TMnurse

Hey, I work in Illinois... I have heard the same thing--and from the same person I always hear "and the american medical association is downtown and they don't want NP to have jobs...". Bottomline: the major hospitals in the area NORTHWESTERN-RUSH-UIC-Univ of Chicago--ADVOCATE all have NPs working there and are looking to hire. Univ of chicago went from a handful of NPs 3-4 years ago to now close to 200 in the system. All the other hosptials either themselves have APN programs in their own nursing program OR will pay 100% for you to go on an become an NP. I guess if you talk to some nurse in suburban area where there might already be too many docs to go around... sure there might not be a lot of NP jobs. However, I am enrolled in a NP program at a school in chicago. The univeristy i go to is constantly posting NP jobs either in the city or around the country. Also, the NP in Illinois can: get a medicare/caid bill code--do have perscriptive power--could (and some have) open up an independent practice--. Sure, there seem to be other states that have a little better/liberal practice (California/Penn) but I think Illinois is not that bad of a place to be an NP. I work with several--they have a nice practice and all highly recommend pursuing the advance training if that was my interest.. it was..hence..I am plugging away. Best of luck. PS one thing I have learned quickly about advanced nursing training in any regard (CNS-CRNA-NP-MW-MSN-PHD) you need to actively seek out persons using that respective credential and "pick their brain" about the career path and future. Hear say is a very just that.. hear say.

This orginal post is well said with some nice thought. I liked the call for more professional recognition. I am currently enrolled in an NP program. I must say that the first instinct it compare ourselves (APNs) with other professional health providers. However, I have finished some courses on health care systems in the US and the bottomline is--your wasting your time/energy bothering with trying to compare APNs with other health care providers. THE BOTTOMLINE is that right now... now... we have huge gaps of care where we need health care providers (all types). The boomers-immigration-- natural population increases coupled with the fact that there are already shortages of all allied health providers--means there is plenty to keep all of us busy. If chiropractors think they are "healers", let them. Take a look at our legislation and the Bills that congress is working on. If one thing has been forseen by our government is that we are apporaching a crisis (several actually)... for instance-if you agree to work in a rural setting for a year--the feds WILL pay 100% of your schooling to become an APN. Why? Medicine is no longer pumping out enough primary care providers and/or nobody wants to become one-does not pay in comparision to specializing. I can only speak for what I have been learning mostly studying bills slated to be ratified and/or moving through Congress but WITHOUT A DOUBT (in the eyes of Congress) APNs are a well recognized - needed/professional/valuable heath care providers. Sure we still have a ways to go with salary and making sure we get paid for what we do.... and that I think should be our focus. Again, I think that's where our energy should be.... let the others worry about themselves (PA/chiro/homeo). The arguement pops up every few months and goes on and on without any resolve. Why? There really is no answer. Both PA and NP are needed today.. and will be in the years to come. Both need to make sure that they are lobbying to make sure the keep their scope of practice. What we should all be worried about are things like malpractice insurance & socialize care. Best of luck to all.

If you look at the stats (you can find them online in various sites) I think AORN publishes something every year, basically everything you guys have mentioned is more than acceptable. Betadine is tried and true (as we all know it works when drying and many nurse and docs wipe it of while its still really wet). All these new prep solutions on the market are USUALLY slightly better then betadine--I think most consider it the "gold standard". They really try to sell you on being more effective or easier to use since you don't have to wait for it to dry at all. I prefer hibiclens cut with just a little 70% alcohol (to add te quick kill). One big bottomline for some people (management) is cost. I have read that betadine is something like half the cost per some square (?) area of skin to prep than hibiclens.... the some comparision had to admit that it was basically 30 cents per some square area vs. 60 cents to prep with hibiclens. We mostly like hibiclens because we've gad a few (very few) betadine burns from a little puddle that was allowed to pool on the sides of the patient. Also, I like hibiclen because 1. it cleans up easier--basically we do nothing at the end of the case Hence (#2) it provides continued protection around the wound in the immediate post-op period. That's it... best of luck!

