michelle4SN

I graduated from FGCU a little over a year ago. Classes are 5 days a week M-F. First semester is the hardest. You have 5 (3ish hour) classes and 2 (3 hour) labs. I failed my first semester and has to retake some classes. But that was only because I was working and involved in extracurricular's which took up my time. I ended up dropping my social life and quit my job (it was a daytime job so it conflicted with my school schedule and caused a ton of stress) then a semester later I got a more flexible job. Studying will take up a lot of your time. You will feel like you have NO idea what you are doing at first and it will all feel very stressful. But make friends with your classmates, study together, and always ask teachers for help if you're confused. As far as TEAS goes, I don't remember my score but I knew it was average if not a little above average. I spoke with the Director there and she told me how they select their applicants. The first section (reading/comp, was it? idr) I got a 98 on. They REALLY look at because it shows how well you can understand the information and apply it. Thats what nursing is, picking up context clues to comprehend the bigger picture. Math I did terrible, like, failed (not being able to use a calculator sucked, and I got hung up on fractions and ran out of time and missed questions). And science I did average. Grammar I did well on. So if I give you any advice, really pay attention to the first section! I'd say my pre-req grades were pretty average to (B's and some A's). This school has always been competitive. It's one of the top in Florida. When I graduated we were ranked #1, and they take pride in that. They are a no BS kind of school. Take their rules seriously especially when it comes to clinicals at the hospital. Don't be late, don't skip class, come to class prepares, do your work on time, and study your ass off. It will be the one of the hardest things you do, but one of the most rewarding experiences. If you have any questions feel free to message me!

You can try applying to jails/prisons. They are IPN friendly and actually very safe places to work as there are guards all around and usually always next to the nurses when dealing with inmates. And the inmates typically like the nurses

I'd apply anywhere that's within your contact! Take what you can get. I know some jails/prisons don't mind hiring nurses in recovery as they don't even have the options of administering narcotics. They're actually very safe ad everyone is searched and goes through a metal detector prior to entering, and you have a guard by you at all times. And the inmates usually like the nurses.

Also I wanted to mention that you may not always show up on the BON website as such. My license is clear/active with no instances.

Very frustrating indeed. I have a nurse in my support group that had to drop because he simply couldn't afford all the testing anymore. It was ludicrous, he was such a good guy. My support group facilitator said in my state there are about 300k nurses but only about 1-2k in IPN. Then all the testing kinda made sense. They make their money off us and with such a small amount of nurses enrolled, they hit us with these BS tests like mad-men. I got 5 years for something I should've gotten 2 on. And my facilitator said they're pretty much giving everyone 5 years now regardless of the instance.

In Florida RN's still can't smoke weed. If you test positive, even with a prescription, you WILL be reported to the board and have to go through IPN

