Equus419

I do not know the 'exact' answer to your question but as an APN student myself, I will share my thoughts! lol Since you will be sitting the Board Certification in the US for the first time, - you will have to prove education + clinical hours. Your Ontario license should validate these from the educational standpoint... In Michigan, to get an APN license, you must have an MI - RN license + education + Board Certification... sooo if you get the Board Certification and already have the RN license in good standing, it doesn't seem like there would be an issue to getting your MI - APN license. Renewal may be tricky if after you get the MI APN license you don't practice here for a period of time.... Good luck. Lisa

I have since tansferred OUT of the dual specialty. I am in the Adult/Gerontology Primary Care track now. I made it up to the second full year but was unable to get a contract between the healthcare group and the college in a timely manner to begin clinicals - so now I start primary care clinicals in 2 months. My single biggest suggestion to anyone would be to take the Advanced Nursing Assessment class somewhere else (Master's level). The way it is set up at USA it is highly anxiety ridden, stressful and of little overall value due to the speed you go through it (only offered in an 8 week summer course and you do the whole book; plus a video taped assessment with all these parameters due in the first half of the semester - Anyway, I would suggest taking this BEFORE you get into the USA program if at all possible. As to if its the "best" program... I went into the dual because I wanted the most generic too (broadest opportunities) - however, it turns out I HATE peds. I also was frustrated by the singular focus on ED - as at least in our area, primary care is really where the opportunities are for NPs and the ED positions are all direct 'underlings' to an MD/DO. Lisa

Sorry Jay - I don't check here very often... message me directly and I'll se what I can find. Which classes? the ED ones each have one major paper "Issues & Trends" - one has 4 tests (very straight forward!) and one Post/CP; the other has a series of TD (Post/CP) The assessment class about killed me - video of yourself performing an exam (not exactly head to toe, not exactly a neuro) - I did not have the equipment to do thejob... by the time I got everything together ($$$), I had to rush thru the video; 4 tests - the last one was new material + some cumulative to tell you the truth, I can't even remember what the 4th class was!

Kenyo left the USA program for another one (don't know which one)

You will have a 'general' orientation this year, the week before you start classes (last year it fell the week the rest of the campus started classes so we were a week "behind"). Then you will come to campus one time/year with your clinical group- each subspecialty has its own time frame. Full time is intense if you work full time too. I work 40 hrs & have carried 9-12 credits for 3 semesters - part time program I think would give you more sanity. Lisa

PS- I am in the BSN-DNP Advanced Emergency Nursing (FNP/Adult gerontological acute care dual role). It is not 'just' for ED :-) It is really developed for rural practitioners since you may not have as many 'specialities' available and may need to serve a much broader populace. Lisa

I just finished my 3rd semester with USA DNP... My biggest complaint with USA is that I am a very information needy person (a "West" / planning personality by their orientation testing) - most of the instructors fell into "East" /big picture. Orientation was spent in a lecture-type setting learning about praxis, mind mapping, learning styles, and about the biomedical library - all things that will help you write papers, etc. The down side is that I didn't get any of the information "I" needed - about the final project, types of assignments, how the classes were set up, additional costs, etc. - one year down and the slow dole-out of information is still my biggest beef - for *me*, everything seems very last minute (but I am from Michigan and perhaps that is a North/South geographical difference?) We did briefly at the end of one day break up into our specialty groups so we could meet & greet with each other and the specialty coordinator. Orientation(s) are broken out by specialty, with each group going at a different time (when you are ready to start clinicals), and then the big orientation each fall for new students. There are great people in the program - there is a good, supportive group on facebook (search: USA DNP) - they are sanity touch-stones and very helpful with info. Congrats to you all - there is help if you merely ask! You will make great friends with some of those you meet. Lisa

All programs have good and bad- so end up with grumblers. Is there something specific you have heard? I just completed my third semester (BSN-DNP). The full time curriculum is insane if you work full time too. Most of the instructors have been great, but the two (out of 11 classes) that weren't were horrible enough that I would never take a class with them again. Lisa

I just finished my 3rd semester... full time load is insane! Definitely buy 'required' books, but I have only used 1-2 of the 'recommended' ones in 3 semesters... I have found all but 2 (out of 11 classes) of the instructors to be great... the two that weren't fall into the 'bad apple' category... Good luck! Lisa PS- on facebook, there is a USA DNP page with lots of helpful people, also an USA AACNP page but not as well used..

I was accepted and will be at the Fall Orientation... excited... nervous... YIKES! I live in SW Michigan and would love to network with others going into this group - also FNP/AACNP (Emergency Specialization) Lisa:lol2:

just as an 'for what its worth' from a manager level person ... At our hospital we CANNOT (not allowed) accept an application from anyone for anything unless there is a posted opening. Openings must go thru HR & Finance unless they are a 're-fill' - add to that we are a union hospital so EVERYONE else (internal) gets the option at the position before a new-hire can even be considered. Also - in our area, midwest, there are so many cutbacks that there are TONS of very experienced nurses applying for ANY position. It makes it hard to justify the long orientation of a new grad when you have a 'ready made' staff person in front of you. It is getting better though and I wish you the best of luck!

Hello, I work at a (very) small rural OB unit and am currently in charge of updating our outpatient discharge instructions. I am having a hard time finding anything for 'routine' visits: (reactive) NST's, Rhogam injuections, etc. My questions: How do you handle these routine visits when it comes to DC instructions? Do you even give written DC instructions for NST/Rhogam? What is incorporated on them? if you have a copy you'd be willing to share, I'd REALLY appreciate it! thanks in advance Lisa

I can't speak to the management part.... but I do have to say, since the "nursing shortage" has become an issue, recent interviews that I have had seem to be "shedding the rules" of the 'old days' lol all the old no-no's don't seem to hold fast anymore - I think its more cultural now to each hospital than any steadfast rules. My last interview (successful btw) was so laid back I was almost scared that I wasn't even in contention for the position - it was just chatting back and forth! Of course, experienced nurses are in short supply here so if your references check out, you can pretty much get any job you try for! Lisa

Actually, when I attended Michelle Murphy's advanced fetal monitoring class this April, she went in to GREAT depth as to the physiology of why boluses over 500 ml were a CAUSE of maternal hypotension in relationship to epidurals... :-) Lisa