Hey gang... this story is absolutely true. It happened at a hospital not far from where I work... sorry Cadillac05. In fact, we have been discussing thie for over a week now. It was a cell phone camera. The occurence happened at a very, very busy and big OR. No excuses here for anyone, I could see (as I also work at a very big/busy OR) how this might go unnoticed. You have to keep in mind that nowdays we have doc/nurses/staff in general who have a cell phone in their back scrub pocket--why? I do not know... often I'll see people checking to see if it's off or if there's a message. I guess it would be all that hard to do... if this guy maybe took the phots from holding while holding the camera as if he ws turning it off. Actually as I type this I really don't know how staff wouldn't have noticed. I guess this guy got caught while trying to take up the skirt photos as a BestBuy. Security there held him. I guess he was able to delete lots of the photos before the police arrived and put grabbed the phone. I guess he had most of the photos on his PC. Crazy!

Dude, you've been on the forum for years now. I actually remember seeing you post before you got into a school. Actually, I almost didn't go to NP school after I saw that you were leaving NPhood to gas people. I respect your choice... I worked in the OR for years and know that I'd be doing it only for the money. I am now in an NP program and enjoying it so far... good luck with your CRNA thing. To answer your question--from what I know-- (at least in michigan) credits earned in school do count for required CEs for your prefession. I'm guessing that you'd have no trouble logging the CEs.. but I would check to make sure Cali has the same program--I am surprised it's not spelled out on the state web site. good luck!

I believe a key component in finding work as an NP is that you have to be smart about employment. Finding work as an RN is not almost ridiculous.... think about--if you have an RN you can probably have/get/find a job without even an interview. I think too many NPs (RNs of course) finish school and step out into the working world and say "here I am! find me... dude, where's my job?.... it's been over 15 minutes.." You can/will be able to get a job... BUT you have to smart about it. Not all the time--but a smart NP student will start pairing up with a doc/clinic/hospital service BEFORE they finish school. What nurses currently have with the job market is almost too good to be true. I work at a major hospital/univ that needs NPs bad. However, they don't hire NPs like they hire RNs (anybody with an RN off the street) They like the NP to have at least shown some clincal interest in the area they want to work... or have had worked in that area as an RN. A friend is about to complete her MBA... for the last year she has been taking on projects that wither put her inline with companies that she wants to work for... or focused her studies with things practical to the area she wants to work. She has made herself and excellent candidate for where she wants to work. I have heard the stories of too many NPs who don't have work---they did an online program or something---did clinicals at a womens health center--worked in the ER as an RN.. but now want a dream job in a GI clinic AND no one wants to hire them??>!! NO S****. If you want a job working in an office setting---do clinicals in an office setting---work as an RN there---join the professional affiliations of your career interest.... yada yada... the jobs are there---but be realistic--be smart

2 things- My hospital recently had a strike vote which we ratified... what happens next is everyone goes back to the table to see if you can work it out. Our hospital gave us nearly everything we wanted. It was great and many of us feared the strike... however, if we said yes to our first contract we'd actually be making less than before. 2nd-the person just ahead of me saying that all "non nursing unions" are for lazy people is simply foolish. I really don't even want to lay down any points as to why... but the first striking point is this statement is made be a person who was happy a union fought for there better wages (hypocritical)!!! Oh well, I guess if you are in the union (only nurses union mind you) then it's a good thing... but if your not then you lazy. I am originally from Detroit where the UAW is very strong. Don't let corporate media posion your mind that union people are lazy. You can find plenty of lazy people everywhere (non union). Let's think about what the upper end of company execs make 10s of millions in the auto industry we are not just talking about 1 or 2 dudes. There are 100s of "suits" making ridiculous amounts (and that's fine with me). However, the unions collectively bargin for a fair wage (for the working Americans) and unions ask what they KNOW companies CAN afford. Bottomline... without unions--- anybody who is not either a federal employee or part of management would probably make about half what they do right now. Be thankful for the union-- think about--my hospital is union-- this year we raised the bar for what nurses should get paid in Chicago-- now even the nonunion hospitals have to follow suit or they will lose people. Think about again.

