deb18

Hi. Just moved out of a private practice in north florida. CNS's cannot prescribe in Florida unless they were grandfathered in when there was no difference betweeen nurse practitioners and cns's in Florida ( this was a long time ago). CNS's can do therapy in Florida and bill for it I believe, but you need provider numbers. Prescribing nurse practitioners work under protocol with a doctor. I am unsure if a CNS needs to be under protocol if you are not prescribing. Independent practice is rough, no benefits, collecting from insurances, referal sources and providing psychiatric care that is often provided by psychologists, counselors etc. It does have its perks, such as you are your own boss, no institutional guidelines, not having to deal with administrators. Weigh the pros and cons. Good luck.

Thank you. Some programs offer both options in one. With the CNS tract you may do more in management and teaching and with the NP track more in med management. It depends on your goals. CNS allows for more therapy, but those positions are few and far between. Also look at the state you want to practice in. Good luck.

thank you. I just wanted people to know what I used to study. It may be helpful for them.

Hi. I have been working as a psych np in an outpatient private practice for over 10 years. I am a certified psych cns not an np but because of state regs. when I graduated I am considered a psych ( not certified) np and can perscribe. psych cns's cannot prescribe in my state (fla). Because of it being a private practice, I work at my discretion, but have no benefits. I do meds management, initials, work in out patient clinics we contract with, and I do therapy and emdr. I would think 2-3 years of inpatient psych experience would be enough to at least know if you like it and can deal with the frustrations it involves.

I have been told by patients they have wandered subdivisions looking for me. Try not to live where you are easily accessible. I have my name listed in the phone book under my maiden name so if anyone really knows me they can find me, otherwise, they will have a harder time. Safety is priority. People can want to find you and stalk you regardless if you treat them well or not. They can imagine (ie delusional?) that they love you and you love them and when that is not reciprocated all .... can break loose. transference can be deadly.

took this saturday after being out of school for 15 years. I did the online review course offered by ancc and barkleys for psych nps. I think the ancc course helped a little more since I have been working as an np and doing meds and therapy so I knew most of that stuff. Passed, although I was sick as a dog. I figured I would take it and if I could not pass because of sickness at least I would know what was what with the test. You have to cancel 5 days before taking the test in order not to forfit fees.

I cannot sit for the np exam because education is as a cns, so I am taking the cns exam. i know you will do well with the peds

Hi. I graduated in Fl. from a psych cns program but at that time, I could (and did) become licensed as an ARNP (advanced registered nurse practitioner) in psych in florida. at that time we did not have to be certified to be an advanced nurse. Now we do. I have worked as an associate professor and now am in private practice as a nurse practitioner/cns. I cannot really call myself a cns because I am not licensed as such in Florida. when i take/pass the ancc than I can become dual licensed. I see patients for medication management and therapy. My role, as such, is not any different than the NP that is in the office.

no clue, but that is a good thought, and I would not know how to go about that. ask the BON? I am not even sure where I want to end up. some jobs ask for np certification, some just say certification and some do not mention it.

No,CNS's do not have prescriptive authority here. But, because I am licensed as a nurse practitioner (they did not have CNS licensure when I graduated). I do prescribe and have been over 10 years. I did take the 3 extra courses needed for an NP but cannot test (to my knowledge) as an NP for ANCC. I may be looking to move out of state and wonder where I stand out of state as well as in state. Now, for a CNS or NP license you need certification but did not when I graduated (about 100 years ago it seems lol) so I was grandfathered in. thanks deb

Help. I am having an identity crisis. I don't know what I am. Am I a CNS or NP? My story follows: My MSN is as a community mental health clinical nurse specialist. During my schooling I took a few additional courses that qualified my to apply for a psych NP license in my state. At that time we did not need to be certified (ANCC) to be licensed as an NP. I have been working as a psych np in private practice for over 10 years. I decided to become certified and am waiting to hear from ANCC so I can take the psych clinical specialist certification as my alma matre said I could not take the psych np test. So:once I take the test and pass it, am I then a CNS as well as an NP? I am confused. And I wonder what it would take for me to be able to sit for the psych NP test. Or do I need it? I am interested in a change of work place due to family circumstances and it seems the psych np is more in demand. I am having a nursing identity crisis. Now I know what people who have gender identity issues may feel like. Thanks;)

hi. I graduated from a psych cns program but work as a psych np in private practice. I am self-employed( administrative), I teach my clients extensively (educational) and read a lot of research so I am fulfilling the role in private practice as an np. different states call nurse practitioners different things, in fl. it is arnp and there are specialties (as above, I am psych). hope that helps. deb

Hi. I am a psych np in north florida. While we have prescriptive ability we cannot write for controlled substances. Reimbursement for nps by 3rd parties is terrible. We are under protocol with an MD. Some physicians are welcoming, some are threatened by us. Florida is very southern when you are north of orlando.

Congratulations. Thanks for the info:roll

Hi. I am originally from upstate ny but have lived in Miami for 10 years and now am in Tallahassee for a long time (I dont want to date myself lol). Tallahassee was a great place to raise my kids. Fairly safe (of course crime and drugs are everywhere) public schools ok if you know which ones to avoid. There is some stuff to do here. Traffic is not to bad. people are friendly and it is much more of a southern city than most of the cities further south. there are alot of activities surrounding the universities. As far as health care, not the best or the worst. Pay is, to my understanding, lower than many places. There are two major hospitals here. I work in a private practice. There are 3 schools here that offer a BSN, one an AAS in nursing and one LPN school. There are many RNs coming out of the schools here, which could account for the lower pay. It is a growing community. Are there many other places that you can still get a townhouse in the 100,000 range? and not in areas where you do not want to live? the closest beach is 45 minutes away, as is Georgia. It is not as horrible here as many on this board seem to say it is.