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@peanutbutterandspoons My interview wasn't too bad, just the one interviewer and myself. He asked me about me and my background and any previous previous research. We talked about my goals. Be prepared to discuss exactly why you want to be an FNP and what area you'll work in. Good luck!!!

Hi everyone, I applied to the BSN-DNP FNP program late December and had an interview today. Hoping to heard back soon... About how long after your interviews did those who have been accepted find out? Thanks!

Hi everyone, I applied to the BSN-DNP FNP program late December and had an interview today. Hoping to heard back soon... About how long after your interviews did those who have been accepted find out? Thanks! ?

Thanks! I'm excited about it! Does GS time in a military hospital carry over to the VA?

So I just accepted a position as a PCU RN at Tripler, working for an agency (NSR). Currently I work at The Queens Medical Center in the med-surg float pool. Queens is a great hospital that has an outstanding reputation, is Magnet and the pay is good. So I am taking a pay cut of about 7/hr by moving to Tripler. The reason I decided to make this move is because since I was a military LPN 7 years ago, I've always wanted to work in critical care. So now I'll be a critical care nurse. Also my wife is a military nurse working at Tripler and we'll be PCS'ing every couple years. So I hope I'll be able to get into the GS system soon, so that when we PCS I can just transfer to whichever hospital she is stationed at. The thing is I'm a little nervous making this change. I'm leaving a job at a really good hospital. Am I making the right decision? Does anyone know what it's like working for NSR at Tripler?

FYI, Queens starts new grads @ $36, 6 month- $40 - 1 yr- $43 & job rate is in the 50s

I just finished 3 consecutive 12-hour shifts and was doing a bit of reflecting this morning. I work on a med-surg floor in San Antonio, TX. The hospital is in an economically deprived area of town, and serves that demographic. It makes for some challenging days. Patients who are more sick, non-funded, uneducated, and may seek hospitalization for refuge. Also, me not speaking Spanish is proving to be an obstacle. Then there's the typical community hospital politics and staffing issues. Here the maximum patients they can legally give us is 7. However, they utilize team nursing with an LPN and give up to 14. Then you constantly have admin asking you "when are you discharging your patients," only so that they may have that extra bed to fill. This makes for some exhausting days, with multiple discharges and admissions. Most days I'm on my feet for the duration of the shift. I make $23/ hour, with some differentials for weekends and such. This comes out to about $42k a year before taxes. I understand that salaries vary in different areas based on the cost of living. I know there are nurses making 45-50/ hour in places like LA, NYC or Honolulu. So say on the high end a nurse takes in 80k a year before taxes. Are nurses really compensated for what they're worth. I think that is a very important question and should be addressed on a higher level. Personally, for what we do and what we're responsible for, I do not think we should make less than 80k a year. A physician makes from 170k to 400k+ a year. I understand they have more invested to be able to make the decisions they do, but when you really look at the numbers, I don't think it quite makes sense. What do you guys think?

Next summer I'll be moving to Honolulu with my wife who is an active duty army nurse. We are currently in Texas and I've been an RN with a BSN, working in med-surg for about 2 months now. By the time we move I'll have about 7-8 month of med-surg experience as an RN. I was also a military LPN back in 2008 and 2009 working in the ICU and PACU. I was wondering if anyone has experience as a nurse in Hawaii and could fill my in: how difficult is it to get a job? What are the staffing ratios like there? Or just what is it like being a nurse in Hawaii? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks :)

I'm a new grad BSN in Texas and was offered around 26/hr by a couple LTC facilities. I would expect a larger hospital to be at least 30. I also have peers who I graduated with making 35-40/hr in southern California. These positions are not easy to come by though. I absolutely agree that nurses should be treated better overall. Interesting post!

