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My advise is to find a job tomorrow. Don't worry about the role at this point. I've known NP's that choose to do similar work as RN's. Maybe you could get into a home health setting where you are traveling to patients homes. It isn't perfect......but I guarantee you will find work and you won't have to tap into your savings. Then while you are working, you can continue to apply for a better NP position. If you have money coming in you won't feel so desperate when negotiating your salary with your new NP employer. PLUS....working will help you not get depressed. Just don't worry about the things you can't control and do the next thing. Then pray about the things you can't control and let God work it out. Who knows, maybe he's actually opening a new and better door that you would have otherwise missed by continuing to work at your previous NP job.

From what I've been able to gather the ANCC is a more friendly test for those who fail the first time. (with the ANCC you can retake the test sooner and more times per year and there is no need to spend extra money taking CEU's if you fail the first time that is required by the AANP test) I understand that there are differences in content between these two certifications.....but does it really matter for employment purposes?

Plus.........You can work 8 months as a teacher and 4 months as a nurse. Life is short. Don't think about it so much and follow your heart. In the end what you are worried about now will not matter to you then.

I've worked as a nurse in schools here in Texas before........If a teacher works in a "title 1" school for a couple of years the state will forgive $15,000. Then.......you pay the minimum on your Fed Loans for 10 yrs and all is forgiven after that. So here's a scenario.....If you take out $50,000 in Fed Loans to be a teacher - $15,000 = $35,000.........If you only make $40,000/yr as a teacher starting out the federal loans will probably only make you pay somewhere around $200 or less/month for 10yr = $24,000 (maybe a lot less depending on your dependents) Not bad.....for a career you enjoy......and Title 1 schools are not that bad here in Texas.

I always say something to the effect........"My weakness is remembering to explain to the patient/family exactly what I'm doing when I'm providing a procedure. I sometimes forget that whether the task is simple or difficult, not everyone is on the same level as me." That answers their question, it's quick, and simple. Plus....it makes you look super confident in your abilities and shows you care about the patient/family.

I will be starting my FNP program in a couple of months and I have been pre-reading my pharmacotherapeutic textbook. So.... I apologize ahead of time if my question seems a bit basic. I have a question on what is the best practice in prescribing meds to a new patient who has already tried an OTC equivalent to what a NP would normally prescribe as a first line tx. Generally speaking, do you start with a different first line tx or do you immediately try a second line tx since a first line tx has already been tried? For example if a new pt comes to you with symptoms of poison ivy and has already tried otc's including hydrocortisone, would I go ahead a start prescribing a different first line corticosteroid or would I try an intermediate corticosteroid first? Or, if a new pt comes to you with symptoms of a tension headache and has already tried other otc first line tx's....do I try other first line tx's first before preceding to a second line tx? The way the questions are asked at the end of the chapters tend to lead me to think I should always start with a 1st line tx. Maybe I'm making it a more confusing than it needs to be....But with the poison ivy example I chose to start with an intermediate corticosteroid first until symptoms resolve and then change to a lower potency corticosteroid, not to exceed 14 days with the combo. Why would I start with a first line tx when the patient has already tried a first line tx unsuccessfully? The only reason I can think of is that I don't know if the patient used the first line tx correctly or applied enough applications. But anyway, like I said maybe I am over analyzing it a bit?

Here's a peer reviewed "conspiracy" article if you are interested. JAMA Network | JAMA Internal Medicine | Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Seasonal Mortality in the US Elderly Population If you want to debate vaccines, then fine....Name the time and place. But as far as this thread goes.....it has very little to do with vaccines per se. If you have already contributed your experiences then it seems a little silly to continue contributing if you are only going to reiterate your previous comment. "You have your answers"...........You are insinuating that I should go away now? How disrespectful. If it's okay with you......I'd prefer to stick around until everyone who wants to contribute has had an opportunity. Remember......there is enough room is nursing for us all. Not all patient populations think alike which is why we need diversity and tolerance in our nursing body in order to be more effective as a whole.

The efficacy and morality of vaccines? I'm sure you, a "healthcare provider practicing evidence based practice" is aware of the recent outing of the 10 year coverup at the NIH which shows not only that the flu shot is ineffective with seniors.....but that seniors who receive the flu shot have a higher rate of pneumonia-related mortality? If you want to have a discussion on vaccines..................I could go on. But my purpose in this thread is to get feedback on the experiences of FNP's/PMHNP's regarding what's required of them upon employment. If you study history each generation thinks there knowledge base is indisputable. And because they are on a high horse they try to eliminate, muffle, and discredit those who question it. But.......that is a different thread.

Yes....it's true. I have had this conversation with many RN's. Hospitalists might be a different story though.

I have heard from other RN's that many doctors recommend them for others, but do not get the flu shot or boosters themselves. So it makes me wonder how difficult it will be to find a doctor at a private practice (not hospital affiliated) who might not even ask. I was hoping to find input from current FNP's and current PMHNP's. Honestly, most families I speak to outside of the healthcare field do not care whether or not healthcare workers receive flu shots and boosters. Although their adverse effects go unreported, many families have told me stories about why they will no longer get the flu shot.

I was vaccinated as a child/teenager and my university didn't require titers. I personally think it was an answer to prayer and God helped me find a BSN school in Kansas that wasn't so hard core on vaccinations/immunizations. Now, I have been accepted to a FNP school and they do not require proof/titers. So I feel it is an answer to prayer again. I have always been able to find good paying RN positions, so that hasn't been much of an issue. But I have a strong desire to go further as a FNP. I also really have a strong desire to help those who have PTSD/military and thought in patient PMHNP might be a better fit for my situation.

Can any FNP's comment on their CURRENT employment and whether or not their current position required proof of vaccinations/flu shots?

I ask because I am not able to receive vaccinations due to religious reasons. I have recently been accepted into a FNP program and I brought this to the attention of the counselors and it was not a problem. Now that I have been accepted, I am trying to get an idea of how much of a hindrance my religious beliefs will have on my employment future after school. I also have a strong desire to pursue PMHNP and was wondering if psych clinics might be more hospitable to my situation.

So in Massachusetts most all doctors require their FNP's to show proof of vaccinations upon hire?

Hello. I was wondering if most clinics or other work sites that FNP's work at require vaccinations. Do the doctors even ask for them upon hire? Same question with PMHNP's.......Any vaccinations required?