thenewguy8

Hi Goofeegirl, when you say physical medicine do you mean osteopathy / manipulation / injection / pain stuff? And CAM? I'm very interested in that field - do you find you are not able to contribute?

NPA, SOP? I'm not practicing yet - I'm applying to DE programs this fall, but I know that I would like to integrate OMM into my practice so I'm just trying to find out what hte options are. Sounds like its state-based?

Thanks for the response! Quick follow up: If out of school I were to practice with a DO who taught me OMM - would it be ethical for me to then offer it as part of my own independent practice were I to open one?

Still curious about this if anyone has any more information. Basically - is there an official certification process to be able to bill legally for OMM? Or can I just study with an osteopathic doctor and practice when I feel competant with the adjustments? Then, if there were ever a problem, site might training as the source of my legitimacy? I guess there's also a broader question here: as a licensed NP is there any problem 'prescribing' herbs or exercise or diets, etc. if I feel that is the best course of action? thanks!

This is great to hear. Does this supervised practice (which should absolutely happen anyway, legislation or not) have to happen in vermont? or could you have done 2 years in another state and move to Vermont and open your own clinic?

Skibum - regarding your comment: I have to say i never said to my self, "this is difficult". I worked hard, and some weeks were harder than others. I worked that hardest during the last two semesters of the program. But i can honestly say I wish I worked harder. I graduated with a 3.87 and I feel i wasn't pushed hard enough. But that falls on to my shoulders, not the schools, I could have worked harder. While I understand what you mean I think it is essential that the program be challenging enough that someone can't get a 3.87 withOUT working hard. That you could says to me that the program was not being creatively challenging. You mentioned you also took PA classes to supplement (something I want to do as well - wherever I go) which is great but the program YOU signed up for and YOU paid for should have been challenging enough to maintain YOUR undivided attention. No?

I think, more probably, Geriatric will dissapear and be consumed within Adult. At least that's what is happening at UCSF - there getting rid of their geriatric degree and lumping it into the Adult curriculum.

I'd love to know what you thought of the program in general - especially in comparison to any others you might have looked at? How rigorous did you find the education? How much fo the supposed 'fluff' that folks talk about did you find? Thanks!

That's a valuable point. Since NPs function as providers instead of support it is true that their role is fairly similar to doctors, etc. Certainly in many settings. I guess the question is: is the approach to that role different?

As a male who is looking into either an md/do program or FNP (want to do primary care), I have thought about this a lot. I think one of the biggest things males (read: me, at least) will face is their own internalized notions of nursing and the sexist messages of subservience that have been propagated from within and outside of the nursing profession. I like much of the nursing education model (though i also like aspects of the medical model), but I am struggling with the idea of introducing myself as a nurse. And this comes from someone who has done lots of radical political education work! amazing how thorough that socialization is! On the plus side I've always assumed being male would be a big perk for applying to schools.

I would actually offer an alternative viewpoint on the nursing model. I'm not a student yet, but am hoping to do a direct entry FNP program soon so this is based on my shadowing and research. I've found and heard that generally the medical model is much more reactionary as they deal with patients symptomatically (I'm talking primarily of primary care/chronic - it may be different in hospital settings/acute). They treat what is happening. the DO and nursing model seem to be more geared towards not just alleviating symptoms but actually finding the ROOT (which, in chronic stuff, can often be diet and lifestyle).

Well I don't have a state yet - I haven't even applied for programs yet. I'm looking to find out where an NP might go to get this training and then, as you said, where is it practice-able.

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, a hands-on technique-set that works in ways similar to chiropractors and cranial-sacral therapists. And more.

So today I shadowed an amazing DO in NH. She has her own practice and is VERY alternative while also fully working with pharmas and traditional patients. Anyway, she uses OMM all the time (i saw her adjust the cranial bones of a 3 week old infant with a slightly deformed skull and it was amazing). I got into medicine through Massage Therapy and have always wanted to learn OMM. She said MDs and NPs and PAs can get certified in OMM and even bill for it just like she does. Does anyone know how that happens? where does one go and what does 'certified' mean? thanks!

Anyone know how the Northwest and the Northeast are? Portland / Seatle area and also New Hampshire, Vermont, Conneticut, Rhode Island, etc.