erilynn17

Thanks so much for the information! I think I'm really more into just caring for the babies, and not really L&D, so I would just rather work in the NICU. It does sound exciting to be around and care for the babies seconds after they are born. I know this seems like its so far away, but I'm just asking the questions as I think of them. But thanks for your advice, and I will just start as a nurse in the NICU and see where I want to go from there. How hard is it to get a job in a NICU fresh out of nursing school?

This might be sort of random, but while working in a NICU I would want the oportunity to help with deliveries every now and then. I definitely don't want to do OB/GYN, but I think it would be kind of cool to deliver babies sometimes. I heard that NNPs sometimes help out w/difficult deliveries or C sections, and I was wondering if this is true, and also if the neo MD's help out at all. If anyone who works in a NICU can answer this, let me know. Thanks!

I know that hospitals usually have tuition reimbursement, but I don't know if they pay for it completely. I work at 2 hospitals right now as a pharmacy tech and one of them only gives you $3000 a year if you work full time and $1500 part time. I couldn't do the SB distance program b/c I don't think I would get as much out of it, or really be able to focus and do it. I would rather actually go to classes. I really like SB undergrad though...they have a great reputation, and even though its kinda tough, it makes me feel better that I'm challenging myself. This really is a tough decision b/w NNP and neonatologists...what are some pros and cons you've thought of? I know that I am going to definitely going to become an RN its just a matter of what to do after that. I have been trying to shadow someone but I can't find a hospital that will let me! They basically say that they don't do that. I haven't contacted SB yet but that would probably be my best choice. Feel free to PM me if you can suggest a hospital that you know would do it.

CapeMaui, I think we are in the same position! I am also in the Long Island area, and want to be a NNP. I know that I couldn't do the distance program at Stony Brook, although I am currently doing undergrad there. Fortunately, I do have the ability to move around a little, but I am looking for anything basically on the east coast. There aren't very many options though! Columbia is rediculously expensive, and is the only other school close by. I am looking into Penn State, UPenn, Duke, and Northeastern. The other program is these schools are very competitive. Does anybody else know of any good programs??? I'm also looking for anyone's opinion on the differences b/w neonatolgist and NNP. I will be finishing nursing school next year and I am considering med school instead of going on to NNP. Any advice?

Im going to be starting nursing school and I was wondering about this too...I have 4 in each ear, 1 in the cartilige in each side, 1 in my tragus, 1 nipple (got it done 2 weeks ago! i think I want another!), 1 navel, and a tattoo...I figured I would probably take out 2 earrings in each ear when I start working though. I love piercings, but I'm running out of places to pierce!!! I work in a hopsital pharmacy now and no one's ever said anything seriously to me, although someone told me the policy is 2 holes per ear only. Oh, and with all my piercings, I'm still freaking out b/c I have to get a PPD test this week and I'm petrified of shots!

Im going to be starting nursing school and I was wondering about this too...I have 4 in each ear, 1 in the cartilige in each side, 1 in my tragus, 1 nipple (got it done 2 weeks ago! i think I want another!), 1 navel, and a tattoo...I figured I would probably take out 2 earrings in each ear when I start working though. I love piercings, but I'm running out of places to pierce!!! I work in a hopsital pharmacy now and no one's ever said anything seriously to me, although someone told me the policy is 2 holes per ear only. Oh, and with all my piercings, I'm still freaking out b/c I have to get a PPD test this week and I'm petrified of shots!

You should look into Strattera, it is marketed especially for Adult ADD. I know that it is fairly new, and some doctors may not know a lot about it but I started taking it a few months ago and its working out great...oh and its stimulant free.

Well I mean, you still see doctors working in an office, even if it is with other doctors, I thought maybe just most NP prefer to work in hospitals. Does anybody know where I can find the laws for NY?

I was just asking in general, I thought that basically NPs can work independently and was wondering why most of them don't.

Hey everyone, I have heard that NP can practice independently (as opposed to PA practicing under MD) and I have seen many NP in MDs office, but I have never seen a NP that own their own office. Does anyone know anyone that does, or do you have any ideas why they don't? I most likely am going to be a NNP and work in a hospital, but I'm just curious. Thanks!

I have heard that the main difference b/w PA and NP is that NP can own their own practice, they don't have to work under someone, while a PA works in a doctor's office. I have seen many PAs that work in doctors offices, but I have never seen a NP that owned their own practice...what is the reason for this? Does anyone know anybody that does? I am interested in being a NNP so I plan on working in a NICU, obviously in a hospital, I was just wondering about this.

Oh and I agree that joint comission is just a pain altogether! I have been spending the last few weeks checking the expiration dates on EVERY SINGLE ITEM we have in the pharmacy...believe me, my idea of a good time ona friday is NOT inspecting suppositories! hehe

I guess it is because no one knows how the other works...I am usually the oneat the other end of those missing med phone calls but what the nurses don't realize is that while we also have nurses on other units (and even nurses on their unit) who are also calling/faxing orders at the same time. I do understand that nursing can be frustrating especially when you realize that you are missing a med, but some things I don't understand are the nurses who say "I just faxed down an order for a med and I need it stat b/c I was supposed to give it 3 hours ago" and then why I ask why it wasn't faxed 3 hours ago they say well I forgot. And then they expect us to drop everything and do it right away. Or the ones who call at 10:59 (we leave at 11) and say they just checked their drawers b/c they know we leave at 11 and they are missing 12 items. And the last one is the ones who call and ask if we sent up their missing dose of colace (or some other med that I have filled 20 orders for in the last 5 minutes) on their specific patient because they don't feel like walking to the dumbwaiter to check (its not that far!) Sorry if it seems like I'm bashing anyone (I'm not!!!) but since I am so young a lot of the nurses where I work think I am a volunteer and they say stuff to me like thanks for bringing this up right away, its not your fault pharmacy is slow or just talking to each other they will complain about pharmacy to me. I just wanted to see if this happens in every hospital or just mine.