Chicago is booming with NP jobs... again I agree with someone who said it also depends on what you want to be. The adult/family/acute care NPs are snapped up with plenty of options for jobs.. However, there are 2 Womens Health NPs who I know that don't have work. One had two opps at a OB/GYN office but she didn't like the hours (start late but also finish late). I am excited for the future of NPs as are the MDs I work with!!! It is a win win win for us/doc/patients. I think chicago like LA and NYC kinda of set the stage and most cities will follow in the years to come... now suburban areas might be different.

Take a better look at the information from the schools your looking at and also make some calls. Typically, the graduate schools (at least in Michigan or Illinois) offer a MSN designed to prepare advanced practice nurses (MSNs) to assume a role as either an administrator, nurse practitionier, or clinical nurse specialist. For each focus there are more specific tracks (i.e. NP=adult/peds/family) For most of the schools that I have seen, the generic MSN title (those not wanting to be an NP or CNS) are more towards management/administration. In fact, schools often offer a MSN/MBS (master in business) to have you playing with all the cards once out in the real world. Good Luck!

Sounds like everyone gave you great advice. My only thought was... Can you get a few classes under your belt before you decide? When I was getting my BSN I was PSY all the way... until I did a rotation. Perhaps, your program needs you to sign off on one track or the otherif not "take it as it comes". Good Luck!

At the University of Chicago Hospitals there are 2 NPs that work in Neuro. They both work directly with a different Neuro surgeon... not neurologist. I am sure if you contacted them they'd be happy to talk. They both work in surgery sometimes. Call the U of Chicago and ask for Neruo surgery and go from there. Neither is an ACNP... one only does peds (I think she is a PNP) the other is an Adult NP. Hope that helps.

The bottomline is EP71 is neither a NP/OD/MD/DO/RN/PC/PA. Sorry ep71. You make some valid points but I think first and foremost you have very little exp seeing any type of patient(s). For what I can tell, you have done your research and know ON PAPER what each professin does. I am guessing you are looking for the right profession. I hope that last few posts haven't turn you off from becoming an NP. The fact is all the above profession seek more autonomy and security in their respective field (MDs included). If you don't cont. to lobby for yourself (as a profession) no one will. NPs see a huge range of patients... and just occasionaly step on the toes of others (sometimes). I find it odd that any time some writes about NPs expanding the scope of practice somebody really gets offended. However, the range of where NPs practice and the care they perform will only expand as our health care system change. Neither you nor I can change that. Soooo if you really want to do eye examines all day maybe becoming an OD is your thing. If you want a cool job become an MD/DO/PA/NP Good Luck.

Hey, You've been a CCU RN for 9 years. Don't be so worried... I think you can easily manage the care of healthy students. I have been an RN for only 4 years but I have worked in sales where you had to do plenty of interviewing! Try to keep in mind that you are not going to know every question they are going to ask. However, your background will certainly be able to provide quality answers. I think it's also important to keep in mind that they only gave you an interview after having seen your resume... so if they thought your background wasn't any good... you wouldn't have even gotten this far. Good luck but I'm guessing you won't need it.

