Psychaprn

And I hope the same someday becomes true for nursing to further legitamize that we are not cheaper Doctors or their assistants etc-No shortcuts to being an NP! I don't think we have to have PH.d's though-lawyers and Doctors don't!

Sorry but there is just so much to learn I think NP's should specialize. If you'd rather be a PA-go for it but I don't think their philosophy of treatment is the same as NP's . There's no turf issues for me-there are plenty of patients around.

What specifically are you interested in? You won't be clogging the board-probablly there are others interested. Sorry no one's answered you-maybe if you were more specific or didn't ask for e-mails. Good Luck!

Also check out NAMI-the National assoc. for the mentally ill. They provide support, info and groups for people who care for the mentally ill. Some states have sub-groups, i.e. Ct. has CAMI-good luck! Al-Anon might also be helpful.

Also check out NAMI-the National assoc. for the mentally ill. They provide support, info and groups for people who care for the mentally ill. Some states have sub-groups, i.e. Ct. has CAMI-good luck! Al-Anon might also be helpful.

Overeater's Anonymous is a great 12 step group that addresses the physical, emotional and spiriual issues related to weight and food issues.

What on earth is an AA in nursing? AA is Alcoholics Anonmymous!

How can you be an advanced practice nurse without first working as a nurse? Illogical!

ITA-I totally agree.:)

My advice-work as a nurse in your specialty area for a few years-save your money-then go get your Masters and APRN--2-3 years. The experience of working is invaluable and you'll validate your desire to go on and have some money to boot! The fastest way isn't always the best way.

ITA with all of you-stay in your scope of practice for the patient's safety and your own!

There's a world of difference between how NP's practice(if they stay true to their nursing roots). We practice wholistically, we use systems theory, we LISTEN to patients and families. Nurses treat the whole patient on primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Drs. treat diseases. They limit their treatment to the disease or diseased part of a patient. They only specialize. I've heard doctors tell patients because they haven't seen it or read about, it they couldn't be having aan unusaual side effect from a med. I can't tell you the times I have picked up medical problems and treated them when the patient just saw an MD. They saw a cardiologist so he didn't notice the signs of hypothyroidism or treat it for example. I've had my patients go to the ER for acute abdominal pain and be sent home with Ativan because they were "Psych. pts."-later they had ruptured appendixes or gall bladder inflammation! I have learned alot about medicine from doctors but more about treating people from nurses and NP's. I feel sad for any nurse who can't see the differences.

Do you want to practice as a nurse with nursing philosophy of treatment or practice medicine?-that's what you need to decide first.

Hi and welcome! We can always use more Psych. NP's. As for pay and availability of jobs it depends on your experience, location, size of practice etc. Personally, I love working in a group private practice. I do psychotherapy and meds. You can consult in Nursing Homes, work for an insurance company, work in a clinic etc. Here in Ct. the pay range is about 55,000-80,000-full time.

Congratulations Morgan! As an old timer, I have no objection to the shortening in time of your academic path-rather I worry about your clinical experience. How much of your schooling is spent actually working with patients? How much is spent working with pts. in your specialty area? You cannot replace practical nursing/clinical experience with book learning!! I also don't think you can become an advanced practice nurse(NP) without first BEING a nurse(RN with work experience.) There are many nuances of both pt. care and workng with others as a nurse that can't be taught-they have to be experienced. I just worry that NP's who start practicing without solid clinical experience will be thrown to the wolves! I shudder when I remember a BSN studuent from another school that I precepted. She was graduating in year and didn't know how to take blodd pressures!! All your employer will care about is your credentials-you won't get any longer precepting/mentorship and orientation than a seasoned RN who become an NP. Be careful of what your school promises-remember-they're out to make money. If I were you I'd work at least part-time while you're in school as a nurse's aide or student nurse in the area you want to specialize in. I am sincere about my concern for you and am not resentful you didn't have to go the long way but consider this-I had four years of BSN education which was 8 semesters of clinical work and academics-including the last year being in my specialty. I worked inpt. for 5 years and had a 2 year clinical practicuum, including a thesis for my master's. I worked inpt. and out. settings while in school with various age groups. To be perfectly honest-90% of my learning came from working not school! I also had to cope with nurses older than me who resented that I had a BSN rather than years of working behind me. I then studied to be an APRN while working and honing my prescribing skills. I think short cuts are fine as long as they don't make someone "short" on experience, comfort or competency! I admire anyone seeking to increase their education, I just want you to be aware of some of the pitfalls-please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Thanks Siri! I agree a collaborative agreement won't decrease mistakes but I guess I think if I seek consultation with my MD-especially around an off-label med or something I've little experience with-that I'm less likely to make a mistake following his advice-He's had much more experience in the field than I have-I hope that doesn't make me sound like I lack self-cofidence but I do respect those who are more experienmced and educated than I am. Plus I'd feel guilty if I made a mistake because I didn't talk to him and he got dragged into a lawsuit too. I don't really feel my education prepared me to be a solo practitioner. Maybe I'll feel different in the future.

