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My Dad always told me... it's good to have a job, but it is a true blessing to love your job. It's never too late to pursue another career. I think it's healthy that you've identified your feelings about being an LPN. It is how you use these emotions that will truly decide your fate. Will you start a brand new journey into another field? Will you continue in healthcare? Will you pursue a passion or hobby and turn it into a career? While nursing has been so life-giving to me, I've been in particular areas of nursing that have lead to frustration and burnout. Recently, I found great purpose in being a research nurse and clinical trials coordinator. I know what it is like to go to work everyday and dread the next 12 hours ahead of me, but when I realized my negativity I started to seek a new position. Ive never been an LPN, but as an RN I know that having an RN can afford you a wider variety of jobs in research, education, critical care. I think you have to take time for yourself and reflect on what you want to accomplish in the next 5, 10, and 15 years. If becoming an RN is your goal, then continue to pursue this goal. If becoming a teacher...or working in business is a goal...pursue that. I had a 52 year old grandmother in my nursing class. You are never too old to pursue your dreams. Spend some time focusing on yourself and doing things to take care of you. As nurses we spend so much of our time taking care of others...we forget to take care of ourselves. We've all got skills to offer the world...find yours and shine... Hope this is helpful!

I am glad that you are interested in advancing your career! As mentioned above CRNA school is extremely competitive. Most applicants have a cumulative GPA > 3.5. That's not to say that if it is less than that you wouldn't get in. Pharmacology is VERY important to the CRNA faculty and you should retake it and get an "A". While grades are very important it is not the only factor in getting in. The GRE is VERY important as well and is a crucial component to the totality of you application. Working with CRNA students, those with lower cumulative GPA's had higher GRE scores. Clinical experience is also an extremely important factor. A minimum of one full year (OUTSIDE OF ORIENTATION, usually at least 3 months) in a critical care unit is required. The more experience the heavier that weighs in on your overall application. Certifications like CCRN, CSC, and CNRN also add weight to your overall application. The "D" will be on your transcript, but when you retake the courses if you get an A, you can elaborate on how the first time you took it you had a rough start. The interview is crucial, I had a friend with the PERFECT CV, GRE, and GPA and bombed his interview, he didn't get in the first time, but got in the second time around. If you interview really well and are able to explain physiological processes really well (I am sure there are horror stories about how intense this interview is, questions like how does Propofol work at the molecular level or explain the path of a PA catheter and the ECG rhythms associated with it). If you can ROCK the interview, even if your grades are slightly lower, you may still be offered a spot in the program. All this to say, you need to re-take those courses for your future as an RN! While it is important to think about the future and going the EXTRA mile to get all A's and B's in nursing school! You will first and foremost be a NURSE! Some people are really tuned off by that, but whether a CRNA, NP, or Midwife, you are still and NURSE! The are certainly other paths to consider to be a mid-level provider (PA in primary care or anesthesia or Anesthesia Assistant), that you may want to consider if you'd rather go a different direction than nursing.

Nursing is not just bedside...in the hospital! While that is the MAJOR focus of nursing school, there are a wide variety of options when becoming a nurse that have nothing to do with Med-surge, ICU, or LnD. Psychiatric nursing is a fantastic career for those interested in psychology! Case management is great for those interested in sociology! There is a huge demand for psychiatric nurse practitioners and this could be a great end-goal career! There is also nursing education, which is great for people who are life long learners! Education would be a great field if you enjoy pathophysiology, pharmacology and nursing theory! Then there is my field nursing research! Yes research, the class everyone hates in undergraduate (BSN) programs! I worked in the ICU, Med-Surge, and PCU, but when I started working in these areas I thought of ways we could implement best practice guidelines! I work with subjects who participate in clinical trials, and drug trials to see if we can improve patient outcomes. I work with inpatient and outpatient subjects! I work with a ton of people in psychometrics, these people have masters in psychology and run data analysis as well as cognitive testing (I work in Neurology). All this to say! I always like to tell people nursing is a great career, because it opens so many doors to do things you don't traditionally think as nursing! To some administering medications, giving bed-baths, and developing care plans is their passion and it gives their life purpose. For others working with psychiatric patients and leading group therapy sessions is their passion. Still for others reading the latest data points about a new pharmacological drug is their passion! Nursing looks a lot different from what is taught in school, mainly because there simply isn't enough time! Hope this helps! Good Luck!

You need to ask yourself if you really want to be a physician! I have known two people who have started medical school and then decided on becoming nurses because, they preferred the bedside nursing care over the in and out management of care from the physician. You mentioned that you considered the BSN to MSN accelerated, if this is a Nurse Practitioner Program I highly recommend that you stay in Medical School. The MD route will give you a greater amount of autonomy, regardless of what state you live in. Do not simply leave medical school for financial reasons. There are plenty of opportunities to take out student loans, and if you've been through the first two years debit free that is a huge accomplishment. Go with your heart and your passions. Perhaps waiting two years until you start residency to start having children will also make this an easier financial decision. Good luck! Keep the community updated!

One drug that I would look at would be Ketamine, it's technically an anesthetic drug, but we use it a lot for stopping patient in status epilepticus.

I agree with the above. We see a lot of CVAs and TIAs especially if the patient got TPA our standard is Neuro ICU for at least 24 hours. We see a lot of SAH and they stay in the Neuro ICU forever because of the risk of vasospasims, at least 2 weeks. Also see a lot of TBIs. I am in New Orleans so I see a lot of people who were drunk and fell or got into bar fights. We occasionally will get overflow from the MICU and CCU. We get a lot of neurosurgery patients but it's mostly the craniotomies. We don't get many spinal surgeries because they'll go to the step down unit. Also Neurogenic Shock and Brain death patients who are donating their organs. Neuro ICU can be very sad because our patients tend to not have the best outcomes.

Good Luck!!

Was there an email sent or was it a phone call? Well I'll wait and see if there is really bad news or just a delay. I've been accepted into two other programs, so at least I know that I'll be starting a DNP program in MAY :)

When were you notified by Duke and how were you notified? I haven't heard anything yet.

I haven't recieved a call or email trying to set up an interview. I got accepted into two other programs, but am still waiting to hear from Duke and Vanderbilt. When and how were you notified from Duke? Also did you apply to the DNP portion with the DNP portfolio?

Thanks! I really like their program and I hope that I get in! I know that for the last round of applicants they had 170 applicants and only 45 spots, so fingers crossed!

Decided to start this thread to see if anyone had any idea when Duke would be notifying applicants about interviews?