reeya

Her Sm antibodies were negative as well. She might have other underlying condition. ACA and anti RNA pol I/III was not run last time but good to know to differentiate the type of scleroderma. I am her PCP and very aware of compromised immune system. She never had any other medical issues ever except occasional cold/cough/fever/allergies. She was not taking any meds regularly. Very healthy person. When she came in this time, she had multiple vague symptoms. It is very scary people can be very healthy and all of a sudden can be so sick. Thank you so much for your help. You answered all my questions.

Lynn, Thank you for your response. If you don't mind telling me how were you able to distinguish from the series that it is diffuse scleroderma and not limited scleroderma? Patient is in her early 40s (F). I have already referred her to a rheumatologist. It is good to know about the HLA gene sequencing. I will discuss about it on her next visit. So safe to say from the above series she does not have SLE right?

Its bad everywhere. I waited 6 months before getting hired. I moved out of state to get my first job. But, sadly with my first NP job, I lasted only 2.5 months. I quitted because as a new grad there was no supervision and the internist wanted me to see about 32 patients in a 8 hrs shift. Immediately, 3 days after quitting the first job, I got another job which I love and currently working (still out of state) but learning a lot. Never get more than 26 patients in a 10 hr shift. Even 2.5 months experience counted.

Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) is initially drawn along with TSH w/ reflex to T4, T3 total, Free T3, Reverse T3 when a person is suspected for Hashimoto thyroiditis, idiopathic myxedema, Graves disease, and Riedel thyroiditis. TPO Ab is also drawn initially along with aldosterone, cortisol, ACTH when a person is suspected of adrenal crisis. Once a diagnosis is established, TPO Ab is not oftenly rechecked unless pt. quit taking meds for at least more than 6 months to yrs or in case of overdose of meds. Synthroid and cytomel dosages are adjusted based on TSH, T4, T3. In the same way, steroids and vasopressors are based on cortisol, ACTH level for adrenal crisis. TPO Ab helps to diagnose severe hypo or hyper extremes of thyroid or adrenal gland and is not used to adjust dose.

How would you interpret the following lab? ANA: positive. dsDNA: negative SSA: positive SSB: negative SCL-70: positive RNPe: negative. My understanding was chances of Lupus (SLE) is low if Sm antibodies and dsDNA is negative? My reference book tells me otherwise. The antibodies overlap in each disease. I am having difficulty how to distinguish between Lupus with secondary Sjogren's (Vs.) primary Sjogren's? Based on above lab, my diagnosis is Scleroderma and Sjogren's Syndrome? I might be wrong but help me out here. Q 1. But could it be primary SLE with secondary Sjogren's? Q 2. Could it be just SLE? (which I doubt but help me please) Q.3. Could it be just Sjogren's?

More training hours, advanced anatomy & physiology, lab pathology, introduction to radiology would be a nice replacement to current courses like introduction to adv. nursing practice, adv role and policy, community health, nursing theory/ethics etc.

Please look into APEA...its geared towards AANP. With limited time, I would recommend APEA course. Go to her website. There's live, cd or online review course.

I joined CANP today. Thank you Juan for detail information.

To be honest, I don't know? I don't think so. I want to ask the same question to Juan, are NP independent in CA? like in Arizona, New Mexico etc. Also, I got a letter from CA board that I need to take additional 3 cr hour pharm course to be able to prescribe schedule 2&2N drugs. My DEA was approved for other schedule drugs. Which CE pharm courses fulfills this board requirement. The board says it approves courses approved by CA NP Association but I don't see any pharm courses specific to schedule 2&2N.

What is the percentage of chart check a MD should perform for an NP in California? I know for PA its 5% in CA but I hear different numbers from different people for NP. There is confusion lately since MD supervision for NPF license was removed effective this January. Does that mean once a NP gets all NP/NPI/NPF/DEA licenses no supervised chart check is required from this January??

Oh well, didn't see your previous comment. Good luck with your program since you've already started it.

OHSU has a pretty good program (both MD and NP). My precepting MD for my internal medicine rotation was OHSU med school grad. He was great and taught me so much during my clinicals. I love PNW and its culture.

