Asira

As a nurse who went from a busy SICU to a clinic nurse position I will be watching this thread. Sometimes I feel I am losing all my critical thinking skills at this job - but in a clinic I have a lot of one on one time with our physician who is very hands on with teaching me about what he is assessing as well as the rationale on what he is prescribing for our patients. I hope that gives me a knowledgeable background but I cannot help but worry if I will be lacking behind my hospital-experienced peers.

I would love to see this as well as a new nurse working in a residential facility. :] [email protected] Thank you so much!

I would love to hear an answer as well. I want to go back to where I did my BSN (actually already accepted into their BSN-DNP program) but want to be a PMHNP, but there are none in my area. :[ -Asira

I am not the OP but this question has been on my mind for awhile. I am starting a BSN-DNP program in the fall and the NP focus is the FNP. There are no PMHNP programs where I live by (South Florida) but do want my main clinical focus as an NP to be in mental health. Question is: Can you work in mental health as an FNP alone or would it be suggested to then get the post-masters psych certificate? I am really trying to figure out how to work as an NP is mental health. So many alphabet soups and degree programs out there make this so confusing! - Asira

You mentioned California license - but do you have to be located in California? - Asira

CRNAs are at the top of their field? Why? Because they are paid the most? IMHO NPs and CRNAs are two TOTALLY different career paths and no more ahead of each other than other options like Nurse Researchers, ect.

I always learned assessing a gag reflex is crucial because of the risk of aspiration, especially post-op. :shrug: - Asira

Haha, yeah guys - the stories are true.. Pharmacology is 5 weeks only! I like the speed though, because I can hardly breathe it gives me less time to ruminate on how tired and stressed I am. The time goes by much quicker and you dont have the time to FEEL stressed? If you get what I mean. I think had I been in the basic option all that free time would have ended up making me think I was more stressed. Haha, but I am wired strangely like that. Right now I am in Summer B which is Psych and Psych clinicals along with Fundamentals clinicals and I am loving it. PM me if you guys have any questions. :] - Monica

Ok.. what do you guys do to stay awake? I am currently in an accelerated option program and not doing bad but I have noticed most of my classmates stay up until 3 AM.. where as I am always out at 10 PM. Coming this week I have three finals and a competency [grumble and a 15 page paper for community health] and there just aren't enough hours in the day! I need to find away to fight the fuzzy sheep jumping in my head! Is there any special tricks you guys use? Drinks? Pills? [ No cocaine suggestions please. ] I am already up to 4 cups of coffee a day. Help me other nursing students. - Monica

Have you applied to Barry yet? You can go ahead and apply and get on the applicant list as long as you tell them that you are going to be done with the pre-reqs. In fall starts the basic option and in January starts the accelerated option so it depends which program they accept you into. ( I'm currently an accelerated student at Barry, almost done with my first semester). My advice to you is go ahead and apply to the school and make an appointment to see a counselor and tell them when you will be done with your pre-reqs ect. You don't have to wait till you are all done. :] Best of luck. - Asira

I have orientation tomorrow and Friday from 7:30-5:00. Whew. Then I begin classes on the 14th. I am so anxious to begin already but already nervous as all hell. Pre-reading some of the books I have gotten look like Chinese to me. - Asira

I am! Not looking forward to the drive to Davie though. =/ - Monica

That is what I did. I am starting in January and this Fall semester I finished the Bio-Med, Theology and the Upper Level Humanities that were required. According to my schedule however there is room for 6 credits to be taken during the first semester of the accelerated. I would recommend you call the Division of Nursing at Barry to see exactly what program it is that you were accepted into. - Asira

Congratulations on getting accepted into the school. I would go down to the Miami Shores campus and go to Kelley House bldg and ask to speak with an Admissions Adviser, this person will pull all your files and send it into the pool for the Nursing program. This is exactly what I did and proud to say I am a Barry Nursing Student who will be starting January 7th for the Accelerated BSN. Best of luck to you! If you have any more questions just let me know. - Asira

Yeah - I had to take all the test. It was very hard, about 50 questions in Chemistry, like.. 35 in Biology, and another 50 in Anatomy and Physio. I had thought it was going to be 50 questions mixed science, but it was 3 different sections. The math is REALLY easy, you can even use a calculator. I would really make sure you know your spelling and grammer though - they pulled some punches in those sections. In all honesty, if you're doing good in the vocab guide you'll be fine, it was pretty basic. - Monica