LittleWing21

Honestly, this is a reason I haven't pursued FNP. So many patients come in seeking meds when that shouldn't be the treatment. Good luck finding something that works better for you!

Thanks for sharing that, it definitely makes sense. I have considered Women's Health, but I just don't know how much I would use my IBCLC. I absolutely love working with postpartum dyads and I feel like newborn care and education is a huge strength of mine. I've also considered FNP, but I'm middle-aged with two kiddos and honestly, I just don't want to waste time and $ on areas that I have no interest in. Also, CNM seems to be the only APRN that doesn't involve a good amount of prescribing. And I get so excited thinking about the curriculum! I haven't worked night shifts in many years, perhaps I could tolerate them better now ?

I would love to return to school for my masters but I'm so conflicted about which path! I'm currently an IBCLC with outpatient pedi (and now family practice) experience. I've always been passionate about maternal health and becoming a CNM is something I've considered for years. However, to be honest, I'm uncertain if the hours and the pressure of catching babies would be sustainable for my mental health. Do CNM's ever work purely in the outpatient setting? I would love to work in family medicine, seeing OB patients, helping with newborn care and lactation, as well as holistic-ish women's health. Any advice would be greatly appreciated- thanks! ?

I received my RN locally through a 2yr program ? My BS is in sports med. I loved Norwich! Will you be in the Corps?

Congrats!!!! I’m a Norwich grad but got my nursing degree later on. Their program has a good reputation and I love the school. Please let me know if you have any general questions about it!

If you are looking to work in geriatrics, the Cape is a great place to live!!! You may not get a hospice position right away, but a job as an RN in a LTC facility would probably lead you in the right direction. I'm struggling with my career path a bit personally because I'm at the other spectrum (maternal child) which is quite limited in this area! And no eye-rolling here, I'm a wash-a-shore myself. Been living here for about 7yrs now...sometimes I wonder "what on Earth was I thinking?" but then May rolls around and I remember again :)

Nice to meet y'all! Esf- definitely try at CCH & Falmouth. When I graduated in '08 it was difficult, though not impossible, to get a job there as a new grad. Having a BSN should help. I'm not sure if they even have a nurse recruiter, sadly, but they may. You might try working as a CNA there first if that's an option for you. There's also the Southcoast Hospitals and Jordan Hospital that many nurses on the Cape commute to. Be a little leery of nursing homes. They seem to welcome new grads with open arms....but often don't provide the support that's needed. Good luck!!!! Resanite- CCCC's nursing program is such a hidden gem! I loved it and felt super prepared for my NCLEX! My advice for school? Color-coded flashcards. That helped me soooo much. Sanity on the Cape? Good luck!!! Haha jk! I'm sure you'll find classmates who help you with that :) For me, it was the girls in my first clinical group. I can speak from experience- it can be hard if you're a wash-a-shore! Good luck to you too!

I live and work on Cape Cod! :)

I'd check out the Healthy Children course. I did it last spring and it was fabulous!!! http://www.healthychildren.cc/CLC.HTM They host workshops all around the country. Good luck!

You laugh, but I've seen it happen!!! Some kids are professional fakers! I had one girl who didn't even respond to painful stimuli....however, when I told her that her dad was going to have to pick her up early from camp, she somehow managed to snap out of it! It really is psychological warfare. Try to understand where they're coming from, and why they're faking symptoms. Often, the "fakers" have very vague GI symptoms. But the best way to tell is to get to know the kid. Get them away from other campers and use your therapeutic communication skills to get them to open up. Treating homesickness is a huuuge part of the job description :)

I didn't have a huge amount of experience when I was a camp nurse, and it went just fine! I'd brush up on the biggest issues you may encounter (for me it was Lyme disease and poison ivy). When in doubt, contact the parent/guardian even just to help you sleep better at night. Learn about your local resources, such as outpatient walk-in centers and nearby hospitals. Listen to your gut. And most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! :)

I'm very curious as to what CNMs' schedules are like too. I've tried asking on this board before, but didn't get too many answers. Seems to vary a lot...which is sort of daunting in a "what could I be getting myself into" kind of way. Good luck finding answers!

RN in Mass, $20 at family practice (yuck) and $25 at a pedi office.

I second Baby Catcher, it's now one of my favorite books!!

While no one has answered here, I've found some disheartening info on another forum saying that it's not a very good company to work for Who knows though, could just be their opinion!