Misskala

I agree with HouTx. The work you history you posted shows 1-year stints on several different units. I would suggest staying on a unit for longer, like 2-4 years, and develop from there a track history of leadership-type activities and involvements. IE Sticking with one committee over 2-3 years on the unit will teach you a lot about the purpose of the committee, and give you a chance to see outcomes of any interventions you implemented. Likewise, the longer you stay on a unit, the more you master within that one specialty area, and can function as a resource for the rest of the hospital/organization. Looking for opportunities to "be more" to your immediate surroundings is always a recipe for growth, like HouTx suggested, these are great leadership tasks to learn and master. Best wishes!

I received an email stating that as long as materials are uploaded by 5/15 the application would be considered. OK, I won't hijack discussion any longer. :-) Good luck to those who are starting, and I am eager to hear more deets about the program.

I'm emailing the university now to see if we can submit materials through nursingCAS and have it meet the 5/15 deadline. Will get back.

trimom3- thank you for the feedback. Wow, sounds really aggravating. First, I didn't know schools were requiring the use of this; I thought nursingCAS was more like a clearinghouse search engine. Secondly, makes me nervous for the online program itself that it may have similarly low oversight.

Did you submit your application through nursingCAS? I just found out about the website and am curious.

Thank you for mentioning this website. I have to look for an online program bc my local doesn't offer the track I want (adult-gero primary). I'm curious how this website works; it's mind boggling how many programs there are!

IsabelK, you're amazing! I would love to work with you! *subacute rehab unit RN, applying to AGPCM-NP schools. Mad love to you! *I have to say, the NP I work with is the MAIN reason I am still at my job bc she allows me to think through labs before I report to her, and will ask me my opinion on treatment plans bc she wants me to critically think though situations. Thanks for posting your thoughts on preceptorships. Something a NP student should know so to get the most out of the educational experience. And thank you all for precepting RNs, we need training.

Hello! Posting to hear more info on the school. I emailed them today regarding their AGPC-NP program. :-)

HI! I ended up going with WGU, but considered Univ. of Louisiana too---I really liked that school a lot! Tech friendly! Like Medic2RN, I had a previous BA so at WGU I just needed BSN courses. Did it in 6 months, including practicum, and cost $3200.

Any feedback on SLU programs? I was looking at the Adult-Gero Primary Care NP and am curious about the caliber/quality/repuatation of the school. TX! KT

Yes, this is what happens at the skilled care facility and sub-acute rehab unit I work in. The NP and MD do the initial admission together, then the NP does follow-up rounds and progress notes. We only have Medicare beds on the rehab unit however, but both sides are admitted with with both the NP and MD. HTH!

[emoji106]sauce

I'm interested in hearing people's feedback on doing the FNP program wholly online. I'm looking at both formats right now. The advantage of this one online program I am considering, is that it is well paced and completes in 2 years (I'm looking at Olivet Nazarene in IL.) The biggest hesitation I have currently is missing out on simulation labs. I guess more bonding with cohorts, and during group projects might happen greatly as well in a blended program, and be a benefit for learning. I'm not convinced instruction is necessarily "better" or "more" in a face-to-face classroom environment. So I am OK with instruction being online. I completed my BSN through an accelerated online BSN completion program and did that in 6 months including practicum (but I held a previous bachelors which helped get general study classes out of the way.) So I feel like I could handle a well paced online environment. Anyway, since this IS a masters and it IS for becoming a Nurse Practitioner.....I just want to make the best choice, and get the MOST out of learning and practice. Thanks everyone for chiming in! Really looking forward to hearing your stories, the pluses and minuses, the things to look for,the pitfalls, the glory, etc. Really excited to take these next steps with other nursing professionals! Cheers! PS- planning on getting the MSN and then doing a DNP post degree.

iluvgusgus--thank you! I just started orientation on neuro stepdown unit and all of what you recommended I have seen come into play. Espec. assessments! I got 1:1 training on neuro assessmt with the NP and am focusing on GCS, NIH, LOC 1st. OP, hope your preceptorship is going well!

I found it really depended on acuity. My pt load fluctuated from 8-12. Seems low. It got difficult when I had pts on TPN, IV ABX, and multiple dressing changes. I also did most of my own vitals so if I had any Q4 (which in retrospect makes me wonder why they were on sub-acute if I were to do Q4 vital checks) that would also throw things off with the crazy med pass schedule our NP would set up. Add dressing changes, and the dressings that would fall off so the RN would have to redress, or the nail clipping or the oral care, etc. -- your time got eaten up. I did not find the skilled care to be hard, just most of my work was CNA level care to about 11 pts on top of med passes and RN administrative work of med reconciliations, POEs, admits and d/c. I just left the facility to return to a hospital unit.

Online job applications also have areas for work history where you give summary of job duties/responsibilities. I go into lots of details in this section and list as much as I can. But for my resume we have to keep it short and I struggle with what include. So are the job application software scanning keywords in your resume that you uploaded or in the job application itself? Thanks

Hey everyone, I'm bumping this thread! I'm about to re-take a test that I failed 6 months ago, so I have been sitting out applying to them for these past 6 months. I hope I pass this time :) Any more advice? I think I failed it last time because I used the back button and changed some answers?

I enrolled in ULL and then switched to WGU. I love WGU. So I glad I did it. Go at your own pace, I'm accelerating through classes that require a final exam-I just go to the final exam and take it if I know the material already. The online environment is five star-so easy to navigate, and the staff accessible and friendly and encouraging. Love WGU. I plan to go on for MSN too but not WGU as I want clinical.

Agree. This is interesting to really think about. I have med-surg experience on a medical oncology unit and am currently in a subacute rehab unit. I don't think my work style or interest is a real match for the rehab unit, and I struggle with 12 patients and getting all the meds/ treatments/ doctor orders/ and charting done on time. I run my butt off and long for the acute hospital floor with "just" 4-5 patients and really focusing on their care. But you know in all honesty, 4 acute patients was really really stressful and I don't experience the same kind of "stress" in subacute with 12 pts. 12 pt load is stressful because you are non-stop busy but I don't get that sinking stomach feeling that I might kill someone if I forgot something as I used to daily on the med-surg floor. I don't know the med-surg floor I worked on also was very cut-throat in terms of personalities, I feared my manager, and the night shift nurses were a team who loved to pick on the day shift and always wanted to find their mistakes and report them. So yea, I think both are stressful and it is not determined by the number of pts.

Yes, this is absolutely happening in my town. Tons of travellers. And the addition of float pools being created so to use them "as need."

My friend was taking critical care nursing competency tests online in the military and one of the field surgeons was looking over his shoulder and couldn't answer any of them. kinda funny.

That's pretty funny! We might as well expose the sham to the general public. I'm working on my BSN too :-P

wow, that was an amazing story about your test. I think I would have crumbled during it as it seemed so long, and I am shocked to hear that an entire County requires RNs to pass the test in order to apply to ANY job !?! Your explanation on how the test grades based on consistency really helped me understand them a bit more. No, I wasn't allowed to see my answers, and yes, I did go over, and over my responses. I talked to one recruiter and she said to not rush through it but read it carefully for what it was asking. So I took my time. She also said to try to see it from a patient's perspective, but this really didn't work for me because some of the questions were so weird.

I wish I knew the answers they wanted-lol! I think I am too honest and humble or something. I hear your point of not working for a company that seems so impersonal, however, many hospitals are using these tools. :-/

Yes it was. I have been crying my eyes out trying to understand how my personal character could disqualify from direct pt care. I'm a good person and a great nurse and get high marks for customer service and working with peers. It really feels like this is rigged.