kguill975 MSN, APRN, NP

Hello everybody, I'm looking for some advice. I am considering sending out resumes to bariatric surgeons in my area (Houston), because I would like to train to work in bariatrics. A little history about me, I started out as a scrub tech, went to nurs...

I usually try to mind my own business because the last thing I want to be known for is being that NP that thinks she knows everything, but I was blown away yesterday when I saw an OR nurse use chloraprep for foley insertion on a female. Now, I don't ...

I will be completing a general/minimally invasive fellowship in May and without being too specific, can anyone tell me what is an acceptable salary for someone with less than 2 years experience? The surgeon that I work with says that he wants to keep...

Yesterday, I felt the worst that I've ever felt in a long time. My doc got so frustrated with me and spoke harshly during a case. I've been in the OR 13 years, so I know how surgeons are, but I've always been so good at what I do, as a scrub or circu...

It's weird that ya'll are getting accurate numbers. It's way off for Houston. I'm $22K above the average, and I only have 2 years experience. Somebody messed that one up.

I've been in this situation before, I'm an ACNP/First Assist, too. You can first assist, because that's a certification that is gained with RN licensure, it has nothing to do with NP scope of practice. You can round on the pt, and do dressing changes...

There is NO positive side, when new grads from all over the US are struggling to find a job. My concern is that you haven't even tried a more affordable school. Why pay more if you don't have to? If you're that fixated on the school, at least take al...

You could take this time to get a job (if you don't have one), and start paying off the amount that you owe. Since money is an issue, I also recommend taking your non-nursing classes at a community college. It's a lot more affordable, and can be done...

Hi, I attended a local B&M school, that wasn't a top tier school, but well known in my area for putting out quality nursing school graduates. I'm a single mom of a special needs child, and I worked full-time weekends, for a 32 hours/week position...

On cataracts and hand cases maybe, but on big joints, they're still getting blood off of the ceiling at the 30 min. mark. The only place I've ever seen it really enforced was in surgery centers. In big trauma centers, it's a lot harder.

Hi, There's a spiral bound book with pictures of instrumentation, that is a requirement for surgical technology programs. It's been a long time since I was tech, so I don't remember the name. I'm sure you'll find it, if you google books for surgical ...

Brittany, if that's your real name, please remove it. There may come a day, when you're really frustrated and you may decide to vent. Things could get really ugly for you, if you can be identified. PM me...I'm an ACNP in Houston, but I can help you f...

Have you considered that maybe God is trying to reveal something to you about this job? I pray every morning before I touch a patient, and I often pray over the course of the day, especially on rough days. I'm a NP, so I don't have the pressures of p...

I'm brown and I used to get it all the time, "Are you really a NP or just a First Assist?" In their defense, I wear baggy scrubs, a hoody (instead of a lab coat, never did like those things), and Chuck Taylor's. I'm mid 30's with an 18-year-old, so I...

I wish I could compare apples to apples for you, but I'll give you my first NP experience. I'm an ACNP/First Assist (dream job) and my first job paid $90K with all licensing, credentialing, liability insurance, medical insurance, and CME paid by the...

Seems like I remember prescriptive authority taking the longest, but I'm not sure. If you don't have a job yet, you'll have to wait on the DPS and DEA.

Hi, I'm an ACNP in Houston. Start with prescriptive authority through the BON. After that, you'll need DPS and DEA numbers for Texas, but you can't apply for these until you have a sponsoring physician. Congrats and Good Luck!

This rule actually differs in different regions. My state allows ACNPs to treat 13 years old and up. As an ACNP student, I did rotations in Internal Medicine, Ortho, ED, Surgical Telemetry/Stepdown, Neuro ICU, & Surgical Transplant ICU. All of t...

Neuro, CV, and transplant is really big out here. It's all acute care, inpatient, and mostly closed units. Houston is big enough, that if you're a FNP, you can find something you like. Good Luck!

I "LIKE" this^^^^^^!!!!

If you are looking to become an intensivist, yes. If you are looking at all settings acute, rather than critical, it matters less, but it still matters. The program isn't easy, so if you don't have to work full-time, then don't...and take the critica...

Just to be sure....Was the patient supine or in lithotomy? If the patient was in lithotomy, are you sure that a LAVH drape wasn't used? It has a fenestration that looks sort of like a cut hole, but it's manufactured that way. If that was a LAVH drape...

Started at 32, went part-time and finished at 35.