hso5004

Hi, I know this thread is a bit out of date--but wondering how things worked out for you in looking into fellowships/residency programs. Did you end up at one? Are you now working? I am graduating this May from and FNP program and am looking into a few of the family practice residency programs---Carolina's Healthcare is one of them. I have found 6 programs I may tentatively apply to but the applications are quite intense, wondering if I should apply to all of them or narrow it down to a select few. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, I am currently enrolled in the part-time FNP program at UMass. This is my 3rd semester so I guess I'm about half way there. I like the program so far, about half of my classes have been on campus and half online...I can't speak for clinicals as I haven't started them yet. If you have any specific questions, let me know

At my old job I almost without a doubt would come in when I knew we were really short, then my flexibility started to get taken advantage of and the "holes" in the schedule would almost never be resolved in the assumption me and the few other co workers willing to work extra would. This job I have now, the management is so far from clinical nursing I feel like they might as well be calling from Pluto. They have no clue what's going on on the floors besides the "numbers". And they are ever so eager to ask you to work overtime, if you want me to work overtime, when you know every other night is already short staffed, and we are always there late...ask NICELY, and don't get grumpy when I say no. Do we ever see management putting on some scrubs to help out? NOOOOPE. To add to the frustration, I was just given a letter informing me that my sick call (for one night) will not be paid unless I provide medical documentation within 10 days because my scheduled day off was the day before. I'm sorry I wasted my day off being sick in bed, I guess coming to work miserable is more appropriate? Or better yet had I been scheduled to work both of those days and called in sick BOTH days instead of one I'd be in the clear because it wasn't "associated with a day off". Not to mention I have been there a year and have 94 hours of UNused sick time. I'm obviously a frequent flyer with call offs. Not to worry, I will never agree to working extra for her again.

I actually ran into this problem myself but with maternity experience instead of psych. I worked for 4 years right after graduation on a postpartum unit, was getting bored and did some cross training to med/surg, nicu, peds. Ended up moving to another state for grad school and thought that was the perfect time to transition into med/surg or ICU as I am always looking for a challenge. Unfortunately the way the job market is currently, employers can be very selective in who they hire out of the hundreds of applicants they receive. I thought med/surg would be an easy in, but had multiple HR personnel tell me that the hospitals were preferring to hire from within (typically CNAs filling GN positions) before they would consider hiring a nurse with experience in another field. (takes almost the same training period but for much less money). I've also run into a stigma that is associated with maternity nursing (and I think psych would be similar) that nurses who have not worked in those settings feel as if those nurses (maternity/psych) "have the easy jobs" No nursing job is ever easy and each job has its own ups and downs. As far as switching goes, if you keep your mind set and your eyes on the goal you want to achieve it will happen. It may not happen as quickly as you'd like and you may have to take a job that isn't in your plan. But just remember every job is a stepping stone and you will learn something new no matter where you go. Also psych patients are everywhere, and if you have a background in working with those patients I think that gives you an upper hand at any other nursing, because you cannot escape them in any setting. Good luck!

I just got home from an 11-7 shift and have not been more frustrated with my co-workers. I am fairly new to this position (not a new nurse though) and am the complete opposite of everyone I work with. I am a nurse because I love nursing (most of the time lol) and I feel my coworkers are nurses because they get good money, especially on overtime. The floor we are on is medical, acute and chronic but more of a rehab. Some of the patients really don't belong there but cannot get LTC placement because of lack of insurance. Anyways it's not a super acute medical/surgical floor, yet these nurses think it is soooo busy. Yes we have been short staffed 2 nurses for 21 patients (on night shift) typically with 2 CNAs but is has been do-able, as I mentioned many patients really are just waiting LTC placement. So the nurse I worked with last night, has been there 15 years or so and is always in charge when she works, she was off for a week and last night was her first night back. I was in charge while she was away and told her at the beginning of the shift the week was not bad. She made the assignment and I went on my way. She took 10 patients and I had 11...she took all of the LTC patients and every patient that had no meds to give. Probably the whole night she gave 4 meds, she doesn't even go see patients that don't have meds...that's the culture of nursing there which I 100% do not agree with. One of her patients rang for oxycodone and reglan and 10 minutes later she still had not left her chair...I calmly said "did you need me to get those meds for soandso for you?" which of course she jumped right on, "yes please...this is crazy I can't believe they think this is okay, this is too busy, no way to work like this." At the end of the shift my patient spiked a temp of 102.9 so I told her so she could notify the doctor...her response to me after she looked at the clock..."what am I supposed to do, its almost 7". ughhhh do your job!!!! After I talked to the intern, called respiratory for her prn treatment, she asked me if I was done with my notes,which I was. she replied..."You are the reason they keep leaving only 2 nurses on, you can't keep doing this, they aren't going to see how busy it is if you are always leaving on time or shortly after." REALLLLLYYY?!?! I couldn't believe she had just said that to me. Yea some nights are busy and you don't get a break, but I have worked in much busier places and this is nothing...these nurses want to sit in their chair drink their tea and look at a magazine or surf the internet...don't be a nurse if that's what your goals are and don't criticize me for doing my job correctly. I have never dealt with staff like this, yes a few nurses here and there throughout my career, but this place everyone has adapted these lazy behaviors. They are not patient focused AT ALL, and the patients recognize that...I can't tell you how many times patients have told me simple things like "you are the only one that asks if I need anything" "you are the only one that comes in right away if my IV is done" "Nobody else brings me my meds on time" This is something that I should NOT be hearing from patients at all...I don't know what to do...I'm the newbie and have a different view on nursing as a whole, I don't feel like I can go to anyone to discuss these issues without being ostracized even more than I already am. Nurses have told me I am "too nice" and that I need to "set boundaries because patients ask for me to be their nurse". Has anyone else ran into a situation similar to this?? IF so please please please any advice you many have is greatly appreciated. I don't want to leave, I haven't even been there 6 months yet, but I don't know how much more of this I can handle...

I'm in Boston, 4 years experience, took me about 3 months to get a job and that was only a 16 hr/wk nursing home position. But since then I have been offered another per diem in a hosptial setting and finally a full time hospital setting...unfortunately most places are only hiring per diem or part time because that gets them out of paying benefits...but take what you can get even if its not ideal and then keep searching. You are not alone

Hi, Also looking for similar info...I have been accepted for the spring term at both UMass Boston and BC, as well as Simmons and MGHIHP...BC seems to have the better reputation nationally but not sure I want to spend all that money. My job offers tuition assistance but at public schools only, not private so UMass would be the ideal choice financially...but I'm stuck and not sure which route to go...I'm also new to the area so any input would really appreciated!

I have run into the same issue of not really finding much info after spending many many hours searching for programs. I ended up just picking one area and applying to schools narrowing it down that way. Now, I have moved to Boston and have been accepted to all 4 programs I applied to (All in Boston) and am now stuck on how to decide which program to choose.... If you decide to apply to multiple schools I would advise going to info sessions first, they give insight as to what that program is looking for and some even give you a application fee waiver for attending (which saves a bunch of money if you apply to many schools). Also a thing to look into would be any sort of tuition assistance/reimbursement you can get from your employer if offered. Good Luck!