tracelane

I read your post and had to respond as an old nurse (since 1994) who has been where you are. The best choice is to stay where you are for at least another year. If you keep changing jobs, employers will be reluctant to hire you. The patients can be annoying in any setting so take that off the table. Instead, focus on looking at certifications or additional courses to build up your CV and help you decide. For example, a course on AI in healthcare. Or a course on dealing with difficult people. Maybe a new language. If you still want to leave after a year, you will be in a stronger position. Maybe you are really just bored. T

I haven't gone to the employee physical yet so not sure. It's next Wednesday. This was for the VetPro credentialing. There's a form asking for a physician's signature to say the person has no physical or mental illness preventing them for performing their duties. The urgent care did a checkup UA, vitals, vision, lungs, etc and signed it. No gown. I'll post again after the employee one. Tracy

The Urgent Care MD signed it so, whew! $150 though. Hope this helps someone. Next, employee physical. Tracy

Has to be an MD. I submitted it with an NP but she said no. At an urgent care now, I hope the MD will sign it. T

Hi, I thought I'd add my timeline for an NP position. Interviewed May, 18th Tentative offer June 16th I submitted the background check information, had my fingerprints, completed VetPro all except the Declaration of Health form. It's my holdup right now. I didn't know this would be needed and it requires a physician's signature stating I'm mentally and physically able to work. This is in VetPro and not related to the employee physical. Employee physical is scheduled on July 25th. I'm going to an urgent care and ask for a pre employment physical to have the form signed. I'll have to pay out of pocket for it. If anyone is going through the process, start working on this early. It can be signed by a co worker but there are no physicians in my clinic, my PCP retired, and I don't know of anyone to sign the form so it's a speed bump. Hope this helps someone. T

I am a faculty member in a graduate program. I have discussed this with some of my fellow faculty members. A big part of the problem is the concern over student evals. Our promotion and raises are impacted by low student satisfaction scores. It's difficult not to consider this when dealing with a difficult student. Not sure I'll be able to make it! I don't have that many negative "reviews" but I've noticed having one angry student can impact the whole class.

Venting is good! I came here for support as well. Maybe the rude person is the faculty member in question. Hmmmm.

Hi, There were a few things which made my first year difficult. I accepted a position as an NP where I'd worked as an RN. The position was for a contracted physicians group and they paid very late. Supposed to paid monthly but it ended up being 6 weeks or more. I didn't think to ask if pay days were usually on time. I was the only NP among the physicians and it was tough. I learned a lot but I'd say find a position with other NPs to mentor you. My latest lesson.... Make sure you have your salary in writing before accepting the position and think twice before accepting a bonus. You could find yourself with a one year commitment to living in a trailer with no insulation 7500 feet above sea level, frozen pipes, miles away from medical care and most important, no Starbucks! I'm at 3 years of experience now and love it. Much better than floor nursing. All the stress and school are well worth it. T

I'm in a DNP program now and will finish May '11. You could go straight in but I would say not if you plan to start working as a new NP at the same time. That first NP job is stressful. Look at the programs carefully. We were required to have more clinical hours in addition to the classroom time which was a bit strange being an NP already but I have learned from my clinical time. We were able to select clinical experiences in areas where we felt we needed more expertise. For instance, I spent time putting in IUDs and working in a free clinic where I learned more about community resources and funding. I also made sure I spent time with a radiologist. The finance classes were a bit rough but I can now hold my own in hospital management meetings. I didn't know how little I knew! I love learning and am glad I decided to pursue the degree. It's a LOT of time and work though. We have had some spirited discussions in class and I have gained faculty mentors so it's a win/win. T

Hello, I'd say option 3. The move to DNP as an entry level requirement isn't set in stone yet but it is planned for 2015. I'm in a DNP program now and would urge you to ask questions about clinical (aka residency) time as it's more than I'd suspected as well as how long the program has been in place. With the DNP you'll have courses in finance and advanced management so if you decided to become the CEO, it will help. Balancing those spreadsheets caused me pain and a touch of PTSD. I wouldn't want to be in management or as a CEO, they seem to work really long hours, are under stress and never look happy. With the DNP you could teach, work in a clinical settig or manage. The sky is the limit! T

Hi, I work in an urgent care setting. We work from 8am to 8pm but if there are still patients in the clinic at 8pm it is often longer. I don't even try to do anything after work. The number of patients vary. My busiest day is 50 patients in 12 hours. Usually it is around 35 to 40. T

Hi, I thought I'd let you know how my application is progressing. I'm a Family Nurse Practitioner and my application was received 6/11/10. It isn't showing up on the "check status" link. I applied to a position with an agency also (as the website advises) and have visited the facility and been offered a position as long as my application with the agency checks out. I contacted the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and was told they do have my appllication. The person I spoke with advised me to accept the position as a GS employee and then convert to a PHSCC officer later. They told me they really aren't processing any applications at this time due to the health reform bill changes. Putting the application together is a lot of work! I hope things open up soon. I'll take the job as GS and hope for the best. The Web site http://www.usphs.gov/ makes it look as if they really need people but it doesn't seem so. T

I am in a DNP program and will finish (I Hope!) May 2011. I have had the same issues. At first I didn't realize when nurses asked, why are you doing that? , that they were being negative. I tried to explain that I wanted to learn more, etc. Now I just say Why not? That stops them. It seems to be a variation of the nurses eat their young sort of thing. Instead of being supportive, like crabs, some people try to drag you back down into the bucket. T

Hi, I'm just starting the process and after reading all this will try and be patient! Is anyone an FNP or know if there is a great need for FNP's? I'm hoping to relocate to NM and work in the IHS. Thanks for any info! Tracy

Hi, I was talking to a Nurse Practitioner in another state and mentioned a few years ago South Carolina lost our ability to write for schedule 2's and the language in our practice act was changed from collaborative agreement to supervisory agreement. Have any of you notice similar changes in your states? Tracy FNP