Cannary22

Hello StrokeRN, My experience with GCU was excellent, my student field officer, counselor and professors were helpful all throughout my MSN-FNP program. I still bother them for other things even after graduating 6 months ago and still gets good service from them. Also, just for reference I owe a little over $37K after the program. I found my own preceptors as well. Although they will do that for you there is no guarantee it will be close to your home. So, that said, I decided to find my own preceptors. When clinical portion started I went from full time to per diem to give me more time and focus with school. But, I have 2 little kids too so it may be a different circumstances with you. You can definitely be both full time RN and student. Some of my colleagues are doing it, just need good time management. Finally, I did not have any trouble finding a job, maybe because I was hired by the same organization that I work for as an RN. Finding a job is definitely not a problem, I think that will be on you on how proactive you look. Having a plan before you graduate is smart and helpful. I started interviewing before I graduated. You can do it! Good luck.

Thank you all, I did pass the ANCC and thankfully signed a contract a Peds NP.

Thank you so much for your input. It so happens that the materials you mentioned are the ones I am using and planning on doing before sitting for the exam.

Thank you all so much for the replies. Update: I graduated MSN-FNP in March 2023. I am now preparing for the AANP exam. I would like to know if anyone has ever used Cohen review. What are your thoughts about the review? Also, what is the best QBanks you think is comparable to the AANP exam. I would like to do as much questions as I can. I know this is asking a lot from you but please give me advice or tips I can use or do to manage my time. I have 2 kids youngest being 1.5 y/o and I work per diem. I feel like I am struggling finding the best time to study. If you are in the same situation, how did you manage or organize your studying? I am scared to death I am not prepared enough for the exam. Thank you so very much.

Hi all, I hope I can get some responses to this topic. Also, I would like to know what materials you used to prepare for the NP certification, specifically the FNP board certification, since that's the program I am currently being educated on. If you don't mind, can you tell me which certifying body you got your license from? Is it the AANP? ANCC? or were you certified by both organizations? I appreciate any response, and thank you.

@campfirekitten actually never mind, my schedule was revised. Thank you and stay safe ??

@campfirekitten a question please if you don’t mind replying at all .? So, I received my program schedule from GCU and I would like to know if you had similar program schedule. In between my NUR-550 and NUR-631, I have the whole month of November and December until Jan. 6 the next year pretty much not scheduled. Did you have the similar program schedule? It’s like 2 months off after the first 6 months into the program. Any info helps, I also intend to ask my counselor as well but it’s also nice to know other’s experiences. Thanks a bunch and please stay healthy. ??

Thank you campfirekitten, I appreciate your input ???

@campfirekitten, BSN, RN I enrolled for the MSN-FNP online at GCU thinking of starting May 2020. How's the program so far? Also, if you don't mind answering my question regarding the very first day of the online class for the FNP program. We are visiting family overseas and returning to US May 8 and the class starts May 7. The trip cannot be moved (haven't seen family for almost 10 years & finally we'll see them soon). Is there a test or rigorous studying right off the bat? I would like to get your opinion, so I can at least make an informed decision to whether I should move my start date. Good luck, I appreciate your time and thank you in advance.

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind me dropping all sorts of questions regarding the same topic posted here. I am thinking of starting the DNP path as well and I feel like you guys are the best people to ask about this questions. If any of you dont mind answering some questions, I will greatly appreciate it. Im interested to know whether any of you have started clinical sites/preceptorship yet, have found a site or looking into it? Are you doing the online or campus? Are you from AZ? Can you recommend a place for clinical sites that I can possibly look into and applying? Do your best and good luck to everyone. Thank you so much.

Hi verene - Im in AZ, I am willing to travel for clinicals. I'm about 2 hours away from Vegas and about 3-4 hours away from Phoenix. I would love to do online only if I can but if I'm needed to visit school 2x/month it's possibly doable. Ofcourse, I would love to attend a school/program that is excellent in providing their students learning and experience. I would love to finish school sooner too with lesser costs. Let me know what you have in mind. Thanks.

Hi NICUmiiki, Im from AZ, for now we are staying in AZ. If I could finish the program not moving anywhere else will be a dream for me and the family. I'm also considering Emergency NP as well (any idea?). There's so much to know about these things and I believe getting some input from people who are already in the program or done with the program will help. Let me know. Thanks.

Hello all, I am starting to look for a great school/s to research and finally attend the NP program, ever I decided which I like the most. Any recommendation you have in mind? Here is my situation: I am married with a 4 yr. old child. I currently work full time in Progressive care (taking the cert. this Dec. too). Online calsses will be great or online and some live class is probably doable too. I am planning to become an Acute Care NP with cardiovascular specialization. Any suggestions on how to take this route as well is greatly appreciated. If you dont mind sharing your experience in becoming a Nurse Practitioner, for sure it will be very useful to me or whom ever is going through the same. You guys rock! thank you in advance for all the great advises. Have a wonderful day.

