Chris-FNP

Some of you people need to get a life. Its Ativan!!! Its a mild Benzodiazepine for anxiety, as well as other common conditions. Maybe this nurse is going through a tough time right now. Mind your own business. Its not like he or she is stealing morphine from the patients and giving them normal saline instead!!! Chris

A DO and an MD are essentially the same. They both go to medical school and they both have to go through a residency program. A DO actually does a bit more because he or she not only practices medicine, they perform osteopathic manipulations on the body as well. Both are doctors and both practice medicine at the same level. A DO is a doctor with a specialty in osteopathy. I work with two DOs in my practice. Actually the whole practice consists of 2 DOs and 2 NPs. Chris

I have OCD and it does stink so I understand your problem. My OCD waxes and wanes. Sometimes its real bad and other times its just annoying. Right now, its bad. Whether this helps or not, I'm 28 and I'm a Nurse Practitioner. I managed to become a Nurse Practitioner with OCD. It was hard at times, but we all have to deal with things. I also had a panic disorder in the past. Don't worry about being judged. People who judge other people have their own issues. Concentrate on yourself and you will do alright. Good luck!!! Chris

Wow!!! Again, who has the right to judge anybody? Who compared Ativan to heroin? This is foolish. There are plenty of nurses and doctors that take drugs like Ativan, Buspar, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc. for a variety of reasons. Benzodiazepines and SSRIs are drugs for anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and other conditions as well. This is nobody's business except for the person who was prescribed the drug. ITS PERSONAL!!! Unless that person's clinical work is suffering a great deal, then others should mind their own business. Personally, I have OCD and have taken Paxil in the past. Someone (probably with only a few brain cells) may have seen my Rx bottle in the past and assumed I had severe depression or something...not mild OCD. Its things like this that just annoy me. Other people have no right to judge other people...especially when they most likely don't know anything about the person's personal life. Ativan is a mild Benzodiazepine that is usually given to people for mild to moderate anxiety. I usually prescribe 0.5-1mg PO BID-TID, depending on how anxious the person is. A little generalized anxiety in someone's life is not that uncommon and it is certainly not something that others should concern themselves with. If people had a little intelligence, maybe they would realize that this person may be going through a tough time right now. Chris

You forgot "PR" Ouch!!! If I'm ever admitted to the hospital and I see a "PR" order in my chart, you better be damn sure that even in my dazed and confused state, that "R" will be turned into an "O" by any writing utensil within my grasp!!! heh, heh, heh (just a little humor) Chris

I think I'm going to start wearing a cap, a white skirt, and thong underwear. Now that's a male nurse!!! (kidding...really kidding) ;-) Chris

Navy Nurse, I agree with you. I wasn't really addressing Ph.D. Nurses in particular because they do tend to be researchers. I also agree that positional respect is a lot easier to earn than what you actually do for patients...but that takes awhile because the only people in the exam room are the patient and I. The staff only sees me running from room to room!!! Over time, patients eventually make comments that the staff hears and its then that they see how well you practice. Chris

I agree with chili2641. People keep stressing experience...and experience is VERY important. However, education is also a critical factor in educating BSNs and NPs. Yes, experience is crucial to being a good clinician, but one's education is the building block for which this experience is based. The fact remains that the higher you go with your education, the better it will make you as a clinician. Chris

Hey haji, Here is a thought...it probably takes more effort to actually post a question here and wait for replies than it does simply typing in a key word on a search engine. So your reasoning makes little sence. Ta da, light dawns on Marblehead!!! So, I guess I'm being "lazy" if I have a complex patient and I ask the Doc to give me some advice regarding the appropriate treatment. I probably should run to the back room, open up an advanced pathophysiology book, and spend an hour reading about a condition that has not presented itself in the clinic in awhile. Meanwhile, the whole office gets backed up with patients because I'm too "lazy" and have to ask someone a question. Hmmm, sounds a little foolish to me. This is what you implied, however. -cb

