PavementRN

Will accepting a GI position as a new grad force me to stay in this specialty? I like GI, but worry that if I accept I will be not be able to transition to another area in the future if I wish to do so. Has anyone accepted a specialty position as a new grad and found it difficult to change to another area?

Awesome! Thank you.

The narcotics restriction was removed after 6 months or so. I've had a per diem PACU since where I've been handling narcotics.

Problem is, CT's program is 5 years. I still have a little over 2 years in the program. The monitoring program has only encouraged me while in my APRN program and shown no hesitation with my going back to school, so I am hoping they would not have let me even apply if they think I have a poor chance at DEA licensure.

Has anyone tried to obtain their DEA license as an APRN after having prior issues with diversion of narcotics while a beside RN? I am 3 years into my contract with my state monitoring program and will be graduating from an APRN program in May. I have no convictions or license suspensions, but a narcotic restriction was initially placed on my RN license. Also, I have been 100% compliant with my monitoring program and have had no positive urines. Just starting to get nervous about not being able to get fully licensed and credentialed once I graduate.

My PCP would like to prescribe me Provigil for work shift disorder. However, I am in a recovery program, and I get tested regularly. Anyone know if Recovery Trek tests for Prodigal or if I should worry about the addiction potential of the drug?

Wow...graduated on 2011 and the starting wages have not budged.

Just out of curiosity, what is the length of your monitoring program, and which state's program are you in? I am in CT's HAVEN, and it is 5 years! I have another 3.5 years. Seems like it will never end!

Back in 2011, the starting wage was slightly higher than acute care hospitals. I believe it was $29/hr. When I left for New Britain, I took a $0.50 pay cut/hr.

I just received an e-mail today from my new supervisor at work, who I informed about my monitor program last Friday. She wants to contact HAVEN, my monitoring program before I go to work on Thursday. I was hired by someone else who was just let go for reasons unknown, and he knew about my program. Now I am worried that this new monitor is going to call HAVEN, ask questions about my past, and get concerned. Is there anyway I could be fired because of this? Would it be discrimination since my job performance has been excellent? I finally thought my life was getting back in order, and now this happens.

Has anyone completed a nurse practitioner program while in a monitoring program? Will this affect me when trying to get my APRN license if I have been fully compliant?

I worked in an ICU when I was confronted for my addiction to opiates. I thought I'd never see any of my coworkers again, but as it turns out, THREE are in one of my classes for my NP program this fall. This is bringing back all the guilt and shame of that day I was confronted, and am feeling uneasy about going to class, and the awkwardness in seeing them again. Any advice on how to handle it?

Thank you for the replies! I will my case manager tomorrow. My therapist also says she is going to contact her and "touch base." I'm nervous what is going to come of this.

Hello all, I have been in CT's HAVEN monitoring program for a year now, and about 6 months ago, when I began my job search, my therapist told me she would not have a problem supporting the lifting of my narcotic restriction. I have been 100% compliant with HAVEN. Recently I have been getting several inquiries for job interviews, and HAVEN stated that they are ready to lift the restriction as long my therapist agreed. I asked my therapist about this now, and she now is giving me the run around. She's telling me many times that you have to return to work and see how it goes before they agree to lift. I don't see how that even helps considering if you aren't using narcotics then how can they know even after a few months if they should lift. I don't know what to do. I feel like she is sabotaging me and not being fully honest/forthright. Sorry just needed to vent/get opinions.

I was just accepted into UConn's ACNP program and am a part of CT's HAVEN program. So yes, it is possible!

Going to UCONN's ACNP program starting in Fall.

Where all did you apply for NP school? UCONN MSN Which school is your first choice and why? Well, I guess that would probably be UCONN! The program quality and value cannot be beat in CT. They offer some of the core classes online. What speciality? (FNP, PMHNP, ACNP, AGNP, etc)? ACNP What was your GPA, GRE, and how much/what type of experience did you have? My GPA was 3.56, with a 3.9 in sciences. Did not have to take GRE. Another reason I liked UCONN. I have about 2 years experience with most of it in critical care. I received my critical care cert (CCRN) in November of 2013. Have you heard back from any school(s) yet? UCONN informed me of my acceptance in February. What semester are you looking to start? Fall '14 Online or on campus? On-campus, but many classes offered online.

I applied pretty early to the ACNP program--back in Nov, I think--and found out I was accepted in Feb. sometime. The phone interview was pretty straight-forward. The program director asked me about my experience, reason for wanting the ACNP v. other specialties, and asked me about choosing the MSN over the BS-DNP. I cannot remember much else. It couldn't have been more than a 10 minute interview. Good luck!

I have this website that features ACNP salaries: http://practicalnursingsalary.org/CT/1/salary/Acute-Care-Nurse-Practitioner-Salary The figures seem a little optimistic. Anyone familiar with this site? Reputable?

Hello all. I am accepted to the ACNP at Uconn for starting this Spetember. I am having second-thoughts about the ACNP track, and am wondering if it too late to change to the FNP instead. Has anyone switched tracks? Thanks, Josh CCRN

I am having an interview for an ACNP program. I am very nervous about telling them I am in a monitoring program. Has anyone had school interviews while being monitored? Any suggestions?

thanks for the responses. I still have a ways to go before I apply to school. I'm currently working tele, and hope to get into our ICU within 6 months. Just wanting to see where my GPA stands in terms of competitiveness.

Gaylord will be looking to replace myself because I'm leaving for the Hospital of Central CT in early March! Gaylord is a good place to start.

Do CRNA schools focus on particular classes when admitting students? I have a science GPA of around 3.8, but my overall GPA is 3.52. Will I be just an average applicant or above?

It is most definitely fact that a hospital will hire a BSN over an ADN. Simply more education. You're right that more clinical experience is obtained with an ADN degree, but it is still less sought after than a 4 year degree. Believe me I have nothing against ADN nurses. I work with them and think they are very competent, but if a nurse recruiter is looking at a BSN and an ADN with everything else equal, they will hire the BSN. One other fun fact for you is that the ANA would like to eventually phase out the ADN altogether. They want the entry level degree for registered nursing to be the BSN, so I'm sure hospitals kinda feel the same way seeing as how many post on their job boards, "BSN preferred." http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/PressReleases/2000/CommitmenttoBSN.aspx