koster22

Thank you for your input, everyone! While I get that not liking critical care doesn't disqualify me from becoming and NP, I have been discouraged from seeking an advanced nursing degree, even if it's not in acute care. A lot of the nurses I worked with in ICU truly believed that anything outside of critical care isn't real nursing and won't prepare me for adequately for advanced practice and I think some part of me still believes that idea. I think I was just wanting to hear from other nurses who are interested in staying in and thriving in primary care. I definitely need to shadow some primary care NPs! Thank you all again!

I have been a BSN RN for about a year and a half. I took a job in pediatric CVICU right out of school. After staying for almost a year, I left because I was completely miserable. I am very detail oriented, and though adult ICU intimidated me in school, I was a good student. I truly was open and ready to learn and dive completely into pediatric critical care. The feeling of knowing I had done everything "right" all day long, only to lose a patient despite my efforts was just something I just could never compartmentalize. I would go home and agonize over every decision, praying I would not have a patient as critical the next day. Despite encouragement and support from peers and a director who constantly told me she felt like I was meant to be an ICU nurse, my constant anxiety told me it wasn't right. I left and started working in a Well Baby Nursery and really love it. You could say it is "mindless" compared to the tasks I had to perform and knowledge I was required to maintain in ICU, but I love the babies and I love educating parents. It is an area where a LOT of education is needed, especially among new parents and I feel like I am good at it. While boring at times, I really feel like I am the kind nurse I always wanted to be working with "well" patients. I am caring, kind, and feel valuable. However, I always imagined myself in a pediatric primary care setting and lately find myself dreaming of going back to school for FNP or PNP. I knew leaving critical care meant that I would also be leaving behind an orificenal of skills and knowledge that would not maintain itself in a less acute setting. I would love the advice of the NPs who work in the primary care/clinic setting. Did you work in critical care and love it before going to school for NP? Are there any NPs out there that hated critical care and flourished in NP school? Thank you!

Do all of you mean to tell me you have never taken a pain pill that was in your family's medicine cabinet if you were in severe pain? I would never ever advise doing this on the regular, but come on.

This might be a silly questions, but what is everyone wearing to orientation? We have been instructed to "dress comfortably." So anyone have an idea of what they will be wearing yet? Thanks :)

I think they can have a little gray or silver in them as long as they are mostly white. The Reebok Easytones I got have a little bit of gray. You're so right , though-- even though it's barely noticeable it does make a huge difference in the cuteness of the shoe!

I'm excited too. I will be going shopping soon as well. Finally have the $ saved up to get the necessities. @hayleyh31- what white shoes are you getting? I actually found some white tennis shoes that are cute, comfy, and do NOT look like a geriatric shoe. The Reebok Easytone Reenew Toner! On sale on Endless.com:yeah:

Private message me Ravenshelly and I will scan in and email you the sheet with everything on it.

@Ravenshelly: I believe they told us at the pre-orientation that we can wear whatever we like on lecture only days. We are to wear scrubs anytime we have a lab or clinicals and professional dress will just be for days we are specially told about for when we are touring or rounding at a hospital. I would verify that with someone more knowledgeable than myself, but that was how I understood it.

@kwhitworth-- Thanks for the info. I'm really excited and it's nice to find out that the TBA classes are just for practice and not a required attendance. Goodluck and thanks again! p.s.- How are you liking the program? I am married with no kids, just wondering if I will have a life. Some say yes, others say no. Thanks :)

Thanks to all the current Loewenberg students for posting! We need all the advice we can get. @TenderLoveNcare: I have heard of identity factor for scrubs. Do they monogram the scrubs the way Landau does? I am looking to save $ wherever I can since we have so much to pay for. Thanks!

Anyone gotten their scrubs and/or supplies for the Fall yet? How many pair of scrubs is everyone starting off with. I think I will start with two initially. Hope everyone's Summer is going great!

Thanks, guys! I really appreciate everyone's help. Just to be sure, I'm not the only one who has "TBA" out beside both of my lab classes for the semester, right? I have one assigned time for each of them, and then TBA to indicate another meeting time during the week.

Nevermind, I figured out the permits and registered. Anyone else with their clinicals on Thursday? The only thing I'm wondering about is where it says TBA on our schedules. I'm sure they went over this in the preorientation but I can't remember what it means as far as when we will find out when we have class during that time. Anyone know when the TBA times will be made known to us?

quick question--- I turned in my health packet on Friday. Assuming the permits will be posted for me to register tomorrow, where will they be on the website? Will they by on the page that I click on to do a class search? Sorry I am just wondering if I will be able to find them easily after I click "add/drop class" Thanks!

I'm excited to meet everyone. Hopefully some of us from allnurses will connect with each other today. My name is Kristen Oster and I will be in a white blouse and jeans, I'm sure that narrows it down, Haha -- I will also be looking very overwhelmed! See everyone there!