I have just started a new position in a long-term care/ assisted living facility. I am a new grad BSN, RN and searched for hospital jobs for a while, but found it was easier to find a LTC facility that was ok with hiring a new grad. I do have a couple years of hospital experience as an LPN. During my first shift I found many things different in LTC than what I was used to in a hospital or large medical center. One thing in particular was the methods of medication administration. All of the patients' medications are sheets stored in a cart in bins. It just seamed very messy and potentially dangerous to me. I have always worked at a place with automated medication systems (pyxis). I'm wondering what other nurse's experiences have been with medications administration systems in long-term care facilities. Are there other places that use pyxis? It just seams to me like that would be safer and prevent medication errors. Why wouldn't a LTC facility want to use a safer method? Is this strictly related to cost?

You've clearly either not read all my posts or misunderstood them...

Has anyone attending or graduated from GCU's online Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (Dual Degree)? If so, how was it? How was the online learning format? Thanks for any info :)

Thanks for your reply. You're probably the first to actually answer my original question. Just a couple questions: What type of law did you practice? How was the transition from nursing into law school? What ultimately made you go back to nursing? Thanks :)

As long as your BSN is from a ccne or nlnac accredited school. Make sure your GPA is high though. Army Nursing is becoming a great deal more selective and competitive. We had a Nurse Corps recruiter come talk to our graduating class a few months ago. She told us that they had several hundred applicants last year with only a few being selected, all with above a 3.7.

Thanks again SoldierNurse22!

Hi, I am wondering what opportunities exist in either the VA system or GS for new grad nurses. I have looked on usajobs.com and even contacted a nursing director at SAMC who told me there was a hiring freeze. I graduated from a BSN program in Boston in May and now I've moved with my wife to San Antonio or order for her to attend phase 1 of USAGPAN. In June of 2014 we will most likely be relocating again for her phase 2. There are several sights available, but we are not sure which one she will get yet. I was thinking it would be best for me to obtain a nursing position in either a VA or Army medical center in order to be able to move around with her. My background: I was enlisted in the military as an LPN for 4 years. I worked in an ICU in Korea and a PACU in GA. I wanted to advance my nursing career via either green to gold (ROTC) or the army enlisted commissioning program (AECP). I was accepted with an ROTC scholarship, however during my physical they found I had keratoconus, which is a disqualifier for commissioning. I was also not eligible for a waiver either. So I decided to complete nursing school on my own. This was the only reason I left the military. So that I could attend nursing school. I just graduated with my BSN this past May. If there was a way I could re-enter the military I would. If anyone has any info or suggestions that would be great! Thanks! :)

I'm wasn't trying to make this discussion solely about military nursing, I was just interested in the perspective of SoldierNurse22. I was enlisted in the military as an LPN for 4 years. I worked in an ICU in Korea and a PACU in GA. I wanted to advance my nursing career via either green to gold (ROTC) or the army enlisted commissioning program (AECP). I was accepted with an ROTC scholarship, however during my physical they found I had keratoconus, which is a disqualifier for commissioning. I was also not eligible for a waiver either. So I decided to complete nursing school on my own. This was the only reason I left the military. So that I could attend nursing school. I just graduated with my BSN this past May. If there was a way I could re-enter the military I would. Also my wife is a Nurse Corps officer who is currently in anesthesia school. So I do still have some ties with the military. @ Esme12, I appreciate your input. You have lots of experience, which I could probably learn a great deal from as an entry level nurse. I dont mean to come off as pompous. I do have respect for what nurses do. I guess I've just been out of the clinical setting for a couple years and have had some distasteful encounters while in the academic setting, that have left me questioning my original motives. Thanks :)

I was not insinuating any lack of pride on your part, but pointing out the growing prestige of being a ANC nurse. As for less than constructive feedback, that was not directed towards you, but more of a general statement. You do bring up valid points about the military taking nurses away from the bedside with promotions. However, I would expect to see NP's and CRNA's involved in direct patient care all the way up to Colonel. I'm sorry if I offend people here, as it seams I already have. But it raises an interesting topic. How long should one stay at the bedside? With years of experience and additional education, should that nurse be encouraged to move into a more advanced or leadership position?