Wow, I'm honored I've made it into a thread twice!!! (kidding) Anyway, I think nurses should do what everyone else has done...change with the times. You can look professional in anything within reason. What I am against are nurses that wear loads of make-up and jewlery. I think 20 rings and necklaces that dangle in patient's faces is just ridiculous. A nice set of scrubs or casual attire with a labcoat is good. The old white uniforms and cap? Yikes!!! Not only does that look goofy, but uncomfortable as well...for women, obviously. Comfort is the key. A happy body with an emphasis on happy feet. ;-) -cb

I am not offended, but the fact that this bothers you is pretty weird. Not to mention the fact that if you used your head, you would realize that a lot of people happen to know of obscure sites that others either don't know of or the search engine does not have listed in the first 10,000 matches. The mere fact that you have an issue with this is bizarre, but, to each his own. -cb

I have a feeling that some of this RN versus NP stuff has to do with job satisfaction. If your an RN, and love your job, you probably don't have any ill feelings towards NPs (even the NPs that went to bridge programs). However, if your an RN and you don't really like your role (i.e., you wish you could have more authority), then you probably have more issues with NPs...because your both nurses and the NP has more authority. This is only my opinion, but that's the way I see it. An RN with 10 to 20 years of experience probably does know what is "best" for the patient, but he or she has to run things by an MD or an NP for the final approval. I can see how this would be very annoying. I have total respect this RN and can understand his or her frustration. However, this RN (if not satisfied) can easily apply to an NP program and eventually put their expertise to use with more authority. I understand that a lot of RNs may have families and further education will mean taking out loans and losing his or her pay for a couple of years. But, that's life. Dilemmas like this exist in all professions. Personally, I have ridiculous school loans and my credit stinks now because of the three years I spent full-time in school!!! But, its the sacrafice I made to get to where I am now...and I love my job. The bottom line is that you have to love what you do in life. If you don't, you will just be a bitter person. I can't see any other reason why one nurse would dislike another nurse without even knowing them as a person. That's my 2 cents on this issue. Chris

One day we will all get along!!! When? Who knows. :-) Chris

Thank you so much everyone. I think I am going shopping today for the Danskos. Thanks, Chris

RN-NP relations? Hmmm. That's a tough question to answer. I don't know if there will ever be a real solution. There are so many dynamics involved. Ultimately, it comes down to just people and relationships. If your a good person and always treat people nice, then the favor should be returned...if its not, then the person that holds a grudge is just a bitter person with their own issues. Chris-FNP [This message has been edited by Chris-FNP (edited March 31, 2001).]

Tim, You said it perfect. NPs definitely have one foot in each door...nursing and medicine. In my personal experience, I find that MDs tend to have a lot of respect for us. In my case, I am only 28 and look a lot younger. Older nurses probably think I am too young to be a good NP. There is a nurse that works at a small health clinic that I did some of my clinical rotations at. I also am a patient there with one of the docs. She liked me until I started my rotations there. From the first day, she made it quite evident that she had no respect for the fact that I would one day be an NP. She is close to 60. This is the type of thing that irritates me. I respected her, but it didn't matter. She was against everything I represented. The day I asked her to do an EKG for me was a nightmare!!! She got all upset and one of the MDs told her off and said "Do it." I had no problem doing it, but I was busy seeing patients as an NP. I just didn't have the time. She, as an older RN, had a real problem taking an order from a young NP. I can understand, but if an RN doesn't like it, then accept the fact that this is the way it is...or become an NP!!! Apply to schools, deal with the big loans, and take on a new role. Its that simple. I'm not an NP to just give orders, I'm just doing the job I was educated to do. Writing orders is a part of the job. Chris-FNP [This message has been edited by Chris-FNP (edited March 30, 2001).]

