Ash81386

The university in which I completed my BSN offers an MSN in FNP and CNS and I am ready to continue my education. Here is my dilemma: From my understanding, the FNP is incredibly competitive. I graduated with my BSN, but with gpa of 3.2 and my experience is just okay (I work in the operating room so not much floor experience at all). I have gathered that a CNS cannot practice women's health or pediatrics, which is fine with me because I don't want to practice in those fields anyway. My fear is that I would be incredibly limited in a position that cannot see pediatrics, as most places do see children whether or not it is their specialty... Take orthopedics and ENT for example. The primary focus of any ortho or ENT clinic is not pediatric, but each of the two clinics see tons of patients of every age. Anyway, I do not doubt the fact that I would be able to complete the MSN program. My doubt is that I would be denied to the FNP program because of it's competitiveness. However, I definitely want to pursue further education. Am I crazy to go back and get an MSN on the Clinical Nurse Specialist track?? I haven't looked in depth into the requirements for a post MSN FNP certificate, but currently I am thinking that this may be a good option after I complete my MSN on the CNS track, IF this is something that I would need to do if it came down to that. I know several people that are in the FNP program and 2 CNS's and the CNS nurses claim they will be able to do everything a FNP does, just no women's health and no pediatrics. I don't know what to do, but I am ready to get down to business with this. Thoughts? Recommendations? I am in Arkansas by the way! (I know that scope of practice varies by location) ETA: I meant to say that I know that all MSN programs are competitive. But there seems to be a huge flood of people applying to FNP and I don't know that I could compete with that and from my understand, the CNS track would be a little less competitive as far as entrance goes.

I just graduated and I must say... As far as the printer goes, my dad bought me this big, giant canon printer/scanner/copier (and I think fax also?) that only prints black and white... At first I thought he was a little crazy because it looks more like a business office printer than a person's home/personal printer. However, that thing came in handy BIG time!!! Through my 3 yrs of nursing school, I think I only had to buy toner twice (MAYBE 3 times, but I doubt it)! And there was *soooo* much to print out! As far as color being an issue, whenever I had a presentation that I had to use pictures for, I'd print the pictures (say, for example, graphs/charts) in regular black & white but glue it on colored construction paper for color. Or I'd go use whatever cute scrapbook papers or stickers I could find to match the theme of whatever presentation. It was never an issue and my presentations always came out well. Trust us... get a good printer! Our school also loaded like $8 worth of printing credit in the library, btu the library was SOOO far across campus and the only print lab near us required us to either: 1) bring our own paper or 2) limit our prints to 15 pages & pay for the rest.

Did you ever get your questions answered? Because I'm wondering the same thing now! I have lived in TN all of my life but went to nursing school in AR. Well, now it's time to go back to TN, and Im having a hard time figuring out how to apply for RN Licensure! I challenged my LPN Boards after junior year, so I know how to apply in AR. The TN Website is not very helpful. I'm wondering if I should just get my AR license since they are compact states. So Anyways, what did you ever figure out?

Congrats!! My pinning is May 10 (i believe) and my graduation ceremony is May 11. I cant wait, so I know you probably cant either! :)

Mr.DNP23 I worked as an ICU tech for 2 years as well. On our unit the techs doubled as the unit secretary (ours only worked like M-F 8-5!), so we would admit new patients & put their charts together, set up rooms for new patients, answer phone calls, process all the orders... Then we did tech-type work as well, such as all of the accu checks, turning, bathing/cleaning/linen changes (that is mainly night shift though) So what is an anesthesia tech? I have never heard of this before.

From what I gathered from working in a hospital (Im only a senior BSN student but worked as a CNA also), there is no difference. Others (coworkers, physicians, etc) would not even know if you are a BSN or ADN unless you actually told them. However, my school emphasizes the importance of a BSN and that the ADN degree is being slowly phased out. I always kinda wondered if they just say that because they are a BSN school, but I don't know for sure. All I can say is that there is not much of a job difference and nobody (besides management) would know which degree you have unless you told them.

I started out working as a tech, but it seems that all it got me was hands on experience. That came out wrong. The experience is VERY valuable. What I meant is that I don't think this led me to a job...... My problem is that I go to school in a different state that I plan to work. I'm in a 3 yr BSN program at an out of stage college. Right after my first year I was hired to work as a tech in the ICU of a local hospital. The nurse managers emphasized "growing the employees" as in hiring techs to become the future nurses... I know i had a future job there. I'm now a senior, and had to leave my job. It was starting to come down to "should I do my hw & study? Or should I go to work today?" I was a couple of points below passing. I spoke to my unit manager who said my hours were already as little as possible, and there were no PRN positions available. I had to cut my losses. Although the experience was great, It wouldn't garuntee me a job in the state I am actually from anyway.