I was just wondering how everybody's nursing/pharmacy relations are because I currently work in a pharmacy in a hospital so I know our side of the story, but I was wondering what nurses think of their pharmacy. I saw in one post somone complaining that they dont get paid enough and they have to "deal w/pharmacy". I am going to school for nursing so I wanna see what it's like on the other side.

SUNY Stony Brook has an accelerated program. It is 12 months, and I think it is pretty cheap (definitely not 25,000 maybe 15,000). It might be far from you, but I hear it is very good (very competitive also).

I dont' know if this a good thing or not, but I've noticed something...I know that I want to be a nurse because I love my job in the hospital, but I wish I was doing something more with direct patient contact instead of being stuck in the basement fighting w/nurses over missing meds. I often have to go to different floors though to deliver things or talk to nurses and I like doing this because I get the chance to look around and see what it will be like but I've noticed that when I am in ER/ICU/any med surg floor I often don't like looking at the patients but I jump at any chance I can get to go to NICU and spend as much time there as possible...I used to be a very queasy person, but working in the hospital has definitely changed that (ER has been my favorite show for years, I only recently started watching with my eyes open!) and despite my tattoo and 11 piercings I am scared of getting shots. Sometimes I wonder how I'm gonna make it as a nurse, because even though I want to work in NICU I know that during school you have to go to every floor. Any feedback? Know anyone similar to me?

I go to SUNY Stony Brook right now (majoring in psych) and when I graduate I'm gonna go for nursing there. Stony Brook has a great rep and it's on Long Island where I live, so its convenient

Thanks for the CNA advice! I will look into finding a program. Now I just need any advice on grad schools. Has anyone heard anything about particular schools? I have awhile before I have to start on that but it can't hurt to do some research now.

Yeah, I am figuring that being a CNA would also reinforce my decision to work w/babies! Its one thing to change the diapers and clean up after a baby, it's another thing to clean up after an adult. I saw practice tests online, and it seems like a very easy test, and it seems like the CNA is supposed to care more about the patient than a nurse would. The questions were things like what do you do if a patient says they don't want their family to visit and the correct answer was ask them why they feel that way. I thought you have to take a class though before you take the test. SBUalum, I have Sheri Levy this semester, she is a great professor! I will try to go to her office hours and talk to her.

I still have 2 more years before deciding which program to do, but I am grateful for all the advice! Will working as a CNA in general let me see if I am even interested in nursing at all? During school you have to learn all areas right? I think at St. Charles (where I work) they have CNAs on the maternity floor, so maybe that would help a bit too. I am still looking for a CNA program though, I need one that is relatively cheap (I hear there are free ones) and preferably over the summer in Suffolk County.

Hey, does anybody know of any cheap (or free) CNA programs on LI, specifically Suffolk County? I can only do it during the summer (or weekends) because I go to SBU full time. I know BOCES has one but it it $1100 (too expensive). If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it!

Wow, again everybody thank you soo much for replying! At Stony Brook, the advanced RN program is 12 months...I know it will be fast paced, but I think I can handle it, and I figured I couldn't work during that time...also it is not expensive at all...it is a state school and I am a NY resident (it is only about 2700 a semester). I want to become a nurse as soon as possible though. I am also looking into becoming a CNA this summer so I can have 2 years of experience before I start the nursing classes...do you think that will help me? I think my hospital is just small and that is why they don't have any RNs in the NICU, or I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure thats what someone told me. Again though, I'm confused...a NNP has to have a MD sign off on orders??? I thought they didn't have to work under a MD, only a PA did? Or is that just the way some hospitals work? Stony Brook is a large, busy, teaching hospital so I am going to try to shadow someone there, I'm sure their NICU is huge...I know they have a pharmacy in the hospital just for pediatrics alone!

I have been in a NICU, but only for a short while at a time. Also, the hospital where I work is not very busy...they consider 3 babies to be a lot. I have always been interested in neonatals, I originally wanted to be a genetics counselor. After working in the pharmacy of a hospital I realize that I want more patient care, and after visiting the NICU I realized that is where I want to work. I am also very close with a family who had a stillborn baby with Edwards Syndrome. That made me realize even more that I wanted to help these people. That is also why I am keeping my major of psychology, I think it will be a big help with dealing with the parents. Also, I don't think that I could working with adults. How would I get to shadow a nurse?

I am doing the BS track, and I plan on doing the advanced RN program right after I graduate, then taking time off to work as an RN before going on to the masters program. So I'm gonna need references, and I work in a hospital now as a pharmacy tech so I could get some from some pharmacists, but I don't know about professors...even in the small classes like recitations I don't really talk to professors or TAs. I'm gonna try and do research though sometime in the next two years so hopefully whatever professor I work with will write me a recommendation. Did you do any research?

first off, thanks everybody for your informative replies so fast, i figured i'd have to wait awhile before anyone responded! i am learning a lot, and realized i had some more questions...can anyone tell me what the differences are between a nurse practitioner and a doctor (are there certain drugs a np can't write scripts for?) and also what exactly do you do in a nicu, as an rn and nnp?