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My employer allows 360 hours but that is PTo, CME, Sick time all rolled into one. We also receive 8-10 holidays per year.

The worst nursing interview of my career was in Pittsburgh Pa. I forget the exact position, but I believe it was something in outpatient surgery. I was looking for a second part-time or prn position to earn a little extra money. I arrived for the interview and met a woman who introduced herself as the manager of the department. The interview was conducted in an exam room. She was about mid 40s and had been with the facility 7 years. The interview went as expected with the first few questions then she pulled out my resume and this is where it went south quickly. She looked over the paper (had she not looked at it before) and saw I had a Masters Degree and asked, "A masters degree is useless, what do you think you can do with that?" I was a bit shocked as I came from Florida and everyone either had a graduate degree or was working towards one and in Pittsburgh there were still diploma programs and advanced degrees were not as common. I answered the woman with a typical self-improvement and a desire to remain marketable. She responded very poorly, "Its a ***ing waste of money and I find nurses with graduate degrees make *** nurses." It was at this point I picked up my water and said, "well this interview is over" and I walked out. I thought about reporting her behavior and comments to HR, but I really wanted nothing to do with that organization after that.. I have had a few poor interviews when I worked as a nurse, but that one always stuck with me. Thankfully, I moved away from Pittsburgh and never experienced that type of attitude since..

Skills can be taught and knowledge obtained by 90% of nursing graduates. You started as a newbie and had to learn the skills taught to you. I was an ICU nurse for many years and taught critical care concepts. So on your days off what on earth do they do? They must call you at home for your valuable knowledge. Did the patient poop? Can he eat? Is he passing gas? He is not asking you for treatment advise or if he should switch up antibiotic. So can a unit secretary ​You can feed the patient, turn him, wipe up that poop. However, what is it you can do that does not require an order or is not specifically spelled our in a guideline or protocol? Nothing medical....

3 were excellent and I learned from each of them. Like I said the rest ranged from competent to way less. What stood out to me most from the group is their arrogance especially when you interact with them as an RN where NPs didn't own that behavior (for the most part). I have seen some pretty outrageous behavior from PAs...where NPs seems to ask before going rogue. Like I said this has been my exposure to the group and it has colored my opinion, but I am always hoping to encounter those who are exceptional.

Online programs are your best option and not all online programs are created equally. Find a respectable program (not for profit) that actually has a B&M option and does not exist solely online. However, online requires a bit more discipline than B&M options and you will need to keep up on weekly projects/assignments. I have known a few active duty nurses who completed their FNP on their own time and not attending USUHS. It was difficult but they got it done and could immediately apply for ISP and not have to meet payback requirements. There is always a way if you are willing to work hard for it.

There are good and bad with each group. For the most part new interns are dangerous and need to be watched closely, but they grow and learn and many of them turn out very good. Same can be said for NPs, but I do believe experience, quality of program and clinical experiences play a role in the quality of NP that is released to patients. I have seen good ones and those who struggle and if you dig into the background it becomes glaring where their shortfalls are. PAs, sorry but I do not have much of a good record among that group. I have worked along or with 100-200 and can honestly 3 have impressed me. the rest range from functional, modestly competent to what the heck are you doing. Granted that was just my experience in 10 different states, but I am sure there are some great ones out there or at least I hope there are.

ECCO provides a good base of review for nurses entering the ICU. I have worked in several hospitals where it was required for new ICU nurses. It may be review or it might go over things you have not been exposed to. I have only heard good things about it from the nurses who have completed it. It is probably not the best review for CCRN or CEN. Experience and some study along the way are the best for preparations for those tests. I think obtaining a CCRN or CEN is great if it is a goal of yours and it is something you strive to achieve. However, if you are not being reimbursed for it or receive a higher wage it can feel a bit like a scam. You are better off investing in college courses towards a degree. The whole paying to renew CCRN and CEN can be expensive and it doesn't really mean a whole lot. That is my opinion anyway.

Hmm the last PA I worked with ordered a head CT for conjunctivitis. Soon after all of his CT scans had to be approved by a physician.

14 patients in 3 hours. That is just a tad under 13 minutes per patient. That is what I do not follow..Do NPs in internal medicine look at charts, talk to patients do an assessment in under 13 minutes? Especially when these are "hi-jacked" patients whom you do not typically follow.

Why let someone tell you that you are too old to do something. The cheapest-fastest route is the concern. I would lean towards the best education available to best prepare you for the new role. Avoid the for-profit online NP factories and find a reputable school with some actual qualifiers. One where you are not supplying your own preceptors..

There are gonna be lots of new graduates waiting for the phone to ring. I don't think they should give up their day job.

Certain areas are saturated with NPs. Many larger cities are being more selective looking at years of NP experience and most posted jobs require 2-3 years of experience. I have also heard about s few employers who will not consider online graduates. The glut of new graduates has dropped the salaries for new hires and you hear more and more stories of poorly prepared graduates. It will get much worse I am afraid.

I worked full time until I got to the last clinical rotation. I worked 3 12s in the ED Fri,sat and Sunday then dropped to Sat Sun to finish up

I am also in a smaller city that has a hard time finding midlevels and make make a good bit more than 120k plus RVU....

We all place importance on different aspects of our jobs. Low stress sounds great and a good working environment. You could go somewhere else and make more with more vacation but you may see double the patients and have weekends or be on call. The 10 days vacation is very low... Still i think it is a good idea to look around and take a few interviews just to keep abreast of what is out there..