shadowflightnurse

I am going to University of S. Alabama. Just finished 4th semester, about to start clinical portion.

Congrats on passing...again!! :yeah:Thanks for the helpful info on all of the pre resources. I hope to need it soon...in about 1 1/2 yrs :)

Frontier School (Kentucky) and University of South Alabama (Mobile) have FNP programs with no GRE or MAT requirement. Good luck I am in my second semester at South Alabama

First of all-----good luck with your application!!!! I have been very pleased with the program so far. I have only completed one semester and just started my second, but I do not have any complaints. My instructor this summer was great. She seemed fair, responded quickly to questions, clearly laid out the expectations at the beginning og the semester, and provided exellent feedback on papers/assignments. So far this semester (Theory and Adv Patho) the instructor have communicated well and laid out a reasonable (but busy) list of assignments. The best advice I have at this time for anyone in the program is: 1) CLOSELY follow the course syllabus, 2) CLOSELY follow the grading rubric for each assigment, and 3) ASK QUESTIONS if you are unsure of an assignment!! I had a great group of classmated this summer and this semester looks to be just as good...if not better. I will send you an email if you have anymore questions.

First of all, I would NOT turn off the alarms on the monitor. This is a big NO NO (pt safety, JCAHO, etc). As the other posters mentioned, there are many reasons the alarms could be going off. Sounds like you did the right thing (assessed pt, EKG, callled MD, etc). Since you now know the alarms are false, I would look at the settings on the monitor. On many of the machines, you can change the threshold of what will set the alarm off. You can then increase the threshold above what the patient's ST's are showing. Just remember to change the setting back to the default after that patient is discharged.

Just registered for the summer class. I can't believe they are almost full already!!!

Manda...I don't know anything about the WHNP program...other thanit is supposed to be a good one. Good luck on your application. Sugar...I have had some doubts with the dual role. In the end, I think it will make me a better rounded NP. Whether I decide to work in an ED, office, a hospital that actually uses NPs in the nursing units, or wherever. Try not to listen to the negative comments. The best advice/information I have gotten from anyone is that with almost any Master's level program, you get out whatever you put in. I hope I can remember this throughout the program. I may need some help with that :)

I am in Gadsden, AL. I am looking forward to getting started, but I have to admit that I am a little nervous. It has been a while since I have been in school. It is nice to hear from some other students that will be in the same program. Congrats on you acceptance into the program.

I would try asking the nurse that told you the patient probably had a pleural effusion what she heard and how she knew/suspected a pleural effusion.

A magnet placed over a PM will send it to it's pre-programmed "magnet rate." As the previous poster stated, this is an asunchronous mode...meaning the PM will fire at a set rate regardless of the patients intrinsic rate. You stated the patient was 100% paced, so placing a magnet may only change the rate. Depending on the life of the battery, the rate could be 75-85 (new battery) or lower (as the battery is depleted, the magnet rate decreases). BTW, this is how PM's are checked to determine when they need to be replaced. Each company has a programmed ERI (elcective replacement interval) rate and an EOL (end of life) rate. The ERI is the initial trigger to begin thinking about a generator change. The EOL is the trigger for "change the generator ASAP" or it may stop working. Placing a magnet over a defib will not send the PM into asynch mode. It will instead deactivate the cardiovert/defib funtion of the device. However, the PM will remain at the programmed setting. Depending on the manufacturer, you may have to leave the magnet in place the entire time or you may be able to remove it after the device "deactivates." Best bet is to have the device rep come in and re-proram the device. If you do not know the manufacturer, but have a CXR you may be able to see the device trademark on the CXR. I've actually had to do this so I know it can work.

I would definitely go ahead with the financial aid. When you go to the FAFSA website, make sure you do the 2010-11 application...for the summer semester. I would also go ahead and do the 2011-12 application for the Fall. I got my award notification less than 2 weeks after submitting the application.

I have worked at several ED's and have done it just about every way posted above. I think the best was the Omni Celll (? sp) system. It was quick (you don't have to wait for individuial doors/drawers to open) and was easy to override (if the patient was emergent and wasn't in the system yet. I believe the ED at my current hospital has the supplies pulled from the documentation system.

My hospital has been doing it this way for several years. The physician does not have to be present for ANY of the stresses, only has to be "in the facility." Check with your state board to see if it is within the scope of an RN to perform stresses without an MD present. We had to get a statement from the board clarifying what the limitations are for nurses doing the test. That being said, I do not necessarily agree with how we are doing it. The physician "supervising" the test may be present in the facility, but that doesn't mean they are readily available. It is usually a cardiologist and they are typically doing caths, so they wouldn't be able to "come running" if there was a problem. Good luck.

Are you in the FNP or ENP program?

Congrats to you. Looking forward to getting started.

Yes, they are into details. I "used" to be a terrible procrastinator, but I am slowly improving on that!!

Your welcome TJFRN. I'm pretty new in this arena, but I based my decision on schools/programs on current information and current practice in my region. Things at the certifying bodies/schools/facilities may be totally different next week for all I, but you just have to make your decision on the best availabe info you have at decision time. I plan on getting through school, pass the certification exams and practice with the current BON guidelines and within the constraints of my facility policies. Good luck with your decision and application process. I will gladly answer any other questions. You can PM me if you don't want to re-post to this thread.

MillieT If you go to the website, click on admissions and click check you application status it will show the up to date status (i.e received, pending, in department for review, accepted, etc). I was following that process and know my acceptance status(for the ENP program) about 3 days before I got the letter. Best of luck.

try south baldwin Medical Center. It is smallish, but has a good reputation. May not have the high-acuity level compared to the ones you mentioned, but may be more open to a new grad. I work for one of their sister hospitals and our ceo used to be at south baldwin and has had very positive comments. Good luck.

Congrats. Have you gotten the "to do" letter of things to be done in order to complete the acceptance? They are pretty meticulous about following directions/meeting deadlines, but that's probably a good thing. Good luck.

Univ of south alabama. All online with only 1 (I think ) on-campus visit for orientation before starting clinicals. They have FT & PT tracks available.

I got accepted to the Emergency (FNP/ACNP) program. I also live in AL. My letter came Monday.

Sorry to hear that.

Another option I have not seen anyone mention is being certified in dual specialties. For example, get your FNP then do a post-Master's program for the acute care. I am about to begin a program that is molded for an ED role. At the end of the program I will be eligible to sit for both FNP and adult acute care. It is a little longer than other programs, but to be prepared to sit for both exams...eithout having to go back to school :) makes it worthwhile to me. I'm sure you will hear otherwise, but this is purely an opinion. Get plenty of GOOD quality clinical experience before going back to school. Many schools are decreasing/dropping their requirement for experience and I (again, my opinion) think this is a mistake. Good luck in your efforts!!

Thanks and good luck to you. I received my ACCEPTANCE letter yesterday!!!! Hope you get your good news soon :)