dojo2

I did my MSN online in Tennessee. I had a great experience with my education. All discussion boards had deadlines. There were only a couple of classes that required a partner for assignments. It does sound like you have an instructor who is not very organized. I am sorry for your bad experience.

I work in a busy primary care facility and see approx 20 patients daily. It can be busy but it is certainly better than my busy days as an RN in a rural ER.

FNP Grad-- Good luck on your job as an instructor. I think I would still like to teach again someday. I taught high school Health Occ. for 8 1/2 years and enjoyed teaching. To answer your question. You find out at the test when you take the ANCC exam if you passed/failed.

The Margaret Fitzgerald CDs can be ordered from her website Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, Inc.

Congrats to those of you who recently passed the FNP Cert Exams whether it be AANP or ANCC. Talk about a weight off your shoulders when you are done. I passed in July and still can't get over the fact I don't have to study any more for anything. I recently started working as an NP (one month ago) and it is quite the transition. I am seeing a full load of patients of all different age groups, chronic care, follow ups, peds, urgent care in a very busy family practice. I am still a little nervous and overwhelmed but slowly learning how to handle patients and diagnoses.

I am a brand new NP but have been an nurse for 20 years with a good portion of that time in a Level III ED-- my small hospital does not employ FNPs. But in my area NPs work in the walk in side of the ER. If you have been an ER nurse for any length of time in a rural ER then being an FNP in one would be similiar to that of a busy primary care practice. Like in an earlier post there are few ENP programs around, and with the FNP training you can opt to do clinicals in an ER walk in clinic. So, this gives you a few more options if you choose to leave ER one day and do a specialty or do primary care.

I don't know that I want to complete a doctoral program after finishing my masters I am very content and ready to be a real person again.

It is definitely a relief when it is over. I too felt as some of you did that I had failed while taking the exam. I came out of the testing area and my reply to the proctor was "That was awful". She said "you'll never have to do this again," but I was thinking that yes I will if I have failed and then she told me I had passed. She was right NEVER AGAIN!!!!! I was prepared for the clinical aspect but the research, ethics, theory, policy blew me away. I am glad it is over and still find myself trying to study something. I start my new job August 3.... so I will be studying at times I guess.

congratulations MistieRN on passing your exam.

Mistie RN did you take your test on the 22nd? Let us know how you did.

I just graduated from an MSN program that took 3 years to complete part time. I worked full time at one job, part time at another, studied around ball games, school, work, husband, and kids. I have a job that pays well above what I was making as an RN, plus my schedule is 4 days a week, 8 to 5, no holidays and you can't do that very well as an RN in a hospital. Do not let this instructor keep you from pursuing your dream. I ran into a instructor like that 14 years ago at Belmont university in Tennessee. I took courses and was convinced that I did not have what it took to be an NP. The instructors were so negative... I stopped coursework and returned to work as a full time RN. Since then I have completed my program through another university and I am looking forward to doing what I have wanted to do for the past 14 years. Don't let one person's perspective stop you from doing what you want to do.

I agree that fitzgerald and hollier are excellent sources for clinical content. Anyone planning on testing make sure you concentrate on nurse practitioner roles, reimbursement, ethics and ANA content. There are a lot of questions covering policy, theory, roles, ethics, culture, and scope of practice.

If you enjoy teaching then college level is a great way to go. I worked for 81/2 years in secondary ed and taught health occupations courses to high school students. I found it very rewarding, but had always wanted to be an NP. I finished this year and left teaching in 09. I miss some of the kids, but have no desire to teach at this point. If you really want a pay cut teach secondary ed in the Southeast. It is a real shock when you come from a nursing salary. I took a $10,000 a year pay cut when I left nursing full time to teach... but I did it for family reasons. If you enjoy education you should find great fulfillment in post secondary education.

Just give your legal, ethics, policy, and research a good going over. You have probably got the clinical content covered. Just do a good review and you should be fine for Wednesday. I think if I had waited any longer I would have worried myself to death even more... I have an even bigger ulcer than before after all that study and worry. You will do fine.

Do you still test on 14th Mistie RN? If so will send prayers your way. :)