Muse4723

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/dnp/DNP-Study.pdf

I graduated May, and took my NCLEX July 1.

I graduated nursing school during the recession in Ohio. I had an extremely difficult time finding a job because I was a new graduate. During my spring break, I traveled to Dallas, Texas and submitted my application at the various hospitals in the area. I was called for an interview while I was here, and then was hired on the spot! I graduated May 2009, and moved to Texas during Memorial weekend. I had to take the Texas jurisprudence exam online, which only took an hour. I scheduled to take my NCLEX here and passed. I would encourage you to take that chance and travel. I look back and see how much it has made me grow and all the career opportunities I have had while here in Texas. I graduated with my ACNP in 2013, and now I am currently in school for my DNP. I have a great career now, and I don't see that stopping. If something is telling you to go to Massachusetts, then do it! If it doesn't work out, you will always call California home. I remember feeling like I wasn't going to have anyone, since all my friends and family were in Ohio. But something in me made me feel I was doing the right thing. "The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." (Mark Zuckerberg).

I am an ACNP, working within a hospital. How do ya'll track your net worth? I know you can look at improved patient outcomes, decreased length of stay, and patient load. But how do know the value that you bring to your organization so you can use that information to leverage a better salary?

Just accepted a job offer at a university hospital for 20% more money and way better benefits! I can't believe I put up with such BS for so long. This was definitely a life lesson as a nurse practitioner. Don't let people take advantage of our skills! I tried to reason with them and state the improved outcomes that are documented since my arrival, but that wasn't enough for a raise. I marketed all those qualities during my job interview, and they offered me the job instantly! I'm excited for my new adventure! and I want to thank everyone for their advice on this forum. You all truly gave me the motivation to succeed.

If I were you, I would take the AGACNP exam. I wish I could, but my class structure at the time did not meet the requirements to take the AGACNP. Now, if for whatever reason I let my license lapse, I will need to go back to school and take the gero classes I missed, and then take the AGACNP exam.

I thought the ANCC is done with the ACNP exam, and has formulated the AGACNP exam per the LACE model. At least at my school, I know I was the last class to take the ACNP exam December 2013, because it was changing to include more geriatric questions to coincide with the aging population. My school restructured its classes to include more geriatric lessons, to prepare the next class to take the AGACNP exam.

I really want to thank you all for your advice and motivation to not be taken advantage of. I want to update you on more of the ugliness that has transpired. After my meeting with the CNO, I asked my boss for a raise. I stated, "you know I've worked here for a year, the responsibilities are adding up, I'm working more than the required 40 hours a week consistently, and I'm only making $2 more an hour than I was as a bedside RN". His response to me was that he consistently works 50-60 hours a week.. Totally just minimized my situation and my request. So I applied for jobs, to hopefully show them what a nurse practitioner should make just rounding for 1 service line's patients. I had my first interview last Friday, and it went really well. I was asked to return yesterday for another round of interviews, and that went really well too. They asked for references, so I asked my boss if he could be a reference for me, and he stated there is a policy that forbids him to be a reference for a current employee. I don't know if that's true or not, but I will be in HR's office on Monday morning to find this policy.. I'm just so frustrated that all this has happen. I truly enjoy my job, the doctors I work with, and the nurses. But I can't keep being taken advantage of right? My salary is not even comparable to what a new nurse practitioner makes in my area (85-95k).

No contract. Just a collaborative agreement with my intensivists.

The way this issue was presented to me was under time constraints so I couldn't really gather my thoughts to present a logical answer other then I'll think about it and get back with them. I almost felt threatened that if I didn't do this for the hospital, I would get bad references from them if I decide to leave. They went on to say that this would be reflected within my yearly evaluation.. But that doesn't promise me anything. I know that I am an underpaid NP, but I weighed the pros and cons before I started, and felt I was getting everything I wanted minus a few grand. But now that these other duties were presented to me, I definitely feel insulted.

I currently work 40 hours a week as a NP at a hospital, and I am currently enrolled full time at Saint Louis University's DNP program. It is very challenging but doable. It is all online except for an orientation in the beginning, and presentation of your capstone project at completion.

What would you do as a nurse practitioner? I have been working at a hospital within the critical care areas with 2 intensivists for the past year. Apparently, another group of doctors are interested in a NP of their own, but it isn't budgeted. The CNO approached me and asked if I would be willing to enter an agreement with these doctors ALONG with my current docs, FOR NO EXTRA PAY. I am currently salary (84,000), with no RVUs. When I was approached, this opportunity was presented that it will advance my career, which it will because I will be seeing patients that will broaden my knowledge base as a NP. Is this intrinsic motivator worth it? In a way I feel like I am being taken advantage of, and I can't imagine taking direction from 4 doctors, who are in varying specialties.