Requiring you be an FNP before being a Psych APRN makes no sense to me. Why not have all FNP's become Psych NP's first so they can treat all ages who need psych care?!Pediatricians don't need to be Gasteroenterologists first. Actually I think it's just a put down of Psych Np's to say you should be an FNP first-I don't want to treat families-why be an FNP first?

Akoster-I'm sorry-what did I say that you thought was hostile? I was serious-I would worry about making mistakes if I was out on my own solely and having total liability if I had no collaborative relationship with an MD-that doesn't effect how I talk to other profesionals-it just gives another set of checks and balances when deciding upon a course of care. I have a collaborative relationship with an MD and 2 other APRN's to learn and grow and beceause it's required by law-we even have a written contract. I don't have a collaborative relationship with him to ensure I'll talk to him or vice-versa. I was sincerely interested in hearing in hearting more about you asnd your practice as the laws are different in Ct. Sorry If you felt offended Dave-Thanks for your input. I hope to hear from Siri also.

It is 8 am. The pt. is given Demerol 50mg IM. The nurse wheels the pt. to the recovery room. The pt. has been NPO since mn and wears a johnny. The nurse makes sure a nasal cannula is available for 02 after the procedure. She/He records baseline Vital signs. She makes sure all pertinentlabs, EKG, orders and Pt. consent forms are in the chart. She starts a flow sheet for vitals. The B.P. cuff is left on the patient's arm, in inflated. Gel is appled to the pt.'s Right or Left temple or both-depending on if the ECT pt. is having unilateral or bilateral ECT. The Nurse checks to see the ECT machine is plugged in and ready. The nurse rolls up the sheet to expose the patients's feet. The anesthesiologist inserts an IV and administers Sodium Penothal. When the pt. is out-he/she is intubated and has an ambubag.A rubber mouthpiece is inserterd and Succ. is administered IV. The Psychiatrist checks the Machine, attaches the Leads-which are for an EEG and the shock. Vitals are checked again by the nurse. The shock is administered by the MD-we look for a small inward curling of the toes and/or seizure activity on the EEG. If none is observed the vitals are checked-if the BP is not too high-another shock at a higher voltage is applied. The nurse monitors the patient's breathing after the anesthesiologist takes the tube out and administers nasal O2. Gradually the pt. awakens. The nurse orients the patien and administers Tylenol if the pt. c/o headache. The process takes about 1 hr.The pt. is brought back to their room-usually sleeps for a few hours-with guardrails up . The pt. is woken and assisted to the DR for lunch. The pt.'s meds and normal activities are resumed. The pt';s memory, mental status and the ECT are recorded in the chart. I Hope this helps-this is from my memories assisting in ECT in the late 80's -I'm sure it's quite differnt now.

ITA with all the above replies. A caution though-the results of ECT are temporary. You may need an antidepressantor /mood stabilizer as an outpt. or a schedule of infrequent outpt. ect txs. to maintain a euthymic mood-Good Luck!

I wouldn't work where a pt. was trusted more than my word, I'd be blamed for the pt.'s behavior(Was there an MD order to cath. the pt.?). I feel the nurse was condescended to when it was said personality diagnoses caused "judgements". What role did the MD play? Maybe the nurse should have called the MD for consultation about the patient's cath. and behavior.

Thanks for your reply, akoster. It sounds great. I guess you don't worry about liability, making mistakes etc. How long have you been an NP? I've been one for 7 years. I'll bet the MD's are glad not to have liabilty for you too.

Lots of change going on here in Connecticut. APRN's are lobbying for NO MD collaboration. Currently you must have a collaborative relationship with an MD to practice here. Frankly, for me it means grab him when I need him and have lunch with him monthly for clinical supervision with 2 other APRN's. I have mixed feelings about the proposed changes. What do people here think?

Oh, how I remember those feelings. Having experienced nurses/mentors helped alot. I'm an APRN and there are still days when i go home and wonder if I did all the right things-relax-it'll get easier and remember-showing up and being present to patients in a compassionate manner is what's most important!

Remember-actions speak louder than words. Most hospitals have translators or use a English speaking family member to help. I think this is why they teach languages in school.