lowrylb

I was wondering if there are any nurse practitioners that work in plastic surgery? I have a possibility for a job as one but don't know of any other NP's that work in plastics. I was wondering what people thought about it of so? Thanks

I would doubt it. I had a m-f 8-5 job and ended up leaving it for a 7-7 job so I would have more time. If your work could work around it or you could go part time some i think it would work. You do clinicals in family, womens and peds. Hard to find any offices open on weekends to do this. You have the whole semester to do clinicals so you could do a day or two a week and get a lot done. Some are 120 hours a semester and that would be much harder.

Sorry, I am not familiar with the loans. I think I averaged about $2500 a semester some cheaper and only a couple were more. I spent about $200 on books a semester and thats about all. So if you are able to work and have any extra money some of this could be paid for each semester. I was mainly talking about the science classes. They were actually very easy, I was surprised. Like I said the hardest part was just not knowing what to study because it was so much material and they didn't narrow it down any. The best class was my women's, we had notes so it made studying much easier.

I think what you ordered is very reasonable. Her symptoms are relieved after the dx of sinusitis. Why a CT was actually ordered at that time I'm not sure, CT scans are not usually indicated. I would think with a hx of headaches a CT would not be warranted. No red flags seem present by your description so I would as you did recommend wearing glasses (major factor of headache causes) and write a headache diary. I don't think the 2nd CT isn't indicated at this time. Based on this information I don't think you did a thing wrong

Hi, I graduated from Ball State in July. If you are wanting a program that you can continue working with Ball State is very good. You can pretty much work the whole time. The only time there would be an issue is my last semester was in the summer and its only one class but I had to do 225 clinical hours in a two month time frame. Working full time would be hard if it happened like this but otherwise its very doable. I was surprised with how easy it was. Mostly just assignments and quizzes after each module and a few tests each class. The tests were open book. They were a little challenging because of the amount they covered, time limit and no review but they were overall easy. The coursework is very different. You completely teach yourself. It would be the easiest classes ever to teach, all they do is put the information on blackboard and grade the papers. Only a couple classes and not all semester had powerpoint presentations to watch. Otherwise they just gave you the chapters to read. This was really the only part I didn't like about the program. Its hard to know what you need to know and whats the most important to know when all you have to guide you is chapters in a book. I read the most the chapters. I wish I would have paid for a review course (Fitzgerald or APEA) and bought their Cd's and review book and studied that after each section. I think it would have helped me to figure out what would be the most important to know since its impossible to know it all and at first I was literally trying to read, understand and remember everything...impossible. Overall for an easy online program I would recommend. We didn't get any elective clinicals had to do them all in family, womens and peds. Some programs allow for electives along with those other. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I don't mind at all.

I did online through Ball State and I loved it. I have heard good and bad things about both online and live programs. I think the most important thing is online you have to be willing to help teach yourself, Very self motivated. But I think by finding a credible university either way you will be fine.

I think they are fine. I do know that here in Oklahoma some of those clinics have a very limited scope of practice guidelines. Bascially for everything there are guidelines you have to follow very little ability to practice how you would like but have still heard great things.

I graduated from Ball State also. I agree the online program was great. I just wish we would have gotten some type of lectures over the topics but it was mostly read these pages, do this assignment and take this quiz. However I have friends that did online programs that did have lectures and a little more normal structure. You do have to be very self motivated to actually teach yourself otherwise you won't learn it.

I am in an Urgent Care setting in Oklahoma. Fresh out of school making around 100K a year. Its possible, I do know that there isn't many here in Oklahoma that make that much. The average is 80K. It does come with some drawbacks. I can see 50+ patients a day whereas in a different setting this is more regulated but thats also why the pay isn't as high.

I got mine online through Ball State. I loved it however I do think you would might learn a little more by having a lecture. My online program didn't have lectures (even ones you listen to) whereas I do know other online programs did have lectures. I still feel I know just as much as people that attended a Live program. I have found you learn most of it in clinicals and when you get out anyways. I agree that I would look for a credible program.

I had been looking at the MD Anderson Oncology NP residency. I have heard a lot of good things about it but have chosen to not go into that area. I'm sure its highly competitive but would be a great experience.

I agree I think RN-MSN would be a waste of time and I have heard you end up having to take almost as many classes already having a MSN as you would if you just had RN. Im not sure on this but thats what I have heard. I would definitely do the ADN-RN then RN-FNP. I think in the end it would be less schooling and you would not waste your time in pointless MSN classes that won't help much.

You will be just fine. I had the same problem I felt like an idiot. After awhile you will be able to put it all together. It wasn't until my last few clinical rotations that I felt more confident with what I was doing. Just be patient and try your hardest and it will all work out. I also found that if you can pick your preceptors that helps a lot. I picked people I knew that I felt comfortable with to ask anything regardless of how dumb it was that I got more out of it.

Kyboyrn. I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind emailing me at [email protected]. Thanks

I did an online FNP program. I agree it seems crazy to learn all the assessment skills outside of a lab but just like nursing school learning in a lab really didn't do much help its all in clinicals and experience. Honestly, I learned all the assessment skills in nursing school so I really only learned a few new skills in NP school mostly suturing, etc that I learned from physicans/NP's during my clinicals. We had to find all our own preceptors but I found I didn't really have a hard time, the hardest time I had was finding someone that didn't already have someone (plan a semester in advance) I would be looking now for summer semester for sure. Look on your states NP website if they have one for preceptors. There are posts all the time from students looking for preceptors and they seem to not have much trouble. I have had friends from our states big NP school and they have to find all their preceptors too. I actually like it because I was able to find people that I knew which made me feel much more comfortable asking my so called "stupid" questions.

Good luck! I just graduated and have found that most places would like for you to have taken boards already. I can say though that it can't hurt you might just find the right place in the mean time. I just got hired on at an urgent care by word of mouth so getting out there is good. Also, if its an office that you would need some training the earlier the better. They like to pay for you to have training before you take boards so when you take them you can start pretty quickly seeing patients.

Thank you so much. I know I can't always rely on the support that I would love to have and need to learn sometime. I know mistakes will be made but hopefully I will learn from them with no consequences. Thanks for the input on the laws regarding xrays I haven't looked into this and I know the doctors overseeing the urgent care have had experience with PA's only so I definitely need to look into my scope with these particular skills they will want me to see. I do think most of the cases will be primary care cases but do know that exception is out there. I am hoping since the town still has an ER people will be smart enough to know when to go there (even though I know its impossible) it will still be nice knowing that its not too small of a town that we won't be getting all the urgent care needs since there is still the ER.

I was wanting any advice from NP's out there regarding a new job. I am newly graduated and haven't taken my boards yet. In my small town a pharmacist and three doctors are opening up an urgent care and called me wanting me to work for them. I went in and talked and basically was offered the job up front. I haven't even researched anything regarding jobs because I was waiting until I passed my boards. It is for an urgent care. They are willing to help me train with the stuff that I don't 100% know or feel confident such as reading x-rays, dealing with broken bones and suturing. I am an FNP and didn't have any experience with this in any of the family practice offices I did clinicals with. I am confident in my ability and know all the doctors involved and know they would be very willing to help with anything and everything. The catcher is that I have no ER/urgent care experience at all. After I get certified I will be the only provider in there unless it gets busy enough to need more than one at a time. I didn't know if anyone had any experience like this and any recommendations anyone has regarding this. He offered 50$ hour which seems really good for new grad in Oklahoma. They will pay for health insurance for myself which its only me. Malpractice and CEU's will be paid as well. No retirement benefits though. It seems like a great job but I am just worried about my lack of experience in this setting. Thanks for any input.