I agree! It's NOT that I don't do my own research-- trust me, I do! I AM in charge of m own learning. However, you should be able to interact with your instructors. I don't expect any of them to be my BFF or baby me, but at least we should be able to toss some ideas back and forth without being shut down by "go research that!" If we already knew everything we wouldn't be students.

BY* less than 1 point, I meant.

They admitted 90 of us, I believe. With our class, they changed the required passing average. We lost around 20 the first year, gained a few LPNs, lost a few more... I believe our class of 90 is now 60-65. Yikes! Some dropped, some didn't pass but less than 1 point. They say we're the smallest class! Even the class admitted the year after ours is larger

I think this just depends on the individual person! I worked as a PCT for only 8 hrs a week for 2 of the yrs and was ok. But senior year came along and knocked me on my bottom! I always felt faced with "should I go to work today, or work on my log/hw?" I found myself calling into work on the only day I worked. I would've stayed, had they been more flexible with my hours. I was working till midnight & taking tests the very next morning & not doing well. Anyway, that's just me. Some people are able to make As without lifting a finger and some have to work HARD for Bs & Cs. A girl in my class has a son and works 2 jobs, and I think she is actually an A- high B student.

I've noticed a lot of my instructors have not worked in a hospital for years and years as well. It surprises me, since healthcare is ALWAYS changing. But my school is very big on "evidence based practice" so maybe instructors keep up with changes through literature? As far as patho goes, it doesnt really change. But I know what you mean about skills. The other day my ICU instructor came in my room to check on me and I think when she was suctioning my pt (vent wouldn't stop alarming) she raised the vent settings & didn't fix them back after. Myself, my primary nurse, and respiratory all denied changing settings. I later heard they USED to raise settings before the "100% O2" button came along. The problem was fixed, but what if something bad had of happened? Then I was surprised that, as a nurse who worked in the ICU for years, she seemed so unfamiliar with Cardiene & had to look it up. Sorry, didn't mean to write you a book... All I meant was that I know exactly what you mean!

It's not so much that I expect ppl to "pay me back". I just feel as if I have been bending over backwards to help my friends out and when I ask for help I get stupid, smart alek-y comments in return- "don't you own a care plan book???". Isn't that what friends do? Help and be helped? Reciprocate when needed? Be there for each other? It's like I help & help & help and when I need it, theres no help for me! :) I agree with you, LLG.... I saw clearly today that I do, in fact, need better friends. This has been a 1-way friendship for too darn long!

In case anyone was actually wondering.. I basically had my breaking point today with these "friends" They are always on me; "Do we have a quiz? do we have a test? whats due? Wanna get together & do this online quiz?" I feel like I carry everyone else & do crappy, while they rely on me and do awesome. Today I was asking questions about a certain diagnosis for my formal concept map, and two of them looked at me and said "Don't you have a care plan book??" I brushed it off. Not even 2 minutes later another friend was "stressing" over her sim lab pre-work... Well I've already been to sim lab, but I never said a word about it, because why should I help them if they won't help me?? Another girl gets out her pre work and sets it on the table, for the others to copy!!!!! I stared for a minute, kind of shocked... Then I got up, gathered my things, and left right then. The simlab packets are only for a completion grade, but still! I'm just not sure about how I feel about this. It's not right! I may just be finding another place to have lunch on Wednesday!

I actually practiced NCLEX questions for the first test (and I read the book) and I made an 82, which ended up being higher than some of my friends that normally make straight A's... But for this past test, I'm almost sure I know what happened. I didn't think a certain portion would be big on the test, and didn't look over it-- It ended up being pretty heavy on the test. Then there was a powerpoint that we never got to in class and I just never looked at it... I'm pretty sure thats what messed me up. Anyway... A handful of these ppl that I'm griping about aren't just nursing school ppl, but Actual friends that I see/ talk /socialize with outside of school as well. So even if I tell them one day at school that I'm not sure what I made on a test, they're still going to ask until they know. I love being friends with them, I'm just sick of sharing my grades. Just not sure how to go about it nicely. :-\ "My grades are lame compared to yours, so please quit asking & making me feel stupid!" Just doesn't sound very good, but thats what I feel like. And as far as studying with them goes... It's pretty impossible. In fact, I sat in a study room at school the other day & one of them came in and talked and talked and talked and BEGGED me to go eat with her. I finally just began to ignore her and she eventually took the hint. Anyway, next test is endocrine... Will definitely be doing some Nclex questions this time! :)