I, like most of you, are on my feet for 10 hours a day. I'm tired of wearing shoes that make my feet ache. Are there any good clogs for males? I've seen a bunch of male residents in the hospital with cool clogs. I guess they are supposed to be very comfortable. Any suggestions? I've heard that Birkenstocks or Danskos are great. I need something I can wear with Docker pants and a shirt and tie. I don't wear scrubs. Chris-FNP

Fergus51, I guess passion can be a double-edged sword. I understand what you are saying. Maybe a lot of what I said does not apply to you. I still think that a lot of RNs have chips on their shoulders, but not you. Peace. Chris-FNP

Fergus51, Statements like the ones I made are in response to the crap we have to deal with in the first place. If we want to get childish about it, we could say "You started it." We never went into the profession to get looked down upon by experienced RNs. We just followed our hearts and entered a program that we found to be quite appealing. In doing so, we have been met with criticism by other nurses. We never started anything with anybody!!! It was the experienced RNs that opened their mouths first. Personally, I don't appreciate it. Also, I don't think that some of my statements are that far off from the true reason why some RNs don't like us. Chris-FNP

Fergus51, Statements like the ones I made are in response to the crap we have to deal with in the first place. If we want to get childish about it, we could say "You started it." We never went into the profession to get looked down upon by experienced RNs. We just followed our hearts and entered a program that we found to be quite appealing. In doing so, we have been met with criticism by other nurses. We never started anything with anybody!!! It was the experienced RNs that opened their mouths first. Personally, I don't appreciate it. Also, I don't think that some of my statements are that far off from the true reason why some RNs don't like us. Chris-FNP

Fergus51 RNs don't like these programs because we have lttle practical experience as floor nurses, but a lot of intelligence. Most of us went to highly ranked schools (some from the Ivy League). We're young, bright, and walk out of school with the ability to write orders that RNs must follow. It pisses RNs off. Its a personal thing and has little to do with our actual ability to do the job. This post will irritate some people, but its the way most of us see it. Its also pretty obvious by the way most RNs respond. The anger is so apparent in the posts. This "Chip on the shoulder" is so evident with a lot of RNs, especially towards us. It doesn't even matter how much we respect RNs that have practiced for so long...they don't respect us. I find that lack of respect towards us unfair and not warranted. We do a good job. Chris-FNP

If you really think the hospital will "stand behind you" if you make a mistake...your dreaming!!! If you make a mistake that leads to a lawsuit, your employer will not only fire you, but they will also claim that it was not their fault due to your own personal incompetence. If the mistake is bad enough, you will have a personal lawsuit on your hands and you may lose your license (not to mention your house and car). Hospitals are out to make money, not pay large sums of cash for an employee's mistake. Personal malpractice insurance is relatively cheap and worth the investment. Chris-FNP [This message has been edited by Chris-FNP (edited March 28, 2001).]

You people need to grow up. Learn to debate. Stop complaining. This is a discussion group for professional adults. If someone has an issue or concern, address it in an adult manner...and people wonder why there are so many problems in nursing. Use your intelligence and come up with a good counter-argument. The only thing missing in this forum is a supervisor for some of you to run to and tattle-tale on someone else. "Oh, guess what Susy K did!!!" Blah, blah, blah. C'mon adults. Use your head. Chris-FNP

Thanks again Susy K. Yes, I am a male...a rare breed in this field!!! I know what you mean about this forum. There is so much anger here. Oh well. I hope others learn to listen more. There is no need for such anger. We're all nurses and we should support each other. I like a good debate, but it can get out of control in this place. Chris-FNP

NurseMark, I don't discount RN experience at all!!! In fact, in my post, I said there is no substitute for experience. Personally, I feel as if I did quite well without being a "seasoned" RN, although I did work as an RN for about a year while in school. Most, if not all, NP students in "bridge" programs work as RNs while in school. Some work as RNs after school as well. I was an EMT, ER-Technician, Phlebotomist, and a Medical Assistant prior to entering the non-RN to NP program that I went to. This gave me a lot of hands-on experience. I would think that most of these "bridge" programs want medical experience. Chris-FNP