moonshadeau

U mass has an excellent program for post-masters students.

Entirely personal question and ultimately you have to figure out what your priorities are (and how exhausted you want to be). Is it something that can be done different than something that should be done, are two separate questions. And not to mention 2 kids under the age of two!!! I went back back to school for my MSN on the heels of completing my BSN. I had a 3 year old when I started. Coursework wasn't hard, but the clinical time nearly killed me. I was spending nearly 60-65 hours a week at the hospital and I had my second child just in my second to last semester. If I didn't have such a supportive husband and daycare, I wouldn't have made it. My only regret is that I missed out with my child during that time away then leading right into less attention for him with a new baby. I don't regret my choice but perhaps the timing. We are forged through our mistakes and our achievements. Good luck on what ever you decide.

I am a CNS and went back for Adult-Gero NP. I would respectfully disagree that CNS clinicals can be done with someone other than a CNS. The role is very different than other APN/MD roles. Given that it is also usually misunderstood. My role as a CNS was very different than what I do as an NP. Even now I find that I really function in a blended role by my own choice. You need that CNS mentor!! It is already a very different transition from staff nurse to this role with lots of other battles along the way. i should also clarify that I am not saying that an NP/midwife/MD isn't capable to help with clinicals. I just feel that there are enough challenges to the role and transition that by working with a CNS you can not only have insight into the role (as a purist) but you will probably gain a mentor as you enter the profession. my two cents worth anyway...,

What the above posters said is correct about re inserting the trach if able ASAP. One patient in the ICU decannulated himself and ended up intubated with ETT in his stoma because there was so much swelling. Always a scary situation for the nurse and the patient, whatever the setting.

My place of employment set up my NPI,DEA and insurance right when I started. It only took 3 weeks tops. I didn't do but a small amount of paperwork to get it.

You have to have a contract with the facility to have a clinical there. I had no problems with clinicals, just the hours and still working full time

Yes in Wisconsin a CNS is recognized as an APN, which allowed me to have a few other options. I even had interviewed for one position for a surgery center as infectious disease/management. After hearing about what they wanted for the job, I told them that they were looking for a CNS and didn't know it. They asked what a CNS was and I explained to them. They only were going to be paying like 50 K for salary and I didn't take the job. They did post it as a CNS position afterwards though, but I don't think that had any bites. I ended up going back for my NP and have been working in that role for 4 years. I do miss my CNS and try to incorporate it when I can

I loved the CNS role despite the long hours and incredible challenges when dealing with processes and people, trying to affect change by turning a ripple into a tidal wave. That being said not so long ago many CNS positions were cut from my WI hospital. Problem is, cost savings and your impact on them are VERY difficult to quantify. Shame on me for not financially translating my worth to the bean counters that were looking for jobs to cut. I loved being a CNS because I like to ask questions like is there a better way to do x? Jobs for CNS are very scarce in this state. I know that some jobs in Madison do not require certification to be in that role. We have an issue with title protection in this state but that is another whole topic of discussion.

If you know you are going to do an online program, in my experience (two MSNs online) it is best to ask the school if they can send the contract to the places you think you want to go for clinical. I live in a rural area and only have a few options, so when the contract wasn't approved for one agency, I had the other to fall back on. Start this at least 6 months before you need to start clinicals. Find out what your rotation requirements will be at the start of the program if possible. Planning ahead will help save headaches down the road.

I am an adult Med Surg CNS who just finished the Adult Gero primary care NP post-masters. The program was relatively straight forward. I paid probably about 11K all said and done. You cannot count your CNS hours to your NP. You need another separate 600 clinical hours. I looked and this was the cheapest, fastest and most convenient 100% online. I feel that I was well prepared to pass the ANCC exam. I didn't find that the classes were nearly as interactive online as what I had from TCU for my CNS.

ADN 19-21, BSN 25-26, MSN 26-28, Post-MSN 32-34. Never stop learning. My husband is eventually going to get tired of me in school.

I worked 3 -12 hour shifts with lots of overtime, and was pregnant/delivered my second child. I was busy at the time, but then when it was all done I didn't know what to do with all my free time. I didn't get any support from work and just kept plugging away. You'll get through this and be proud when you are finished.

What was your experience? I am starting the GNP/ANP post-master program this fall and don't want to get too involved if something major is wrong with the program.

As a CNS with prescriptive authority (functioning in the "NP" role), I can tell you that I would rather have kept my job as a CNS that I had prior to the hospital eliminating the majority of the CNS positions. My CNS job was very challenging but it took a TON of work. I loved working with systems, processes, and nurses to help them take better care of their patients. In my role as an "NP" I have some autonomy, I don't have the long hours or the political landmines that I was constantly dodging as a CNS. I certainly don't have to work as hard (that isn't to say that NP's don't work hard- I am just stating that in terms of my current position). However, the NP role isn't as rewarding for me- I miss my CNS role. So in short if you are looking for a job that you work with individual patients primarily then NP is likely a good choice for you. If you are looking to change how nurses work by changing policy, systems processes and work with populations of patients then CNS is a good fit for you. I believe that CNS' have not done an adequate job of documenting what we do, how we decrease cost by improving outcomes. In addition, the CNS's have a harder time billing for their services than NP's do, thus it is easier to justify the role of a NP to the bean counters.

ISFP- Introvert Sensor Feeler Perceiver It fits me because I always see two sides (or more) to every story. My life is definately not black and white, so I tend to have friction in nursing with those that can only see things being done one specific way. It has been 12 years in nursing and I haven't changed careers yet so something must be working.