@cleback thank you for your input, much appreciated.

@PCnurse88 I so appreciate your response, this will help a lot. Thank you.

Hi everyone, I hope y'all are doing well. I am posting this topic specially to RN's who already passed the PCCN test but others are more than welcome to comment ������. I am hoping to get some good feedback regarding PCCN certification exam. I am currently preparing to take the exam and based on how I did with q&a, I believe I need a little more time to brush on my contents, I work in progressive care unit just a little over a year which is very heavy on cardiac patients. I have MS experience prior moving to PCU. I am just wondering if anyone can tell me how you prepared? What is the name of the materials you used to study? How long did you prepare? Is there any strategies you used to tackle the questions? Last thing, how would you rate it compare to nclex questions? I appreciate any reply and your time. Thank you so much.

Since my last nursing work experience was four years ago, I was required by AZBON to do RN refresher course as well. I finished the course and the hospital I did my clinical hired me as Med-Surg nurse after I got my license (it's been a year since then and luckily I'm advancing to PCU) I don't think there's another way to come back to nursing other than what your BON is requiring you to do. Best of luck I hope you'll do it. The road may not be easy but once you're in, it is most certainly worth your time and effort and you'll definitely not want to let go of the second chance you got. í ½í¸Ší ½í¹í ¼í¿¼

To the admin post above. Thank you for reminding everyone. I don't want to get in trouble anyway and possibly loose my hard earn license in the process. Preparation is the key. Good luck to everyone and God bless. Sincerely, allnurses member

It has been months since I last posted here. @wehttam thanks for asking. I used both. Remar for content, believe it or not I recorded myself reading the material since I can't be constantly reading the books. I work full time that's why I don't have the time to read a lot. Uworld is really close to how NCLEX is written even how it looks. When it's time for you to write your NCLEX you'll find somewhat familiarity to what you are doing because you already seen the screen before and similar set up of questions. I still brushed thru my Saunders book mostly areas I am weak. If I absolutely have to choose, I will go with Remar, I have to have good content foundation to fully integrate other strategies in answering questions. Also, you can find NCLEX questions everywhere in the internet, you just have to filter the bad ones. Good luck.í ½í±í ¼í¿¼í ½í¸‰

I appreciate your input. I took the test and I got an interview date too. I just over think things sometimes lol they only gave me behavioral assessment test Your comment is very helpful though, I will remember that in the future in case I'll get to be tested it again. Thank you very much

Hi everyone, I am hoping you can give me an idea what to expect for this prophecy (pre-employement) testing for nurses. I applied for the position of ICU RN residency program and I am wondering whether the clinical test is mostly about what I applied for or will it be general questions for new nurses? I just don't know what to expect and I am afraid to fail this test. I also did a lot of researching if ever I will come across a sample test questions about this test but no luck. Can any body help me with my query please. I appreciate it a lot. Thank you.

Thanks guys. Yeah I'm in a small town but we are also just 2 hours away from Vegas. What if you are given a chance to work where you are interested in like for example ICU, will this opportunity change your mind?

Hi Everyone, May I ask your help to please shed some light on Nurse Residency Programs now some hospitals are offering. I live in a small town and the hospital here offered me a nurse residency position for possibly three year contract. I am going thru clinical at the hospital at the moment for my RN refresher course too. Do you all think 3 years is too long for this kind of program? How about the benefits and pay, did you all get the same pay as the regular nurse in the hospital? Or based from your experience please can you tell me some PROS & CONS of the Nurse Residency Program. I appreciate any response thank you very much.

Hi everyone, Thank you for the comments. I am not entirely a new nurse I am actually a come back nurse. It has been over five years since my last hospital work related experience due to other circumstances in life. I'm almost done with my RN refresher course too. I am given the chance to start in critical care while preceptor-ship so I just wanted to ready myself and do well in hopes to actually stay in the unit and get the position. I am not as confident as I wanted to be but I know once I start working again in the hospital environment I know I will get that feeling back, the feeling of excitement, the feeling of being accomplished when I do my job (right now I work in accounting so it's entirely a different story, different experience and very boring lols). Anyway, thank you and please keep the comments coming, I wanted to get as much information from the expert critical care nurses because in one point in everyone's career you are all a newbie too. It would be really great if you can share what you did, how did you handle yourself back then. Thank you very much in advance.

@ blondenurse12, MSN, RN, NP & ShaneTeam, BSN Thank you very much for your input.