JaimeeG

Kelly - Excellent post with very valid comments! I am currently in the first semester of a DNP program, and I am seriously considering dropping out and finding another truly clinical path. This is my fourth theory class, and I am learning nothing new, other than how much I loathe nursing theory. As others have stated, we are one of a very few professions who has chosen to become mired down in theory. I NEVER use nursing theory in my daily practice as an NP, much to the dismay of my current theory professor. When I am with a patient and have a problem to solve, I have never scratched my head and thought to myself, "Hmmm...what would Orem/Rogers/Roy/Watson/(insert theorist of your choice) do in this situation?" Although the powers-that-be in nursing academia would like to convince us otherwise, we CAN be a legitimate and respected profession without years of nursing theory crammed down our throats. We CAN provide good patient care without years of nursing theory classes. Nursing theory, in my opinion, has done nothing to advance our profession; instead, I feel that it has been a serious detriment. I know of many nurses who stopped their education at the Associate's or Bachelor's level because they so dreaded the thought of more theory. Very sad.... In the early postings of this thread, someone commented that in their NP program they had a few hours of cardiology instruction but an entire semester on theory. That was something I questioned when I looked at the curriculum of my NP program as well. We had ONE class in adult health in which we went over cardio AND respiratory. Our neuro talk consisted of a neuro NP (who does only sleep medicine) came in and talked about MS and migraines. But, I did have an entire semester of theory and research. Yes, we must make sure we have the classes important to patient care! I believe my rant is over for now. I have built-up issues because I am trying to do discussion posts in my class without saying the things I have said above!!! Jaimee

You don't get any documentation after you test. At the end of the test, a screen will come up telling you if you passed or not, and that's pretty much it until you get your stuff in the mail. I read my results and it said something like "You have passed..." I left and got all panicked and said to my husband, "What if it really said 'You have NOT passed' and I just missed the NOT???" Jaimee

I took the AANP boards in January and had very few peds questions (thankfully!!). As a couple of others have mentioned here, I used Amelie Hollier's review. I found her review to be MUCH better than Fitzgerald's. Amelie says what needs to be said and then moves on, where Fitzgerald goes on and on and on. Sure, it's good info, but I felt like I was listening to a review of my entire FNP program. I got more out of the "just the facts, ma'am" that Amelie uses! Good luck to all getting ready to take boards. They really aren't that bad...they just seem that way Jaimee

I work in a retail clinic, and I have been out of school since December 2008. I started in a horribly hectic rural health clinic, where I saw everything and anything. I left each and every day feeling stressed beyond belief. In the retail clinic, I feel very relaxed and much more at ease. Granted, I am not seeing much challenging stuff, but that's okay for the time being. I do have a collaborating physician always available by phone so I feel very comfortable in what I do here. I probably wouldn't have guessed I would be in a retail clinic so soon after graduating, but I think it's a good place for me at this point in my career. Someone mentioned the things that are "lost" in the retail clinic setting, such as doing labs, follow-up, etc. While we don't do blood draws, we still have to think critically and know when a patient is appropriate for us to treat here and which patients need to be sent on. It's probably not for everyone, but it's great for me for now! Jaimee

I know someone going there now. We were just talking about the school a few days ago, and she said she is "marginally satisfied." There was apparently some faculty changes, and things seem to be smoothing out now. I have applied for the spring start there. Jaimee

Are there any NPs floating around here who do median nerve blocks? I have been talking to a local chiropractor about a position, but I am just not entirely sure about the legality and other issues. I would have a collaborating physician, but he/she would not be on-site. The collaborating doc is going to be hired by the chiropractor to be the official "chart signer" and not much more than that. I know there are NPs working in pain management who do median nerve blocks, but I wondered about being the only person in the office able to do them, with no on-site backup. The chiropractor is doing a one million dollar office add-on, with three OR rooms and fluoroscopy, and I think the potential is there for a really cool job, if it were all legit. Any ideas/thoughts/comments? Jaimee G

I just took the AANP FNP exam yesterday..and passed! I didn't attend any live review courses, but I did purchase the CDs from Fitzgerald's and Amelie Hollier. I personally liked Amelie's CDs better because she didn't ramble on and on and on about little meaningless things. I also did the Mosby's online review and found it to be quite the waste of money. I think what helped me the most was doing hundreds and hundreds of practice questions. During the exam yesterday, I had several questions that were nearly word-for-word out of the review books. Good luck! Jaimee

I just celebrated being done with FNP school by getting a new Corvette!

