GCmomRN

I'm in a 3 year "hybrid" AGNP program. I am in the 3rd year which is clinical with a didactic component. I'm in clinic 16-24 hours a week. I only go to campus twice a semester, but there are online lectures to supplement our reading. Each week we have either a discussion board, quiz, exam, SOAP note, H&P, etc. It's a LOT of content. I'd say I spend most of my spare time studying or doing classwork. I still work two 12-hour shifts, but I'm lucky that I usually get downtime at work so I actually am able to study there as well. It's a lot more than what I expected and it's taking a toll on me (hello massive stress and anxiety!!) but the end is in sight and I know I'll be well prepared when I'm done.

Nope. And I just noticed that they pushed back the application deadline to January 19 so I'm not sure what that is going to mean for decisions. I'm just assuming I'll hear in March...hopefully.

They said hopefully by February or March.

Interview was a group so it was interesting. I wouldn't give up hope yet, they said it could take up until the end of Feb or March to send out decisions.

I think I submitted my application late September. I heard from them about 10 days before the interview date.

I applied to the Stony Brook PMHNP program for 2017. I have my interview on Monday!

I just applied to Stony Brook PMHNP program. It's mostly online and has a good reputation as far as I know! I know in state tuition isn't bad, not sure about non-resident.

I was an RT and I went through Excelsior for my RN. You do have to be careful since some states will not accept Excelsior grads (Florida and California plus a bunch of the other states have restrictions).

I'm currently enrolled in Villanova's online RN-BSN program and I'm just finishing up my first class. I really like how this class was run and I hope this is how the rest are run. It's a new program so they are very invested in being connected with the students and making sure everything is running smoothly.

Thanks for posting this, I am having my husband look into adding it to our homeowner's as well.

If I were you, I'd go right for your BSN. This will set you up for many more educational opportunities in your future and most employers these days are starting to only hire BSN nurses. I know it's tempting to do a shorter program so you can start working sooner, but you have your whole life ahead of you and your future goals may include going for an advanced degree. Best of luck to you, you are very smart to be doing your research before jumping in!

We have an au pair who lives with us. For us it ends up being less expensive then daycare or other options for 2 kids, plus with our crazy hours it's been priceless for the flexibility alone. If you have an extra room in your house it's worth looking into!

I graduated Sept. 17 (2010) in NY and took the NCLEX around Oct. 1 I think?? So it was pretty quick for me but I have a feeling this time of year is very busy with all the traditional school grads waiting on the NCLEX too. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm trying to find programs that will accept non-BSN degrees and then I will start making some calls. My BS is from Stony Brook so I will start there (they will accept non-BSN into the MSN-ANP), but it's extremely competitive so I was hoping to have a few other options. I'm excited to get started, but so nervous about getting into school!!

Oops! I'm an RN with an ADN from Excelsior, but I have a previous BS in respiratory... sorry for the confusion!

Hoping to get some outside opinions. I'm an Excelsior grad with a bachelor's in respiratory care (was an RT for 8 years before switching). I hope to get my ANP or FNP eventually and the online route will be the best option for me as the closest university is 1.5 hours away. I have found some direct entry NP programs, but I'm worried that not having my BSN won't make me a strong candidate and I'd really like to go to a good NP school. I spoke with a rep from one of the BSN schools I was looking at and she made the point that the "bridge" programs charge you graduate school prices for the bridge and you don't actually get the BSN at most of them. Of course she was selling me on the BSN program so I just don't know!!

As an RN who was an RT first... I don't think either has more autonomy in the hospital setting. Both have to take orders, do exactly what the MD wants and what the protocols dictate. However, if you're looking for more job opportunities and possibility for autonomy as an advanced practitioner, you will find that in nursing.

Is there anyone who has experience with this program? I've been looking into it and I think it will be perfect for me, just curious about the clinical component and how hard that is to set up. I'm sure I could find a preceptor at work as long as my hospital gets approved by the program. Also, I have my BS in respiratory plus lots of other credits so I'm hoping to get some upper level electives waived- is this easy to do? I'm going to start requesting my transcripts and hopefully will be able to start in the second spring session or summer session.

I did not need any pre-req's. I enrolled in August, took CPNE in June and my granduation date was September, so just about a year. I could have taken the CPNE sooner (there was a cancellation for early May) but I didn't feel ready. When I enrolled they had an "all-inclusive" type package so I had incentive to get everything done within the first year. I don't think they offer anything like that anymore.

