agome029

I just wanted to share some information regarding the AANP exam. I have been part of this community ( allnurses.com) for a long time and it has served me well. I believe it is time for me to help others just by writing some words. My story began last year. I graduated July 2018 from my FNP but I didnt want to take my boards just yet, I did not want to practice as a NP after seeing and hearing some many horror stories from friends in the field. So I decided to travel Europe for 2 months right after graduation. It was one of my best life experience ever and if someone has the opportunity , Please go ahead and do it. I came back and I still wasnt ready for my boards. I quit my full time Job and star doing travel nurse. I did some disaster Relief in Florida, I did a couple of strikes in the Mid west and west coast. Fast forward a year later after my graduation. A month ago I found myself in a hotel room during a rapid strike in California, having a bit of anxiety regarding my boards. It was always on the back of my mind like a itch you cant scratch. I thought about of all the time and money Is spent on my masters program and I decided to just set the date for my boards. I gave myself 1 month to study. Mind you, it was about a year since I touched any books or anything so there was a lot of things I didnt remember or knew. I was pretty much starting from zero. I set the date, came home. deleted all social media. I told my friends and family not to disturb me for 1 month. Went to costco and load up on food. I truly didnt leave my house much. I guess I had to " put myself in jail " for this. Tips : You have to develop a healthy routine, Have to sleep 7-8 hours a day minimum- good food, lots of water and it might sound silly but every little thing helps towards that big day and exercise. I would wake up around 7am - study until 7 pm and the go to the gym until 9 and be sleeping by 10-11. Learn to say No to people. Tell everybody you care for and know about your test so they understand why you are not coming to a bday party, or dinner, etcs. It also makes you accountable. When I graduated I had to do barkeley+review which personally didnt like much. I got the CD's which I would play on my car if I was driving somewhere from time to time. I used the Hollier review mainly. I didnt attend to the live review But I got the videos which I played over and over. She is the best in explaining complicated subjects in a easy manner that its easy for your to retain. Maria LEIK Intensive Nurse Practitioner review as a complementary source. If you dont have money to spend on hollier, this will save you the questions in the book are more than enough and they are very similar to the boards ( favorite Qbank ) Fitzgerald Review. i tried this too for 1 week. Too much info- if you like challenging yourself and have the time great book. I purchased the Qbank from APEA which was ridiculous expensive and to be honest. The questions were way too into depth compare to the boards. I was getting 68% on the Q bank . I purchased 2 predictor exams from APEA 70% & 73 % 3 days before my test. I used examedge ( 5 exams ) that a friend of mine gave me. Some people say those questions are too easy but honestly, they are very similar to the boards. I was getting 76% average here. Boardvitals -- I used for 2 days and I called to have a refund-- Those questions are wayyyyyy to long 3 -4 paragraph questions ( not worth the time or money ). The day before the test I went for a beer to relax , I ended up day drinking ( drunk ) . Mind you I had my test a 1 pm next day and I wasnt feeling that great the next morning. Stupid Idea. I finished my exam with 50 min extra. I can tell you there was only 2 questions I had no idea about. The rest was pretty easy to be honest. I got to the point I was getting worried because I felt I was being tricked or something. take your time and read the question over and over. You will have plenty of time to finish. Good luck to everyone! If I can pass this after 1 year of not touch a book. You can too !

She stated. she tried to wake up the pt but he didnt respond. He sat were 96 on 2 Liters. no great but okay. Nursing 101. You need to look at the patient and not the monitor. Im telling you if she would let the med wean off. He would prob go into respiratory failure and arrest eventually. This guy just had a fracture with a long medical history. Those are the pt who go down very quickly. Who care about the pain control ? when the patient is not responding. Seriously you are scaring me, I wouldnt trust you with anybody

