passed it the first time. Scored well over 300 points higher than the cutoff! This December I will have practiced in rural clinics for seven years. No group or employer has ever questioned my decision to be certified through AANP. I took the exam in Dallas the first week of December and got notification of my passing score by snail mail on the 24th of December2003. I have mentored several new grads over the past five years. Told everyone of them to take the AANP exam and they have all passed the first time. My last student (January 2010) got notification of passing ten days after taking the exam. The AANP contacted her via email. Take my advice and test through the AANP, it is not any easier than AANC just geared more to actual practice and what I learned in class and clinicals.

Well, glad to hear you are ****** off. Turn that feeling into focused purpose and do what is required to get into school. As to my response as hateful, no more to the point it is factual. Everything is hard today, wait for tomorrow and see how much more difficult things get. Oh, your comment about mommy and daddy got me to chuckling. My parents were both long dead before I entered into nursing. One from cancer the other from stroke. i left home at 17 and never looked back. My parents had no money. I have no sugardaddy (or mommy) and no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow(it would have been nice). I paid for school working part-time,selling blood, pell grants(never enough), and the GI bill. My other degrees were paid for by me, seems I always made one more dollar above the poverty level to qualify. So go ahead and throw some rocks at my glass house. I don't have any credit cards(can't afford them), I drive a 12 year old pickup(but it's paid for), and my malpractice insurance goes up every year( not because of lawsuits, look at the insurance companies). I keep one step ahead of Uncle Sam and pay through the nose to the IRS. My practice satisfies something known only to me and at the end of the day the majority of the bills get paid. The bills not paid for eventually get paid off. I could easily make more money, but at the expense of my sanity. So, I do work to live. Hateful response, not really. However you can label me however or whatever you want. The response is the same, go back take the courses. Score whatever it takes to get in, retain all the information and get mastery of the subject to your satisfaction. Apply to as many schools as you can, when one accepts you stick with them and graduate. Even though I doubt you will believe me I hope you are successful at whatever you apply yourself to do.

I am constantly amazed at how many students get FRUSTRATED at admission requirements. The school you are trying to enter has explained to you what is required to gain admission. DO IT!! There is a reason schools want you to take courses like Chemistry and pass with an acceptable score. I personally do not want someone working on me that barely passes a Chemistry course with a "C". Go back and take the course, study and pass it with a "B" or better. That goes the same for your AP II and Micro. All these courses are fundamental science courses that indicate your capability to practice. Also, your statement about working full time is an indicator as to why you are not completing the course, and why you are making "C's". Most professors will tell prospective students 40+ hours working equates to substandard scores of "C", or worse. Before you get upset and tell me you have to live and therefore work, realize there are many students who have to reduce their hours to get through. Many professors have quoted this statement " how much are you willing to sacrifice to obtain licensure". Your question of going to the ADN school vs. BSN school is a slam dunk. Get the LICENSE. It makes no difference in Texas, ADN's and BSN's take the same NCLEX test. The only difference is the ADN gets out into practice two years earlier than the BSN. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you can work as an RN (ADN) and go take BSN courses part-time to complete the higher degree. The point is you get the license and go on, or do you think getting the license ends your schooling? Go back complete the basic courses(no matter how long it takes), score high, and apply. If you meet the schools entry requirements you will get in. If it takes a year more to complete all the requirements, so what?

:typing:banghead: Tweety..... take a deep breath and contemplate your naval... Just kidding! Look any of us who have been through the ringer of NP school felt the same as you. What am I doing here, and why do I stay! For me it was to increase my scope and practice at a level that exceeded a staff nurse (now that I have insulted all of nursedom I will go on). My own program was woefully lacking in any help or education concerning the practice of an NP. They never told me about the basics of CPT coding, for example.I constantly had to scan the research and books on my own for the pertinent knowledge I needed to practice. I don't blame my program(LOL), that was the way it was set up. However, YOU are in an advanced degree program. You are going to be the one responsible for your own knowledge and expertise. I got through it by sheer obstinence and perseverence. You will never know it all, or be completely satisfied that you have everything under control.... Now that I am through with the rant.... Get involved with a group of your fellow students (it doesn't matter if they are younger or older than you) you are all in the same boat. Next, find someone who is licensed and practicing in your community and pump them for every bit of information,tips/techniques,and pearls of wisedom about practice. If that person is an MD/DO/NP/PA it doesn't matter, they are in practice and will be able to tell you what is nice to know vs have to know. My program specifically told me not to "associate" with PA's and DO's, but they were the ones most cooperative when I needed preceptors and advice. Finally, take stock in your own counsel. It took determination to get to NP school, and you will survive it. I relied on 20+ years of ER/ICU experience and it stood me well. Constantly update your reading and practice skills to keep you ahead of the professors expectations. Good luck in future...

Congratulations!Come on in, the water is just fine..... a tad deep but just fine!!

Only $1200 for malpractice.... mine is $1600 and only if I do not see pregnant folk. You do not want to contemplate that figure. My first malpractice bill was $39, way back when I had the sense to work as a staff RN.

Pretty broad statement, especially when it is a misguided one. By the way I work with two PA's, and there are no problems. We get along without condescension.

Curious, Seems like there are quite a few PA's and Docs who read a forum set up for nurses. Arent' there any forums dedicated to PA's and Docs........

The AACN can dictate the new "doctorate for entry into advanced practice" until they are blue in the face. Half the country cannot agree upon ADN or BSN as to entry into registered nursing.... So now you want to up the ante for advanced practice? There are bigger fish to fry! Sounds like another issue to muddy the already muddied waters! Also, what are we going to do with all those "Masters prepared advanced practice nurses" hmmmmmm..... Do I hear a grandfather clause, or will it be a forced return to academia to get the honored doctorate sheepskin?