Well I was an RT first and then got my RN through Excelsior so I have seen both sides! I left respiratory because my options where I live are very limited. As an RT I can really only work in the local community hospital (which is a 35 min drive, the next hospital is 1+ hour away and the teaching hospital/medical center is 1.5 hours away). I had worked there 8 years and wanted some more flexibility and job options because I have 2 young children. So I got my RN and I'm finishing up my new grad orientation now. I have to say I MISS respiratory a lot, but I really do love the interaction I get with having my own patients. What I miss is the ability to move from place to place in the hospital and the adrenaline rushes from the codes and stuff in the ER/ICU. Nursing is hard work, a thousand times harder then respiratory ever was for me. But I have learned so much in the 6 months of orientation. You can put all the pieces of the puzzle together instead of just focusing on one aspect of the patient. I'm excited about my future, about my options for advancement beyond staff RN (not many options like that as an RT). I love that I was able to do both and I hope I can still do some time as an RT to keep my license current. If you have any other specific questions please don't hesitate to ask :-)

steph- thanks so much!!! I asked about them paying for the course and she said I would have to put the money up front but I *might* get reimbursed. Another ICU nurse overheard the conversation and laughed and said- yeah maybe in a year and you have to keep harassing them. Awesome. I'm leaning towards walking away too, but DH thinks I would have wasted my time getting a degree if I don't do this. But like you said, there will be other opportunities down the road...

OK a little background- I've been a respiratory therapist for almost 7 years, worked in my current hospital for 6 years and was at a large university hospital for a year (plus a few years as per diem). Got my RN in October after graduating from Excelsior. The ICU nurse manager had approached me in the past about starting in the ICU after graduation. So last month I called her and she never called me back. Almost 2 weeks later I saw her in the hospital and she said "oh I got your message, you need to take the critical care course" and gave me the info. I asked her at that point if there was a job opening (as the hospital is pretty much on a hiring freeze) and she said she was putting in for 2 new PT positions. I signed up for the courses but it's going to run me almost $1k to take them, plus I'll probably have to take an unpaid leave from my current position as the class is 3 weeks long. I haven't said anything about this to my current boss since I haven't been offered a position yet, but I really don't know what to do. I've seen this manager a few times since giving her a letter of interest but she hasn't mentioned anything about the job. I plan on calling her this week to find out what is going on, but if she can't give me a firm answer should I still take the class? The other side of this is that the ICU there is rough. It seems like they are always short-staffed, no ward clerk, and an aide from 7-3 some days, but not everyday. They recently brought in residents and now it's like no one knows what is going on. It's not going to be a nice work environment, but my thought is that I need the experience so I would suck it up for 2 years and just do it. However, I am happy in my current position as an RT. I only work 1 shift a week and I have a 2 year old so for me its the perfect set-up since I don't have to find childcare and he isn't in school yet. I'm just afraid if I pass up this opportunity I'll regret it. Sorry for rambling on, I've been so stressed out about this and not having a firm answer from the nurse manager is making it worse. If you made it this far, thanks!!

I just submitted my application to the local non-profit hospice after seeing an ad in the paper. I just graduated in September so I'm a "new grad" but I have 6 years under my belt as a respiratory therapist where I work in all areas of the hospital and I'm usually working alone. The ad in the paper said 1 year acute care required and I'm hoping my experience will be sufficient even though I'm lacking some basic nursing skills. Just curious what everyone's thoughts are. I have been approached by the ICU nurse manager who offered me a job, but I have really been turned off by how all they want to do in there is keep people alive as long as possible with no regard to the patients wishes or prognosis. This has led me to see how amazing hospice is and I truly feel I have a "calling" as many of you have had as well. I really hope to at least get an interview!! After graduating I knew I didn't want to work in the hospital (I still work there as an RT) so I've been really disappointed that I got my RN for nothing. When I saw this job posting it just felt like I had this whole new world open up for me and it all seemed to make sense :)

Well it worked for me!! Got the good pop-up on Friday and today quick results say PASS!! WOOOHOOOOO!

The best thing to do is to ask your CE. I counted everything on the tray (she provided me with these tiny med cups I had to use, it was annoying but it worked). Then the pt had poured some of the milk in the cereal but never ate it so I asked the CE what she wanted me to do about it. She said not to worry about it. For all my pts (none were on any kind of fluid restriction) I brought in a full cup of water when I started so I knew how much I was starting with. That made life much easier. And two out of three of my patients didn't drink anything (well the third guy did but only the small med cup to swallow pills). I got worked up about this too, but it's really not so bad. Take a deep breath and you got it. Stick to your grid and know your AOC's!!!