Noah'sRNMom

Hi! Thanks for your reply. I have no experience in Peds, so I want to make sure they offer proper training. I know I wouldn't want a nurse taking care of my child with sub-par training. If you would tell me some more about them, I would appreciate it. What is the pay and schedule like if you don't mind me asking. You can pm if you'd like or my email is thisisnicole19 at yahoo. thanks!

Hi! I am currently a psych nurse who just finished my bachelors. I am getting ready to apply to NP program. I would really like to work in Women's Health, but haven't been able to be hired as an RN. I'm torn between applying to a FNP program or a WHNP program. I have some general questions if anyone would help me out. I don't have anyone in my personal life to ask! Thanks so much! 1. Is it feasable to be hired in Women's Health as a FNP? 2. Do you feel that WHNP limits your job marketability. I'm asking because I live in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. One of my fears is that I will go for WHNP then not be able to find a job in Women' s Health and not be marketable to any other specialty. 3. How do you feel about online programs? The FNP program is at Carlow University, just down the street. However, like I stated before, I really want to do Women's Health. There are no close programs. I can do Temple's online program, which is all classes online, and I believe 680 clinical hours. You also have to travel to Temple 4 days a semester for practical skills testing. I'm just wondering how good these programs are. I don't know that I would want to go to a NP that got her degree "online." However, I also feel that clinical is where you learn most. Any thoughts? Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer. I really appreciate it!

Koi or the Greys Anatomy brand. They are thicker too!

Thank you SO much! I would appreciate it. I haven't been able to seek advice from anyone in my community, so I'm willing to take whatever I can get!

It's not THAT bad! Find a friend that's AT LEAST as smart as you and study together. I made a couple friends there that will be close friends forever!

Hi! I am a fairly new RN. I graduated with my ADN May 2010. I went right back to school for my BSN, and I am going to be graduating in Dec 2011. I want to go on to get my NP, and the college I am currently going to has an accelerated BSN-MSN FNP program. My dream job would be work work in OB/GYNE, however I have not been able to find an RN position. I am currently working in Pediatrics. My question is.. if I know that I want to work in OB/GYNE, should I find a different school and go for Women's Health (my current school does not offer)? Or, do I stay at my current school and go for FNP? I am leaning toward staying at my current school due to lack of experience in OB/GYNE, and also because some of my BSN courses I can use toward my MSN there. It should take me around 3 years to complete, possibly a little less. I'm afraid that I won't be hired once I graduate. I also know that FNP is more broad, and I feel that I might have an easier time getting a position somewhere, even if it's not in OB/GYNE. Ultimately, I would love to work in Women's Health, however, I want to be employable! Another factor that has got me thinking is that my current school offers NO online classes. So, it's hard to accomodate my shcool and work schedule. I know that other schools have more online options. I really have no one to ask for opinions, so PLEASE if anyone can help me I would appreciate it!!!

Hi. I graduated from CCAC Boyce, and you will be fine. The advisor is correct!

Anyone??? I can't ever get anyone to answer my questions lol

Hi! I'm a relatively new nurse, and I have been working in adult psych for 9 months. It is just not for me, and I am currently in school for RN/BSN/MSN. I already have the BSN and I am continuing on in hopes of becoming a family nurse practitioner. I really wanted to get into peds, so I applied to a children's institute that I did clinicals at when I was in school. I just found out today that I got the job! I know that I really want to do this, but I am just so nervous because I feel like it has been forever since I've used any good nursing skills. I also am not sure of the day to day operations of a pediatric rehab. I know I will be working night shift. Can anyone give me any insight/tell me what I can expect to help me calm my nerves!!? Thanks!!

I'll admit that we take 2 hour breaks on nights, and some of us sleep in our cars. Some people sleep in treatment rooms. Yuck!

Seated holds don't work, are hard to do, and don't work. We used to have an excellent program, but have recently traded it in for a program called "Response." It's a crock. The seated hold is one person on either side, you slip your arm under their armpit from the back in sort of a hook fashion. Then you are to back that person to a wall, and slide them down the wall. When they are sitting down you are to sit on either side of them with your closest leg on top of theirs and the person on the other side does the same. To prevent spitting and biting another staff member is supposed to hold their head. The patient is usually so violent that their thrashing, so you and them end up being slammed off the wall instead of slid down it and it doesn't prevent spitting and biting in the least.

I agree. Psych isn't that hard to get into, and you don't use hardly any medical skills. So, if you got into psych first and it wasn't for you, it might be harder to find a job since you haven't used your skills. Also, with you having close family members with these disorders it might affect you negatively. Psych nursing can be absolutely draining at times and I couldn't imagine having to deal with it at work and then come home and have it compounded by personal issues. If you are the type of person that doesn't think it will affect you, then don't worry about that then. But, I woudl try LTC first definitely.

Hi. I work for a state run facility and I can tell you a little about what I think are the pros and cons. The pros: We are in a union, which means that once you are hired, it is very hard to be let go because you have the union backing you always. Another thing I like is all of the vacation and sick time you get being a state employee, as well as the retirement benefits. Depending on the facility, if you put in 20 years you can retire with a full pension. Other facilities it is 35 years or age 60. The starting pay rate is much higher as well. For example, when I started, I got offered a job at a local hospital on a psych unit for 17.00/hour. I got offered the job I am currently in and it started at 24.65/hour, that's a tremendous difference. Plus, we get 2 raises a year, which brings me back to the union. That is in our union contract. I would say the cons is that while being in a union is great in ways, other ways it is not. Everything is based on seniority. If you are newly hired you are on the bottom of the totem pole until people above you quit, transfer, or retire. So, when it comes to vacation selection you get last picks, also when promotions come up, they are usually based on senority. Also, you have to pay monthly union dues that come out of your paycheck. I would say the thing I dislike most about working where I work is our schedule. We work 7 days in a row with 2 days off, then work 3 days with 2 days off. We also have to bid into shifts due to the union. I am currently on 3-11 shift. If a daylight spot opened up and I wanted it, I could bid on it but if someone with more union senority wanted it they would get it before me. I hope I've helped a little and if you have any more questions I'll try my best to help ya out!

before I looked at elkpark's post, I was going to say that your first paragraph sounded like schizoaffective disorder type personality. As far as tx, I would say that would be individualized depending on which methods have already been tried and have failed, or by the patient's symptoms. Schizoaffective can be of a bipolar type, so they can be tx for the bipolar as well as given an antipsychotic for the psychotic symptoms. I hope that didn't confuse you! lol

I was pregnant with my first during nursing school. I had my son in the middle of a semester, and was back within a week to finish up because I was required to. Nursing school is hard, but doable. If you have the drive and are self-motivated. As someone else mentioned, work on your prerequisites first and try to do as many online as you can so you are not away from your family. Then, when you get accepted into the actual program, try to find one that has an accelerated or evening/weekend program if that fits your sechedule better than all days. That's what I did. Good luck!