On a second side note, someone mentioned that PAs make on the average $5000.00 more per year that NPs. I have some thoughts on that. 1st if $5000 a year is going to be the deciding factor of becoming an NP or PA you should reconsider your motivations. Take a better look at how each provides care. You MUST also consider that NPs have a larger scope of where they practice (some of which are very specific NNP/WHNP/PNP. Some make more and some make less. There are pediatric NPs who usually make considerably less than most NPs (as we know pediatric MDs are the lowest on the salary for MDs hence PNPs can make less-sometimes). There are also NPs who split time and still work as an RN. Hence, their reported salary might weaken the national averages. In my opinion, the closest real comparison would be between PAs and either Adult or Family NPs. I have never seen that comparison. You cannot clump all NPs into a salary bracket. There are many factors to consider. 2nd someone also mentioned that PAs need to sit for boards every 6 years (which I was unaware of). keep in mind that NPs may not sit for boards every 6 but you do have to keep up with CE credits for being a Advance nurse & your specialization & your RN CEs & as well as license requirements for independent perscriptive authority (just a quick plug for NPs). Good Luck to all! Oh, I am jealous of the surgical rotation some PA programs have.... but I am an RN so becoming a NP is the best choice for me! Again, Good luck to all!

Here's a few things everyone should keep in mind. The trends in health care show that providers like NPs and PAs are needed. Likely, the market will grow significantly for both. There are pros and cons to both. Universities are adding PA and NP programs.... it is a job market that IS growing. The bottomline is if your are a nurse it is more logical to become a NP (for most). If you are you want to be a healthcare provider and are currently not a nurse (and want to make more than a unit secretary and do cool stuff), a PA is a nice option. From what I know, the only professional organizations that oppose expansion of practice for NPs and PAs are Family Practice Groups (MDs). Good Luck to ALL in finding the niche and $$$$

Sorry it's Interstim and although your Diagnosis is IC as your know it presents as Urgency/Frequency... hence, we do implant IC patients with Interstim. Best of luck!

Sorry to hear about your combo of both IC and IBS. Just a qucik FYI (and I maybe telling you something you already know here). Currently, there is essentially a "cure" for IC using Medtronics "Interstem implant". I am an OR nurse and we put them in often for patients with IC. I am aware that the patients do awesome! On a side note, I had heard that patients who had IC and were implanted with the device had been cured of their IBS. Hence, I believe Medtronic is trialing the device in IBS patients also. They have been putting in the device to treat IC for at least 4 or 5 years. Perhaps, you might want to investigate. If you urologists hasn't explained this option it is likely that he doesn't implant them. Don't be fooled that this is some untested treatment. I have spoken with the PA that works with the implanted patients and she affirmed that she doesn't have happier patients that thos who got the implant. Check it out... Medtronic Interstem. Maybe you might even be able to get both problems with one stone. Good Luck

Yeah, Strange enough I am back in direct nursing. I found a major hospital in Chicago that will pay for my going back to school. I certainly haven't lost the entrepreneural spirirt. I have a few things in the works but I am not sure how hard I want to pursue them. I hope to be starting in a Nurse Practitioner program here. Believe me I see a lot of poetential using this degree just as I did using my BSN/RN. I learned the true power of having an RN working directly for a medical sales company. Because you are in that arena (the business aspect of medical) you meet people at meetings/conferences from other companies). I also keep my ear to the ground about a lot of things. It's funny because so many nurses I cross paths with think working for a company means sales and that means bringing donuts and bagels (probably true with drug companies). If you are a nurse, the most viable option is to work for a company as a "Clinical Specialist" . In that, your focus in on implementation of a devices/implants/diagnositcs/treatments. Surgical companies hire them... cardiac cath companies.... companies that sell diagnositic equipment to offices or hospitals. Clinical don't make as much as the actual reps but your really not "selling or knocking on doors" your salary is pretty good avg. 70-80K (with bonus) plus you usally get a car and stock options. Try a search on monster. com. Keep in mind you must do the search under a major city as a CS will cover a large area. When I worked as a clinical I did 1 or 2 over nights a months (max) and most of the time I was home before 1:00 PM. As you were in the business you would hear of new start up companies that were looking for new people all the time. Everything has pro and cons. It's funny because I would work with reps that make 200-300K a year and they'd say "I wish I had an RN" so they could get more hands on with stuff and participate in the actual "doing" of patient care. Good Luck.

