DeeRN,BSN

Oh boy, it all just sounds so complicated. Are you going to be going full time or part time? This matters because if you do part time, you will get your BSN in 3 years, then your MSN in another 3. Thats 6 years of school and debt. If you go full time, you will finish your BSN in 1.5 years and the same for your MSN. so, with that said, it all depends if youre gonna be full time or not. PA school is 2 years. if you can only be part time, I would go for the PA route. good luck.

Hello!! Wanted to know what different locations FNP students have done their clinical rotations. I am a FNP student with Drexel University and I am particularly interested in Urgent Care. However, I know we have to do an OBGYN rotation, but where else would be beneficial to go (besides a family practice) to learn the most and have it be exciting! Where have you all gone? What exciting things have you done, seen??

I thought most ED's would hire FNP's since they have peds training, rather than ACNP's that do not. I could be wrong but that's what I was informed

Hey all!, I am going to start the FNP program this fall with Drexel University and I was wondering if anyone, with any FNP program, has had any clinical time in an ER. My goal is to have the ER as an option for work after I graduate and I wanted to know if it was beneficial to do a clinical rotation there, or do I have to stick with doctor offices? TIA!!

Tsk Tsk!! Shame on you "professionals" who have "scolded" the OP for her post. Relax!! shes a new user and was not asking a question that she felt has been asked before, for the exception of the NP vs PA question. Now, my opinion to you is to follow your gut on this one. You mentioned you always wanted to work in the medical field. That can be many different roles. A person who decides to be a nurse has to have a lot of heart for the job. Everything about it is tough. The hours, the environment, the stress, the politics, and the patients themselves. There is a lot of bullying that happens in the nursing field, but you will find that every where you go. Unfortunately, this is something you will have to learn to handle and deal with. I have been an RN for 6 years and have worked in the ICU for 3 of them and in the OR prior. Both units have their share of bullies or "strong personalities" if you will. However, there are a lot of nice nurses, both seasoned and new that are just lovely and not at all tough to work with. My advice to you is to stick with nursing. Become a NP in whatever specialty you like. There are soooooo many routes you can take once you have become a RN first. Do not let the people you work with intimidate you with your career choice. I love my job. Could not see myself doing anything else. I am a Student NP now at Drexel University, so my opinion might be biased but I think you are doing the right thing sticking with nursing

Yes I have spoken to an advisor already and she told me to just sit tight for now that there will be an email sent out to all of us for further instructions on how to register for our classes. She never said anything about needing to take a patho test before the start of the semester.

OMG!! I also live in the suburbs of philly and I received my BSN from Drexel as well. I love this school which is why i applied to it for my masters. What suburb do you live in? Im in Royersford/Limerick area. Congrats to you as well!!! So we should look forward into seeing each other this fall =)

On FB there is a group called Preceptors for Nurse Practitioner Students. find it on FB, request entry, and post what preceptors you need. This group is full of students and preceptors who will help you out.

No im not the one who accepts or declines, sorry. But it usually doesnt take them that long to approve the request.... maybe like a day or so.

There is a group on facebook called Preceptors for Nurse Practitioner Students. Its a closed group, so when you find it, request entry and it will be approved by someone and then you will be a part of it. This group is used to find preceptors wherever you live. You simply post a comment stating where you are from and when you need a certain preceptor by and other NP's and NP students will help you out! good luck!

Looking to get a little more info as to what this program teaches during rotation/clinicals. I start the FNP program this fall and had questions as to what skills one will learn. Do we get to learn how to intubate people? I know we learn sutures and casting. What else do we learn during the workshops?? Thanks for any info.

For any NP student that needs a preceptor. if you want me to add you, i can =) but make sure I can find you on fb to add your name... i havent been able to find the other people on this board yet. The settings on fb are probably made to have only friends of friends find you. it needs to be set to have have public find you on fb. Or you can try to send me the email you use for your fb account and i can find you that way i think.

aww im sorry. well its free, so nows a reason to have fb lol

I believe you have to have your RN license to even apply.

Thank you so much ladies for the advice!! Im pretty determined to make it work... just didnt want to kid myself about how hard it would be lol.... best of luck to you

OK Im adding those whos emails i have so far!! keep an eye on FB requests

HA! Good Luck! I truly wish you the best. Keep us posted on how you did.

I dont plan on taking it lightly. I know its going to be tough. My anxiety goes through the roof when Im taking tests as it is, let alone a board exam. Have you decided to take the AANP exam this time? I did my own research of the two exams and it looks like the AANP is much more clinical based. Everything you reviewed about the diseases and their process and treatment will more likely be on the AANP rather than the AANC. When it comes down to it, I think im going to sit for the AANP. I really dont care for the ethical and political mambo jambo that comes along with the NP role.

I start the FNP program this fall with Drexel. I currently only work 3 days a week (12 hour shifts) but will soon only work weekends (sat and sun 12 hour shifts). I have a 7 1/2 month old son and am planning on giving my little guy siblings. My question is.... Is FNP school do-able when you have a baby and might be planning on getting pregnant with in the year as well? Or is the course work too much handle and juggling family life and school life too hard? I do have a wonderful husband who helps tremendously and family living nearby, but I am afraid of my son feeling like mommy isnt around much anymore. Anyone else have to juggle family, kids and school? Any advice?? I am a fairly good student. I had a 3.6 GPA for my BSN. I would like to know I can pass the program with good grades and not by just scraping by.

hi Susan, PM me your email and i can add you to the group. youll see an invite on FB about the group. As soon as you accept you can check out everyones posts and post your own info too for help.

Youre welcome. In order to be a part of this group you have to send me your email and then pay attention to an invite on FB to join a group, then simply accept. About a year before your clinicals, youre gonna want to post where you need a preceptor and what specialty. Then different NP's will answer or even other students.

Hi Lea, Thats great!! I have a couple friends who are either graduating this year or next year and they share all of the headaches the computer programs are Also, I was told to start looking for preceptors early on. This is the biggest challenge all the students run into. Apparently finding someone to precept you in the specialty the school requires is tough. The first clinical rotation for us at Drexel is OBGYN and has been the toughest to find a preceptor for this specialty. Do you know your first rotation yet? There is this secret FB group that is for NP students looking for preceptors. A lot of NP's who precept are part of this group and you just simply post your location and your need of preceptor for a certain specialty and someone helps you out to find you a preceptor. Let me know if you are interested in becoming a part of it.

I am trying to network with people who will be starting the NP program this fall so we can be each others support and bounce things off each other when need be. I am starting the program at Drexel. Anyone else starting soon? nervous? I am!! Im extemely anxious to just start and get the ball rolling already lol

Thanks Alicia, Ill keep that in mind. I definitely would like to keep my NP career in the OR if I can. Once it gets closer to that I will PM you if I think of any questions. Thanks a bunch!!

Alicia, I was very interested in being a surgical FNP as well. I worked in the OR as an RN, now Im in the ICU, but would love to be back in the surgical setting as a FNP. Do you have to have your RNFA to first assist the surgeon?? What kind of surgery are you in and how did you get that job?.... if you don't mind me asking ?