I took a similar route to what you are planning. I graduated from an ADN program and then did my BSN. While working on my BSN, I worked full-time so that I could gain some clinical experience. We relocated to another state about halfway through my BSN, and I started thinking about advanced practice nursing after we moved. So, I went back to school, again! I just graduated from an FNP program in December 2008 and am now waiting to take my boards. I chose the Family specialization because I figured it would give me the most options for work. I actually work in neurology now, and that is where I will be staying. Good luck to you! Jaimee

I have no idea about Osage Beach, but I can comment on Branson. I worked for a short-time at Skaggs and hated every minute. It's a very nice, modern facility, but it just wasn't the place for me. The pay there was low, but that is just how it is in Missouri. The nurses here are willing to accept low wages so nothing will change. Anyway, off my soap-box now! The ER at Skaggs is busy because they serve a large area. I don't believe they have any kind of trauma designation, but I could be wrong about that. If you want to work in a trauma center, there are two in Springfield (Cox and St. John's). Depending on where you live in Branson, and where you are going in Springfield, it's about a 45-minute drive. Good luck on your search! Jaimee

I did my BSN online and am now doing a "live" MSN program. I have never had anyone ask where I went to school or what type of program I attended.

I had to take the GRE for my FNP program at Missouri State. Funny thing about that....we were told not to worry about our GRE scores and to just take it because it was a "formality" for the graduate college and wouldn't count toward our application points to the program. I studied some for the GRE but didn't stress over it too much because of the advice I was given by the program coordinator. Thankfully, I did fine and got into the program easily. But, I have two friends who were admitted part-time because of their application points. They were told that if they would have scored higher on the GRE, that would have made a difference!

I did my ADN-BSN through Oklahoma Panhandle State University. It was entirely online, except for your clinical experiences, of course. The cost was VERY reasonable, compared to most other online schools. I believe I was paying around $250/credit hour when I went, but I am not sure of the current tuition. They do list all tuition and fees on their website though. http://www.opsu.edu I could be mistaken, but I think that all BSN programs have a community component. For the OPSU program, I had to do clinical hours in my assessment course and the community course. The clinical hours were very easy to accomplish though, and I was actually able to meet most of the requirements during my work time or through just a few extra hours per week. Good luck! Jaimee

My BSN program was cake. I currently attend a state university FNP program, and it's not bad. Research was a bit tough and time consuming, and the thesis work is extremely detailed. I have found the biggest difference to be that in grad school we are expected to be very self-motivated and self-sufficient. There is little direction given for papers and such, and we are expected to be APA experts by this point. Every instructor I have had so far has been super picky about APA. I have discovered that what I thought was correct APA, from my BSN program, was totally wrong! Of my ADN, BSN, and now grad school, the ADN program was probably the toughest. My instructors were the most demanding and rigid. Grad school is probably the most time-consuming and definitely has the most hoops to jump through. Jaimee

Does your program not have specific courses for each semester? If so, you will probably have to make sure you are in the appropriate type of setting for that course. In my program, we had an advanced assessment first semester. This had to be done in either family practice or internal medicine. I did mine in a very busy family practice office that sees mostly Medicaid patients. I was with an FNP and had a good experience. For women's health, I was at Ft. Leonard Wood, a large army post in Missouri. This was by far my most beneficial clinical time. I was able to do almost 200 well-woman exams and also did many prenatal and postpartum visits. Some in my class had really poor preceptors and did under 5 exams total. I just finished my adult course. For this semester, I was with an FNP in a family practice office. We had the choice of doing either family practice or internal medicine again. Summer will be my peds course, and (of course) I will be in a pediatrics office. I will be with two different PNPs here. Practium is my final semester, in the fall of this year. For practicum, we have to do 80% of our time in a primary care setting and then we are free to do 20% wherever we choose. I am going to be working with a local neurologist when I am done with school so I plan on doing my 20% with him and the other 80% with a local FNP. Like I said in another thread, be sure that you choose GOOD preceptors. Some are not so willing to let you get in and actually do things. I spent a short amount of time with a local family practice doc, and I basically followed him around all day and watched. I learned some stuff from him, but I think it's much more beneficial to do the exam yourself and come up with your differentials, labs, treatments, etc. Good luck, and have fun! Jaimee