I have read several threads here. The funny thing is the "Goverment" doesn't currenly play a big role in organ donation. It is usually private charities that work to make sure that if someone wants to donate THEIR organs they don't go wasted. I work at a major teaching university where we do all types of transfers and our organ program delegate is neither employed by the goverment or the hospital. She is part of an organization funded by people who know the need and waste of organ donation. Oj a side note, it took several years for lobbyist to get a organ donor check thing on your drivers licenses. MOST IMPORTANTLY if you know anything about that it really holds no meaning. It is only something that can be shown to the family as proof that the deceased wants to donate. In fact, many many many families still say "NO" to the donation. Actaully, if you need a organ the goverement would probably be happier if you died. A reciepent will cost health care subsidizing and eventually plenty of Medicare dollars.

Here's a thought... and it is nothing against you. As a student, I am guessing that your exposure to persons losing the battle and needing an organ might be limited (at least for a little longer). More over, you might have more limited exposure to the amount of people who have donor cards or really understand anything about it (and more importantly their families who even after the dead donor checked they want to donate the family can an often say NO!). Once you have more exposure to donation and need I think you might be less likely to believe in the Feds harvesting organ on people who don't pay taxes and more in the fact that everyday people die needlessly. Good Luck in school.

Becoming an FNP or ANP would never "hurt" your options. It might be more than you need to work in an OB/GYN practice. However, a WHNP doesn't have as many options. It MIGHT take longer depending on the program you chose but during the course of your career being an FNP or ANP will allow you options you might not have a WHNP. Good Luck. Also, if becoming a NMW is what you really want than consider it. I guess now and again there might be a 3 AM baby but lets face it that won't be everyday. A midwife in michigan (southeastern) I know just got a job offer of 80K. There are three midwives in the group so every third week she might have a late night baby. However, that leaves three weeks of no call per month... not bad!

I worked at a medium size community hopsital (6 ORs) where we did instruments counts. It was no problem to do a closing count x2 of everything and instruments. I now work at a University/teaching hospital with 4x the number of ORs. More over, it seems that all the cases we do are major stuff (no lap choles) and we open 3-5 trays for nearly everything. We cannot effectively do closing counts. For a while, we tried but the docs are usually closed and ready to move the patient out of the room and we're only on our 2nd or 3rd tray. We have tried but are limited to only large/obese patients to do instruments counts. Does anyone have a second RN scrub in to help do a count while the other scrub nurse helps close? It seems to me that would be the only way we could effectively do closing counts. Any ideas?

LPN might make you less marketable than ADN or BSN. Take a look on the internet for companies looking for a onsite nurse i.e. factory or business also, school nurse or community nurse are other options. Good Luck

In peroria Illinois, I bumped into a Family Nurse Practitioner. She had been working as a FNP at a large urology for sometime but decided to open her own clinic. She also had a strong background in psy. Here's how it worked for her. She was only focused on Female health and would see patients for female sexual function, anxiety, depression. She has a small office and I am guessing she'd be getting many patients from the urology group she previously worked for, word of mouth, advertising. Of course, she could also write scripts for say a chest cold or bladder/yeast infection.... however she was focused more on the psy ascpect. I forget the exact numbers but she could bill medicare at something like 70 or 80 percent of what a regular MD bills out. She was required to have a MD (she was bring in one of her MDs from her previous urology group) who wold come in 1 time per month to review her treatment plans. I guess that protocal is BS since a Urologist probably won't be exactly up to date on female depression but somehow it was what the state required. Anyway, it was really something and proved to me that it could be done. She was very happy and I think well paid at her Urology group but her true passion was the above stated. That's it. Good Luck.

A GI doc mentionrf that contraidication sometime ago to me. I confirmed it with a Nurses Drug Guide 1998. However, I spoke with one of our MDAs today. He mentioned that those concerns have since been ruled out (also not mentioned on Eli Lillys drug info). He did mention that the drug is asssociated with hiccups... as you know hiccups in a sedated patient are a wonderful combination for aspiration hence, it is not a drug of choice.