I moved out of state because I was not getting job as a new grad. Look beyond your city and state. NP market is so saturated these days. No one wants to train a new grad

CA Board is very slow. It took two months for me to get my NP/RN license. I applied my furnishing license on Feb 1st and I am still waiting. I applied DEA back in January but they emailed back informing me furnishing license is required. CA state NP license and NPI number is not enough for CA board of nursing. I was told in the beginning processing time for furnishing license varies 2-4 weeks but its been 6 weeks already for me. I am hoping to get by end of this week. The supervising docs keep asking me as they have to sign everything I order.

I appreciate the responses. Since, I wont get 20% above the regular pay, I will decline the independent contractor offer. I don't have an accountant and I'll be so clueless to deal with taxes. I will stay a regular employee like you guys said. Thank you so much.

I am a FNP currently happily employed as a regular employee. My benefits (health insurance/ 401K/CME/PTO/Sick pay/7day national holiday pay etc will kick in from March 1st. This week my office manager gave me a choice that I can be a independent contractor once I get my dea license (soon). She also said I would be paid $2/hr more as a contractor. She told me that extra $2 is for my tax (instead of paying gov. my employee tax they would credit it to me so I can do my own taxes). They will provide health insurance credit $100/month but no other bennies. I am new to independent contractor concept. Please educate me if $55/hr as regular employee vs $57/hr as independent contractor better. I have couple of weeks to think about it. Can I negotiate more as contractor since I will be paying federal tax, SSN, FICA, Disability by myself at the end of the yr. Or, should I just be a regular employee at $55/hr with no tax hassle to deal with at the end of the yr?

What are some good reference books for geriatric NP who will deal exclusively with geriatric population. I have no experience with this population at all and needless to say will be my potential first job as a NP. Any suggestions or tips will be appreciated.

To add to the group, I just passed the AANP today. I wish I didn't postpone it. It was easier than I thought. To those, practicing from Zerwekh CD, the question on exam seemed easier than her CD question bank. Now, off to celebrate the weekend. :)

Good luck charm going around !! hehe. I did too.

Congratulations Jennifer !! Must have been a huge relief. Looks like good luck charm is going around in this thread. I will join you guys too as "passed" on 6th and this time I am sticking by the date.

Just passing the exam wont do it. State BON of WA will need 250 hrs of supervised clinical hours if you apply for initial license after one year of graduation. If you can arrange clinicals with an ARNP/PA/MD that will let you shadow, it will be fine. You will need to send a documented copy from the clinical site that you fulfilled your 250hrs. Plus, if you need prescriptive authority they need 30hrs of clinical pharmacology taken within last 2 yrs. Meaning if you took pharm at the beginning of the program in 2009, then you will need to provide current pharmacology hours. This can be done if you attend a continuing education pharmacology class provided for ARNPs or PA or you can do online with Barkley and Associates (24 contact hrs). If you do a NP review again you get about 22hrs out of which 8 hrs is pharm. So, start collecting your continuing education for pharmacology 30hrs and 250hrs supervised clinic hours. Submit all those with your passed certification, either AANP or ANCC. You'll get your license no problem.

I am sure you will pass. Best of luck on Wednesday. In a way it makes sense even if one fails...at least we'll know how the exam will be. The thing is, I know myself and I will be traumatized.. LOL..It will take a long time for me to pick myself and start studying immediately. So, I rather pass on my first try than try multiple times. With that said, I postponed the exam date and I hate myself in a way because I have no life right now. All I do is study. But, I'll keep plugging in for 2 more weeks.

I think 74% on APEA is very good. You're ready. I've heard her test is harder than the actual exam. I am getting 63-68% on Zerwekh CD. No one seems to use Zerwekh these days because it is old edition from 2004. I don't know if that is good enough. If anyone who used Zerwekh let me know where I stand. Do I have a chance to pass?? Some days I feel like I just need to go and give the test. I know this stuff. Yet, some days I get this feeling what if I fail..I need to postpone. Uugghhh, this phase is not easy.

Anyone practicing questions from Zerwekh CD? I need to know how is it compared to APEA (Hollier's questions) or Fitzgerald questions? Is Zerwekh's question equivalent, harder, or easier than those two that I mentioned? I am practicing from Zerwekh CD for AANP and my boards is coming fast. I wonder if I need to do APEA Q&A bank too? I have heard APEA questions are actually harder than boards but I don't have her book. Please let me know if it is compares to APEA questions?

I think you're doing good. You should pass with 68%. Exam prep material wise, looks like you have everything. I have heard Hollier's question are harder than actual exam plus you took her live review. When is your exam. I am taking soon too. I have Hollier CD but I don't have the manual that goes with it to follow along.