Spacklehead

Spacklehead MSN, NP

Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care

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All Content by Spacklehead

  1. I don't get why you have to become a RN first ?

    Spacklehead replied to xInspiredx's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    My personal experience with my traditional NP program (meaning they took RN's who already worked at least a year) was that the NP program built upon foundations already learned/developed through the...

  2. Which certification, AANP or ANCC

    Spacklehead replied to linearthinker's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    They are supposed to be on par with each other; but I have seen jobs advertise for ANCC cert only. I assume they probably just aren't aware that the other cert exists and is accepted by the state BON...

  3. No raise for us

    Spacklehead replied to bjaeram's topic in General Nursing

    I wonder if your hospital administrators are going without a raise, also? If not, that would be what I would be most angry

  4. Selecting Fitzgerald studying guide

    Spacklehead replied to labbio's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I'm going to be honest here, so I'm sorry if this comes across as blunt - it's not meant to be that way. I don't know why so many people spend so much money on the CDs, review courses, etc.,...

  5. Boards scheduled...scared out of my mind

    Spacklehead replied to Frogger511's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I didn't take the AANP, but studying would probably be the same as it was for the ANCC. I just set aside 2-4 hours per day for a month before my exam and kept reading through the material. I used...

  6. Overwhelmed! Need words of encouragement.

    Spacklehead replied to Le-Lee_FNP's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Personally, I think 4 courses at the graduate level is a little much - I wouldn't attempt more than 3 (I think 9 credits is considered FT in grad studies, isn't it?). I am also quite surprised that...

  7. worried about my schooling

    Spacklehead replied to NP_student's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Are you sure you can graduate in 6 years and then apply to sit for the NP exam? I know my program required you to be done within 5 years, and some states want you to have completed your pharm class...

  8. Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant

    Spacklehead replied to Fourfecta's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I believe that the type of nursing experience can absolutely make a difference in helping one become an NP. I was an ED nurse for several years before going back to NP school and hell yeah, it helped...

  9. Best floor to work on for an aspiring Nurse Practitioner

    Spacklehead replied to aliciaj456's topic in General Nursing

    I agree, it all depends on what type of NP you want to be. I am a FNP and worked in the ED for close to 10 years as a RN. It provided me with the perfect background because a lot of the cases you...

  10. Nursing assessment for pt with possible Pulmonary Embolism

    Spacklehead replied to ghurricane's topic in General Nursing

    If it hasn't been mentioned already, cardiac enzymes (CPK, CK-MB, Troponin I) should also be run; plus, CMP, CBC, PT/ptt - since pt. will probably wind up on heparin at some

  11. If you could rewind and do it over again...

    Spacklehead replied to NurseBanana's topic in General Nursing

    Because honestly (speaking from my schooling experience), I feel that NP programs tend to teach the role with the mindset that the NP student already has a few years of clinical experience under their...

  12. If you could rewind and do it over again...

    Spacklehead replied to NurseBanana's topic in General Nursing

    As long as one has been a bedside RN in an acute care facility for more than a couple of years, I can not think of any reason going the PA route would be more enticing than becoming a NP. The only...

  13. Any NPs ever been paid this way?

    Spacklehead replied to linearthinker's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    He does sound like a fascinating doc - it's a shame his rep isn't good. I would actually prefer a doc like him to treat me - research has found that buckwheat honey has been found to be as good, if...

  14. Any NPs ever been paid this way?

    Spacklehead replied to linearthinker's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Thanks, David - I do realize that. Some people might forget that,

  15. Any NPs ever been paid this way?

    Spacklehead replied to linearthinker's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Yep, that whole set-up sounds a little odd. Also, even though you state you might not need the benefits now, you have to remember that social security won't be taken out, either, which may affect you...

  16. Frontier FNP program

    Spacklehead replied to NVM's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Wow, really? A reason not to attend a particular NP program is because they require MORE clinical hours? That's a pretty poor attitude to have - plus 695 hrs is a lot less than what my program...

  17. FNP School Choices

    Spacklehead replied to caitiecait's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Personally speaking, I would rather go to a school where the NP faculty are actually out in the field practicing as NP's, not just adding more publications to their CV. You can learn a LOT more from...

  18. Working as a bedside RN after getting NP....

    Spacklehead replied to WoosahRN's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    If you are not sure if you would like to work as an NP yet and you would prefer to work as an RN for a while, then I would honestly hold off on going back to school until you are ready to make that...

  19. Professional Advices Needed. ED or Med/Surg experience for FNP employment

    Spacklehead replied to gerry79's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I highly recommend staying in the ED. As an ED nurse, you see a lot of similar cases you would see in a family practice office, or many cases that are referred from the FP office for more extensive...

  20. What "weight" did your graduate school carry in the job...

    Spacklehead replied to smkiya's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Honestly, the two different facilites which made me job offers were more interested and impressed with my previous years of ED nursing experience than where I went to school. I know that it was my...

  21. NPs in Derm, Plastics, Medical Esthetics, etc?

    Spacklehead replied to danceluver's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    My classmate and good friend wound up becoming an FNP in the derm setting. He actually knew the doc while he was going through school so he worked there PT as an RN (for about a year) while also...

  22. High contact sports and nursing?

    Spacklehead replied to mochamonster's topic in General Nursing

    Add me to the list of a high contact sport competitor. I am involved in karate and as an earlier poster mentioned, it's full contact. I never even thought twice about it and certainly wouldn't now....

  23. First years as NP...

    Spacklehead replied to NickG's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I apologize, I missed the part where you mentioned that you are already an RN. That's the only reason I mentioned getting ICU experience. Since you have already been an ED RN for a few years, you...

  24. First years as NP...

    Spacklehead replied to NickG's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Advice from a newer NP (and probably a suggestion you don't want to hear) - try to gain some experience first as an ICU RN before jumping into the ACNP program. It would only benefit your practice...

  25. FNP vs PA

    Spacklehead replied to nursing6207's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Ah, but we