SW Florida IPN Nurse here! So I got hurt on the job and tested positive for marijuana. Just something I did occasionally as socially, never came to work high and would never consider doing something like that. So I got a call from the doctor who does the drug screens, he asked if I had a prescription for it, I said no. Then he had to report me. Then a few days later my job called me and they put me on a leave on absence. Thankfully they did not fire me. I had 3 days to call IPN and begin the process. They'll send you for an evaluation with an addiction specialist. They gave me a list of 3 providers near me so I called them up and asked about their rates and what would happen. Tampa - ~$800 Sarasota - ~$1,200-1,500 Miami- $~2,000 (Tampa price included the cost of drug screen. I don't recall of the Sarasota or Miami pricing included the cost of drug screens, so be sure to ask when they call) Needless to say I chose the Tampa one. HOWEVER I had to wait a little over a month to do my evaluation. Whereas the other places has a more open availability. So that day I went in and provided a urine sample (they watched me pee, a little awkward). Gave blood, and a hair sample. Then I talked to their Psychologist. Explained what lead up to my injury, what happened after. He asked if I had any addictions that run in my family, if I had any mental health issues, when I started smoking weed, if I did any other drugs, how often I smoked weed, and how much. Then I had to do this computer test with like 300 questions and basically it's a bunch of questions that figure out your type of personality. Nothing hard, but annoying nonetheless. Questions about usage, scenarios, things like that. They also ask you to provide 2 people as references they can call to ask about you, if you have any issues or problems. Then the Dr makes his report with suggestions and submits it to IPN. I ended up on a 5 year contract. I was required to complete an 8 week Outpatient Program before being able to return to work. They give you a list of places you that are IPN approved. So I called around to the facilities and asked about their pricing and if they offered payment plans. Everyone I spoke to was so hesitant to tell me the cost and acted like they didn't know. Or said they'd get back to me, which they never did. They were so quick to talk about the effectiveness of their program but once I started asking about money (which I have the RIGHT to know) it was like pulling teeth and a huge turnoff!!!! Anyways, one of the places were in Port Charolette and I ended up picking that one because the Psychiatrist was SO KIND and actually answered all of my questions. She explained the cost ($3,800) and allowed a monthly payment system at whatever cost you chose. As long as you sign a contract saying you will pay her back, she will indeed work with you. She's so understanding of the entire process. Right now I am only paying her $25/month just because I have had some major financial hits lately. My insurance only paid like $500 of the treatment because it was out of network, but that's ok. Anyways she sets up meetings with you and is pretty flexible with her schedule. You go through this book with sections and lessons and whatnot. She truly cares about you. Once you're done you do another urine drug screen, and she submits her recommendations to IPN and they will clear you to go back to work. Once you're in IPN and back to work. You will likely have to attend a 1hr weekly support group meetings with a facilitator and other RN's. My group was $20 each session, but have since moved to another group and its $12.50 each session. You may have to go to AA meetings which are free. And you WILL get randomly drug tested. You must check into IPN's system (which you can download on an app) M-F from 4am-2pm and see if you will be tested that day. If you are tested it's usually urine and you have to pay IPN $55 each time you get tested. But they can do hair, blood, anything at any time (this is usually rare. I'm in since October and have yet to have this happen). You get tested at least 2 times a month. Most Ive gotten was 3-4 You must go to a Labcorp location. If you go to a different location you have to pay the $55 plus whatever cost the location itsself charges (usually an additional $20) and you have to fill out this additional form. Once you do your test you enter your form number on the IPN App. Oh also, Labcorp has a contract with IPN and even if you don't have an appointment they HAVE to take you right away. This is so nurses who work day shifts can get tested immediately and can get right back to work. If they give you issues, tell them about the contract. If they still give you issues, call you IPN case manager and she will contact them so they will take you immediately because IPN pays them for this service and they cannot break their contract. I personally work nights so I don't have this issue. I usually just make an appointment or go first thing when they open. Cost breakdown Evaluation: ~$800-~$2,000 Outpatient Program: ~$3,800 Monthly Support Group Meetings: $50-100/month Random drug screens: Minimum $110/month NOW!! A few things to consider 1) You need to get the ball rolling ASAP. You have like 3 days to call IPN to get your list of evaluators, I waited until the third day. I'd advise you to call right away. IPN is VERY slow when it comes to getting around to you. So they took a few days to get back to me and communicating with them is not all that easy as they usually respond slow. 2) Once you get your list of evaluators call ASAP. And if you CAN afford it. Take whoever can see you first. I waited a month just to save some money but it was SO not worth it because it meant 1 extra month of me not working. -- Also on the topic of evaluators. I hated my guy in Tampa (idr his name but I think it was XYZ.) honestly he made me feel very uncomfortable. I was already as nervous as it was. He definitely had a huge ego so I didn't feel comfortable talking with him and telling him my story, and in the end slapped me with a 5 year contract because he thought I was lying. When it really should have been 2, but whatever. I mean, idk, he just made me feel so uncomfortable that i didn't want to tell him the whole story. Which in hindsight wasn't that bad. I liked smoking weed, did it socially since late high school/early college, sometimes daily, sometimes not. Didn't like drinking alcohol. Never tried any other drugs. Then when I got into Nursing I definitely cut back a lot. And was ironically quitting when I got hurt. Go figure! -- Also DO NOT try to dilute your urine tests. At any point. They test for it. So those over the counter things you can buy at GNC, don't even bother. It'll come back negative for drugs, but positive for dilution so it's an automatic fail. That's another thing that got me the 5 year contract. Mine was dilute because I stupidly had a "**** it" night 2 weeks prior to my test and smoked a few blunts with my friends. So I drank one of those. Dumb move. 3) Ask everyone the cost of everything. You have the right to know what you're paying! 4) be very patient. IPN is slow and so is the initial evaluation. My guy took almost 2 weeks to submit my recommendations to IPN then it took IPN a few days to send me my list of Outpatient programs. My OP lady was VERY fast though, I cannot say a bad thing about her. But after my OP program, IPN took another week or 2 to allow me to return to work. Again, please be on top of things. What took me a long 4 months really should have only taken 2-3 had I 1-started from day 1 and not waited 2- not waited a month to go to Tampa just to save some money.

