Ms. Nikki

Purchase a lab coat you like (male or female) and wear it. I was new NP and was the only one on my unit wearing a lab coat (I'm a female but I bought a male coat). I did not care. I kept is clean and hung it my office when I got warm. But I ALWAYS put it on before every patient interaction. Less than 6 months into my job, the Director felt that wearing lab coats looked much more professional and required all providers to wear them. Initially there was a little dissent, but now it is standard practice there. The facility even pays for embroidered names and title on the coats now. As a provider it's time to start thinking autonomously. Do what makes you comfortable, as long as it's not prohibited by your facility and/or your state nurse practice act. As NPs initially struggle to learn to be the type of leaders health care needs. But don't doubt yourself. We make changes that make everything better for our patients, our facility, and healthcare overall. I wish you well and Congrats on becoming a NP!

I am currently a Navy Nurse. If want any information on how it is, feel free to let me know.

Any luck joining?

Have u had any luck?

Hi Shara. I still work at the VA but not in Home Based Primary Care. I absolutely love the job. It was the best decision I made early on in my NP career. Meaning, I passed up jobs with higher paying offers and took the VA offer back in 2014. My pay increases over time have balanced out to what other NPs are making with similar work experience and education level, however my benefits far exceed the benefits other NPs have. Additionally, the work-life balance and personal and professional development that I have access to within the VA system is unmatched. I hope I answered your question.

Have u had any success?

Iiii

LubbockNP- tried calling you. No answer

I'm super happy for you! I just finished Vetpro last week (Thursday). I turned in my official transcripts and paper version Credentialing stuff this week (Monday), and I'm scheduled for my physical and fingerprinting this upcoming Monday. I just got offered a job 2-weeks ago with the VA in their Outpatient Clinic-I'm a Psych NP. Things seem like their moving along so congrats to us both! I guess I need to start on my packet for boarding/pay next.

Wow, good luck to you! I know you're anxious.

That's no problem. To add a little more icing to the cake USA staff will provide every student starting clinicals an extensive list of NPs and Psychiatrists who volunteer to precept every year and/or who other students have used. The list is long, across several states, and has contact info. This list will include a full list of facilities and the person to contact from almost every state that prior students have secured clinical contracts at. I found both of my Psych NPs from that list. It helped a ton. Good luck to you.

Yes. Clinical time was allowed whenever you and your preceptor agreed that it would be. A preformulated schedule of your days and hours-to-be must be given to your clinical advisor so that surprise site visits can occur. USA clinicals requires 50% inpatient and 50% outpatient experiences with children and adults. A psych NP preceptor (with at least 1 year of experience) is required but you can have multiple Preceptors to include psychiatrist. I had 2-psych NPs and 1-psychiatrist preceptor. Finding at least one Psych NP preceptor was the toughest, but I thank God I was able to find 2. If you find a Family Psych NP who works in both inpatient and outpatient and sees both children and adults in his/her practice, then yes, you can have just 1-preceptor. But finding such thing is tough. I recommend multiple preceptors (1-must be a NP certified in Adult Psych, Child Psych, or Family Psych). There were some exceptions made for a few individuals who lived in rural areas or States with little or no NPs. But in general, some of your experience must come from at least 1-psych certified NP. 1-course will require a few (Assessment-type) hours with an FNP as well.

In the beginning, I was accepted to the University of Cincinnati's (UC) Adult Psych NP program & USA's BSN-DNP program. My UC admission was to begin in the Fall 2012 and finished before USA which I was admitted for the Spring 2013. At the time, UC was a MSN only and I was afraid to decline a DNP admission at USA, so I accepted both until I could decide who I would commit to. I began UC first in the Fall 2012 as a degree-seeking student and took patho-, pharm, & assessment. I also began USA that next semester and transferred my courses in with no problem. My situation was unique but it worked out for me. I was able to manage working full time through all of these courses but I'm a bit crazy--more crazy about my education than some others. I had a slight squabble or 2 with my supervisor for time off to attend USA's mandatory orientation and to do my Assessment course clinical hours. It was not easy. However, if you have an understanding Supervisor, it will work out better for you. I made sure my finances were okay before I started this venture. I saved every penny in case my grades suffered and I needed to resign from work. I like to plan ahead though and worked fulltime through the core courses, then part time and PRN through the rest. I resigned from my regular RN job the month I was set to graduate with my MSN.

Yes I did. I worked fulltime. Lots of others did too. Your personal life will suffer. If you are able to incrementally decrease your time at the job, it will always help.. I changed to part time eventually (22 hrs/week) but only once clinicals began.

Hi Amtrak. Did you attend USA in the Spring of last year as you shared? Was just curious how things worked out for you. Thanks. lildrekie