Hey , travel nurse is amazing specially if you have someone to travel with. I recommend you to get more experience in ICU, at least 1 year- when you travel they give you a 1-2 day orientation and they expect you to know your stuff- depends on the department , most of the time you are on your own- nurses tend to hate travelers because we make more money so they will let you drown- That’s why I’m telling you to have a strong experience - schedule wise - yes you can schedule vacations , holidays etcs- keep in mind that this hospitals during the holidays so that’s why you are hire - a lot depends on your recruiter too— -a lot of times they will require you to work 4 days a week , that’s why you make the good money because of the OT- other places will require you 3- there are different companies that will pay you high hourly rates low stipend - others high stipend and low hourly rates -/ it depends on you - as growing as an ICU nurse — wel from experience I learned most of mine experience at my old job— I worked ina level 1 trauma center -/ you will be in different hospitals wirh better and also worse equipment so your ability to adapt will be tested — if you are going to travel - end your lease - sell everything- if you put it on storage for a year or 2 - you will be paying more in storage fees that’s what’s your stuff worth — some nurses own houses and that’s a good investment - but to rent I would end it— you can also ge an RV -

1. Next time stop the Doctor and ask him what he needs or wants? Because Im sure the if some tells me ' whatever you want", they wont like it because I will order the FULL 1 million dollars work up and he will get called by his boss lol. seriously Thats the doctors Job and sometimes we as nurses have to " educate them' 2. Sounds like you might be new but try to get familiar with labs, procedures for some diseases CHF, MI, Sezuires, DM etcs. For example for . your patient, levels of the drug, CBC with diff, CMP, abgs, CT brain will be a good idea ( could a infection cause this ) I mean this will be the doctors job but yo can assist. Know the meds in case of the emergency for each disease. Ativan IM/IV for zesuires. oxygen, turn them on the side etcs. -- hypoglycemia -- DW50, CHF, nitro diuretics. 3. You supervior should know this - tell you to ask the crisis RN is passing the ball.

Im sorry this happened to you. I am Trauma ED nurse , ICU, rapid response. I see this every day regarding the ED and ICU. Nurses with God complexes " eating their young" . I guess I used to be like that during my first 2-3 years but I finally understood that floor nursing doesnt get expose to " emergencies" like we do, therefore you critical thinking is different. Its like me going to IR, OR for the day, I wouldnt know what to do. I wish ICU and ED nurses would teach other nurses and just be kind. At least thats what I try to do even I respond to any call. we all have the same purpose and it is to save the patient. Next time when they arrive to the bedside, if you arent the primary nurse step aside and just ask if there is anything you can do, if not just leave the room because it gets very busy. Make sure Vital, Blood sugar, etcs chart is pulled up. Please KNOW your patient. I cant tell you how many times I have arrived to the bedside and the primary nurse literally has no idea why the patient is in the hospital. Anyways my point is that, dont feel bad about calling rapid on a patient EVER!!!!! call Rapid response every hour if you have to !!The bad behavior of that rapid response nurse only shows her own shortcomings and issues. It has nothing to do with you. BTW you should write her up. Im sure she would love that lol,

Hey, don’t beat yourself over this. I work in the ED and this happens quite frequently, we give marcan like it’s free candy . Sounds like you patient had a lot of cormborbities- such a renal issues, pneumonia etcs- sounds like he was a hot mess- what’s his/her age ? Hx - etcs- a good assement in the am priority - never believe or trust what the prior nurse day - always double check— regarding narcotics - I don’t think 0.5 was a big dose - I mean he had a fracture- people bodies just respond differently - the only thing I can tell you is to check on your patients more frequently , after 30 mins- if they are sleeping - just wake them up - they will go back to sleep , make sure they are arosuable — next time this happens just override the narcan and give it - call the doctor for the order -promise you you won’t get in trouble for saving his life - sit the pt- none rebreather- very very painful stilmulartion- sooo don’t feel bad I given narcan 5 minutes after giving opioids - many time I had to help intubate - you cant predict how anyone will respond - sickle patients come tot he ed- sometimes we give them -6 mg Diulated- 50 Benadryl in 2 hours and sent them home lol- my point is - *** happens - just learn for the next time

1. I had a patient who called 911 because she was having numbness on her lady parts for 7 years. She was sent to minor care STAT 2. had another rescue patient that was brought to the ED complaining of a sore throat after swallowing a pill.