Location: Fort Myers, Florida Experience: 1 1/2 years with BSN Specialty: Med/Surg Facility: Lee Health Base Pay: $26.50/hr as a new grad. also had to sign a 2 year contract with a $5,000 (prorated) penalty if you break contract. (Associate degrees started off making the same). Residency program starts everyone off as the same regardless of your unit. I know an LPN who went to an RN for $2/hr more, but idr how long she was an LPN for. I got an $0.80 raise after a year LOL Differentials: $6/hr for nights (7p-7a) No weekend diff. OT: Time and a half I LOVED this job when I first started. HOWEVER!!! New RN's are getting hired at $21/hr, so sad ---Due to budget cuts related to the hospital system getting fined $3million for having hallway beds against regulations. And after they built a brand new childrens hospital, expanded another hospital, and are now working on building a new smaller location with about 180 beds. Oh and the new CEO getting a hefty salary and however many million dollar bonus. They're also not allowing overtime unless you're in ICR or ER. No more seasonal bonuses. They'll float a nurse before they even think about paying Per Diem float pool nurses (to save money). Also are staffing people to the bare minimum and cutting back on resources. They're firing people left and right. Very uncomfortable work environment. And it doesn't have to be this way because they own basically every health related business in Lee County, they're making plenty of money. Anyways Nurses in Naples, Fl. make a little bit more than we do and get better benefits and bonuses. Also they have no contracts. I think PRN seasonal RN's there get pain around $40-50/hr I also know an RN in Sarasota at a private hospital and she started off at $24/hr during days as a new grad on a cardiac floor. Cost of living in these areas are reasonable. I pay $1,600 for a 1,000 sqft apartment (on the more expensive side because it's brand new and considered "luxury" but very much so worth it with the amenities). You can rent a 3 bedroom house for around $2k a month. Gas is around $2.70 for regular. Naples and Sarasota are a bit more expensive.

My group facilitator told me they don't always test/send in the specimens.

5 years in FL. Such an annoying and demanding process! Please hire an attorney or get a new job if you can. You DONT want to deal with IPN

Ok, so I'm graduating this December with my BSN (YAY!) and will take my NCLEX to become a liscenced RN and have begun to seriously consider advancing my degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I'm very interested in holistic health, and I'm really not interested in working in a hospital. I'd essentially like to have my own practice that focuses on holistic health (along with some Western medicine aspects of course). I know there are continuing education courses that you can take in Holistic Nursing to become certified. Does this just mean I'll have an MSN degree? Then would have to get my NP license separately? If that's the case, what do I do first? NP or the MSN?? I've tried doing research, but the information is really confusing to me. The only helpful thing i've read is this; "Students will earn a MSN degree and are eligible to sit for Board Certification in Advanced Holistic Nursing (AHN-BC). The Advanced Holistic Nursing Concentration does not prepare students to enter a Nurse Practitioner role."