Bjones94

Thank you for your response! It is encouraging to hear positive input from others. I appreciate it.

@hira2015 Yes, fall 2021!

I plan to apply as well, following your thread! Hoping to see some responses from graduates. Good luck!

Hello! I see many topics asking similar questions however not a lot of insight from NPs in the area where I live. After a lot of reading on different threads I can see that location makes a big difference for the job market for NPs. I live in Bakersfield, which is location in Kern County, part of the Central Valley. We have a FNP program at the local CSU. I currently work in an ICU and love the idea of working with patients in the clinic setting rather than acutely. Whether that's be general family care or something more specialized that grabs my attention like a derm office. I am writing to see if there are any FNPs in my area that can give insight on the job market around here. Is it saturated? Hard to find a job? Decent pay? Or if someone reading this can give specific insight to CSUBs FNP program that would be awesome! thank you all in advanced!

My apologies for jumping into this late, by chance would you be willing to state what school?

I appreciate your comment! You have given me a lot to think about, as well as communicated what I was feeling/thinking in regards to adult ICU and NICU.

This may be a silly or obvious question, I just am curious if a person has their masters in nursing education, are you limited to only teaching nursing courses?

I am so thankful for your input! Your option C is probably my best option. I just have to be patient and find it.

Having someone I cared about die in an ICU setting in a very traumatic way took the interest out of it for me. I was interested in adult icu due to the complexity of all the different disease processes. My pain I feel for these people and their families takes away the interest in the physiology and dulls the fulfillment aspect of the job that many nurses come to work for. And im not so sure that’s appropriate to say in an interview. Also the night shift for many years in NICU aspect is a little daunting. But if it’s lifts this weight off my chest, it could be worth it.

My apologies if it came across that I think NICU would be less acute or less stressful. For me personally it’s about finding joy in our work, which I believe may lift some of my stressors and anxieties. I have found I don’t enjoy working with adults. Where I work I take care of a lot of older people whose kids refuse to change the code status and I am left pounding on a 90 year olds chest breaking their ribs. I don’t find joy and satisfaction in seeing end stage diseases every day. I don’t get excited about what surprise I’m going to walk into in the ICU. I get anxiety about what I don’t want to run in to that day. I dread the easy non critical patient that is cursing at me all day. I will take drips and vents over that any day. I am not afraid of acuity. I am afraid of wasting all of my hard work in nursing school on a unit where I am unhappy. I just want to enjoy my job, and be happy to do it, even when it’s hard. I’m not looking for smooth sailing. I am more than willing to start from scratch if it means finding a place where I will be happy. I only meant honing in on a smaller skill set because where I work the NICU is very small, and any very acute babies needing surgery, ecmo, cooling, etc are flown out. I feel like my post maybe could use some re wording as I did not mean to make it seem like I am running to NICU to be lazy or for easier patients.

Hi everyone! I am a new grad nurse that went straight into ICU starting last September. I started out on night shift and had a very hard time. I went onto the unit on my own during peak season and was very overwhelmed with being a new nurse combined with not adjusting to nights. Things started to slow down and I still was hating ICU, applying and interviewing to other jobs outside of the hospital and by chance a day shift ICU position opened up and I took it. Now about 3 months into day shift I am a happier person, but I still don’t like ICU. I do not love adrenaline rushes or crashing patients. I had a loved one pass away in an ICU one week before I started and I think it really skewed my interest and has led to me viewing The unit in a different light. I like routine. I can work well with critical patients as I consider myself being very detail oriented and organized. I like to know what I’m doing and focus on doing it well. I get a lot of anxiety before work. Sometimes sick to my stomach. I have called in sick due to anxiety. And now on day shift I get floated to med surg at least once a week. Also increasing my anxiety due to never knowing where I will be or what I’m doing. A position has has opened up in my hospitals (I believe level 3) NICU which seems fitting for my personality. Critical patients I can pay close attention to, but hone in on a smaller skill set. I see myself happy in NICU. But my few months on night shift were so tough I am not sure what’s the right thing for me. Physical health on days, or mental health on nights where I can see myself happy but battling my emotional tired self. ANY input would be so appreciated!

Hi everyone! I am a new grad nurse that went straight into ICU starting last September. I started out on night shift and had a very hard time. I went onto the unit on my own during peak season and was very overwhelmed with being a new nurse combined with not adjusting to nights. Things started to slow down and I still was hating ICU, applying and interviewing to other jobs outside of the hospital and by chance a day shift position opened up and I took it. Now about 3 months into day shift I am a happier person, but I still don’t like ICU. I do not love adrenaline rushes or crashing patients. Walking into something very different every shift freaks me out. One day I have to psych patients that don’t need to be in ICU, the next I have two patients on the verge of coding and I can’t get ahold of a doctor. I like routine. I can work well with critical patients as I consider myself being very detail oriented and organized. I like to know what I’m doing and focus on doing it well. I get a lot of anxiety before work. Sometimes sick to my stomach. I have called in sick due to anxiety. And now on day shift I get floated to med surg at least once a week. Also increasing my anxiety due to never knowing where I will be or what I’m doing. A position has has opened up in NICU which seems fitting for my personality. Critical patients I can pay close attention to, but hone in on a smaller skill set. I see myself happy in NICU. But my few months on night shift were so tough I am not sure what’s the right thing for me. Physical health on days, or mental health on nights where I can see myself happy? ANY input would be so appreciated!

Thank you for all your help

Also if I haven't tired you out on question already, and if you don't mind me asking how you approached studying for the TEAS? You scored so well! I am actually going to take my TEAS before I apply to the nursing program due to needing the extra time for multiple tries for my back up school. I have scheduled my test for the 13th of November.

Wow thank you so much! I definitely am going to go for it. I went to Taft College, but I am hoping I can get my Physiology and Microbiology Professors to give me good references. I really appreciate your input. Hopefully I get it :)