fetchfelix

I researched this subject greatly, so for the future people who read this thread..............Im a British trained RN with = GPA to 3.0 I graduated WGU after nearly 3 years ( I had a lot to do because no one recognizes my UK stuff) in Feb 2016. I start FNP with Frontier Nursing University in Jan 2017. GPA is not the only factor schools look at. Be encouraged. Felix

I have been hospitalized several times in the last few years. I am not under treatment, and no longer being investigated, and need no accommodations. Next week I have a pre-employment physical. What MUST I disclose? Do I have to even disclose my meds, because they inevitably ask what each med is for. If Im not asking for any accommodation, do I even have to legally tell them what meds Im on, or that I have Type II diabetes and HTN? Is there any consequence of not telling if I end up in hospital again? One of those admissions caused a lot of hassle with my employer asking for info my Dr refused to give. I was given a blanket "return to work without restrictions" but my employer was insisting for something more detailed, that the cardiology refused to provide. A later job wanted clarifying information that long delayed my start date but in the end they all had to back down. I have ZERO work restrictions, and need no accommodations............so it would be a lot less hassle to just not mention any of those hospitalizations. Am I within my rights here? It seems to me that I have a right to HIPPA too and shouldn't be forced to detail a long, complicated and ultimately unresolved medical history. Any thoughts or advice warmly welcomed! Felix

I am thinking of going to NP school and am torn between doing FNP with a Mental health cert added on, or Psyche with FNP add on if thats possible? Bottom line is Im not certain which I want to do........perhaps both. I've read of at least one person who splits hours between both. But is that really difficult to keep up CMEs? Im worried about making a mistake about picking the wrong one to focus on. My background is ER / ICU/ Critical care, although Im now in Psyche to see if I like that. Overall I am leaning towards Psych NP. Anyone have thoughts? Also any recommendations on schools? Thanks! Felix

So after 25years in nursing, mostly in ER / Transport I'm now planning on eventually going back to school to do my NP. Im debating between FNP vs Psych NP and there's a variety of reasons for that. I've seen at least one program that has a dual track where you can do both so Im strongly attracted to that. Im actually interested in both roles and in future I think I would like to be able to work 2 days in 1 and 3 in another, or moonlight in one etc. If you do FNP, or Psych, are you pretty much stuck in that role? I think I've read you can go back and do a certification in which ever one you lack? But how hard / expensive / time consuming is that? Or am I really better off just deciding which one I want to do and pick that? Im about to start work in a Psych unit to expose myself to that side of things..........who knows, I might hate it. But ultimately Im looking for a role that will challenge me, keep me interested, but also be lucrative and sought after to get the best of employment as Im getting older and I know it will only get harder to get and stay employed. Any thoughts or suggestions warmly welcomed! Felix

So I was offered the per diem position, and there's a fair chance I will be offered the position FT. Either way, this is a HUGE change for me. How can I prepare myself for this new role? Are there any books you'd recommend either for some background knowledge, or clinical stuff? Im excited about it, but very daunted as I know this will be very out of my realm of experience or knowledge. I loved the boss and the staff seemed pretty cool, but being in a locked unit with "Severely traumatized" kids aged 5 -18 will be challenging to say the least! Needless to say I'm pretty nervous! Thanks for any insight. Felix

Thanks, that will be easy........Ive worked Peds for 10 years

Thanks for all the encouragement.........I do in fact have an interview next week for a unit behaviorally challenged children and teens, for a per diem position. Felix

I have an interview coming up for a Peds ER........I've worked peds and adult ER before, probably around 7 years total..........but way in the past now. Im just trying to think of what sort of questions get asked these days, Im a little out of practice for interviews. Thanks Felix

Rock nurse - I've been flying off and on for nearly 15 of my 25yrs as an RN - we have very similar backgrounds. As I understand it there are a couple of programs that use NPs and certainly I;ve flown with a couple who flew per diem. You will hear a lot of advice regarding this - here's what I posted before : Ive been a flight RN off & on 15 years, and have worked for 8 different companies in several states. You will hear the same advice, get 3-5 years ICU experience, EMS, etc etc. I will give you the same advice I was given way back when which turned out to be perfect. Forget all that. Here's what you need to do...........figure out where you want to work, which city, state etc. If you want to stay local, contact your local flight program(s) and find out exactly what THEY want. What a lot of people dont know is that the advice you receive is very generic, but in fact its also very local. What does YOUR program of choice do. Do they do a good chunk of scene work? i.e. > 30%. If so go get some EMS experience, even if only some volunteer EMS experience. Understand many states REQUIRE Paramedics on helicopters, and some States require the RN to be a Paramedic also. But I worked for one program that did 90% IFT (inter facility), all they cared about was pure ICU experience, and pretty much heavy MICU / Cardiac ICU. That program did minimal trauma, so getting ER, EMS or trauma experience was a waste of time. Where I work now does MUCH less ICU, and does 60% EMS / scene work so here they dont care about experience with Swanns, and balloon pumps etc etc cos we just dont do that. If you want a really good well rounded experience, get cardiac / cath lab, ER and some EMS. Also crucial is to get known by the program you want to be hired at..........so get that experience IN the hospital that your flight program delivers to so you can get to know the crews. And do a ride along, make sure you actually like to fly and can stand the cramped environment. Felix

Thanks for this.......Im actually shadowing next week

After 25years nursing in critical care / transport / ER I have an interview coming up in a Peds Primary care clinic. Im thinking of going to NP school in future to work in such a place as an FNP.........I want to see if I would like it or if I would be totally bored. I know the roles are completely different. But also the hours are much better, although pay is terrible. Trying to think of what to say when they ask why I want to do this without focusing on the hours? Why did you go into primary care? What are the joys of clinic / outpatient type stuff.........im having a hard time thinking how to answer that. Thanks Felix

I am thinking of applying to NP school after many years in Critical care / transport. As preparation for the completely different change in working condition and roles I am thinking of going to work in a M-F 8-5 clinic, as this is what I will be aiming for as an FNP in future. Thoughts on whether this would ACTUALLY be helpful? If so how? Felix

So how likely am I to get hired for a per diem role? Most other per diems in nursing need experience before getting hired, is this not the case in mental health? To me that would be ideal way to suss out if its really where I'd like to be but I didnt think I would have a chance? Felix

Hi all, I have been an RN 25 years, mostly in some form of critical care / ER or transport. I am now thinking of going back to school to do FNP or perhaps become a Psyche NP. To that end, I think I would need psyche experience to now if this is really a field I would want to work in. For certain I am done with the type of nursing Ive been doing and need a change to something completely different. I am UK trained so did a 3 month rotation in a psyhc unit that I enjoyed. My father was a Psych SW for 30 years and as a young child I often visit him at his hospital. Thats the extent of my experience - having literally met some killers and very bizarre pts of my Dad, and my student rotation. How do you know if psyche nursing is for you, and how did you get that 1st job with no experience? Thanks Felix

Im still researching switching roles to become an NP and am trying to decide between bricks and mortar schools and online. One thing I find off putting is finding my own preceptors. I believe I read someone said to have these lined up before you even start school. How on earth does one do that? I would like to shadow someone in the ED as my hope is to become an FNP in an ER but how do I even find someone to shadow with just to see if this is a wise career move? I work in pediatric / NICU transport, so I dont actually cross paths with these types of NPs to begin with. Any advice or help much appreciated. Thanks Felix