Lack of knowledge? FYI, the military has always been at the forefront of advancements in nursing and research throughout healthcare. But I'm glad you brought that up. You are correct that Army Nurse Corps only accepts BSN's as entry level RN's. Because of the economy and military/ spending cutbacks, the ANC is becoming even more exclusive and an elite group of nurses. You should be proud to be an Army Nurse. This exclusiveness and increasing standards of practice that the military is implementing will eventually make it's way to the civilian sector, just as it has historically. As for leadership-orientated rank/promotion structure, that may be more intrinsic to the military, especially seeing as all officers are expected to be leaders. However, there are other options while advancing through the ranks besides management/ administration. The ANC has specialties and APRN schools. Also, I have nothing but respect for bedside nursing as well. Nonetheless, I do appreciate the input. Please try to keep in constructive... Thanks :)

I'm pretty much in the same boat. It helps if you're willing to travel... Hopefully things turn around with the economy in the next several years and new nurses will see improved job prospects :)

Wow, ok... Although it's flattering to see the regard you have for what I say, perhaps I'm not expressing myself clearly. I have served as a military nurse in multiple continents, so yes I have a grasp for what nursing entails. I also have much respect for nurses and nursing as a profession. What I speak on is what I've observed as the societal perception. For example, in the media you commonly hear people say I'm going marry a Doctor or a Lawyer, or I'd like my daughter to marry a Doctor or Lawyer. How often do you hear, I hope my daughter will marry a nurse? Also, have you ever heard someone say "your so smart, why didn't you go to medical school. What I'm saying is that nursing school/ or nursing practice should not be thought of a less than medical school or medicine. This is once again, not me saying it is, because I believe they are simply 2 different avenues of health care. Physicians treat the disease itself, while nurses treat the manifestations of that disease. With advanced education should come an advancement in role. As for loosing the art of nursing; I'm not sure what your educational background is, but I have a degree in science, not art... The original purpose of this post was to gather insight, not prompt debate. Thanks :)

It's for the greater good of nursing as a profession. Nurses are looks down upon. People think nurses are nothing but physicians assistants or handmaidens. That we are subpar practitioners. As much as these misconceptions bother me, there are reasons nurses don't have the recognition they should. To be considered exports, scientists, practitioners and autonomous professionals nursing needs to get rid of all these technical/ vocational entry points. (LPN, ADN) Other clinicians like physicians, PA's, pharmacists, or social workers don't have associate degrees. Why should nurses? I think nurses should have to undergo a similar pre-nursing tract as pre-meds are required. This is the only way we will progress as health care providers.

Nurses are no longer trained, they're educated. I think with advancing education and higher involvement in research, nurses are and should be more of decision makers and thinkers. In other words, more science and less touchy feely stuff...

Thanks for the input. I hope my comment wasn't offensive. I was also an LPN in the military for a couple years, so I've had to climb the ladder as well.

So I've been on the fence about a number of things. I've recently graduated from a BSN program and I'm wondering if nursing is really what I want to do long term. My issues with nursing sort of center around nursing's image and general lack of professional esteem, especially being a male nurse. I cant stand being seen as inferior to physicians, or handmaidens. I think nursing is still a long ways away from gaining the prestige and recognition it deserves. In my personal opinion, that would take doing away with LPNs, ADN nurses, and possibly making an MSN the entry degree for nurses. I kind of bounce around from different ideas of what I should do. I do realize it will be necessary and most beneficial to practice as a staff nurse for at least a year or 2. I'm thinking of getting an MSN/MBA online from Grand Canyon University or perhaps taking my LSAT and going to law school. Not sure yet... I'm wondering if anyone is in a similar situation or has ventured into either law or administration after nursing school and can provide insight... Thanks :)