dmmlayton

What school do you attend? I'm considering applying to frontier but worried about working full time and having a kid and being able to handle the workload.

Wouldn't it be smarter to just quit your job if they were going to drug test you and you knew you would come up positive? Seems like a more logical solution than risking losing your RN license. Of course the smartest thing to do is not use at all or limited amounts so it does not stay in your system for a prolonged time.

I think there needs to be new regulations on how marijuana is tested for in drug tests. It's not logical that a substance could be in your system for so long and yet an RN could lose their license due to smoking a month prior if they were off duty. The limits need to be adjusted to show recent use such as the day of rather than levels that could be in your system from doing it on your day off. Toxicology needs to catch up with the times.

I totally agree and understand where you are coming from. I feel like we keep raising patients expectations even if they are unrealistic to what the nursing staff can do. I feel like a slave to ungrateful patients sometimes at work and I even work on a great floor with amazing coworkers. I wouldn't worry about doctors being condescending to you, just don't allow them to. Even now as a nurse I demand respectful communication from the MDs and everyone and if I don't get it I kindly tell them not to be rude. You just stand up for yourself and you will be just fine :) plus as a FNP you can always go be a manager or teach and not even deal with *******s as much.

There are still 12 hour shifts available for FNP's, just gotta search for them. My friend is a FNP and she works 4 tens and another friend is a PA in a clinic and her and the FNP's she work with work three 12's and one weekend every few months. The friend who is an FNP made a great point: having the FNP degree opens all the doors to management, acute care, chronic care, education, etc. so personally I think you made the right choice. If you get tired of a clinic or family practice you could do inpatient or education. It really is a win win :)

I think so too! And after my last day of work I think I've decided FNP is the way to go. Floor forever is not for me :)

Are you in school for FNP? I get what you are saying, all jobs have their headaches but some tedious work is more tolerable than others. As a bedside nurse I'm starting to feel like a slave to patients who don't appreciate all I do for them. As a provider I would not be doing meaningless tasks and being walked all over, hopefully anyway. I think education would be interesting but I would also feel somewhat trapped because once you enter a field as that you can't go into other fields. A FNP can do all of it.

I was thinking about shadowing a FNP too. Most that I have spoke with like it and are glad they did it. I think it really depends where you end up working but with any job if you hate it then find a new one. Plus if I hate bedside then I'd rather at least make more if I didn't like FNP.

I am currently under it as an RN. It's great! They send me money each month that I pay my loans with. The only down side is it doesn't really pay off 60% of your student loans since they tax the crap out of it. Mine was taxed 20k in one year! Sucks because I have a high amount of loans and could really benefit from that but it's better than nothing. They are easy to work with and answer all questions in a timely manner and you can take time off for maternity/sick leave if needed. I don't think I had to write an essay or give references for it.

I have been a bedside nurse for almost three years and although I work in a great hospital I am already realizing this is not where I want to be the next 30 plus years. I am considering becoming an FNP and would love to hear from people who are already FNP's and if they are happy with their carrier choice. Also please any comments from FNP students would be great! My main reasons for FNP would be: a better work environment in an out patient setting, less busy work (turning patients, passing meds, dealing with ungrateful patients, running crazy for 12 hours, etc.), being able to help patients prevent illness by education and treatment, and higher pay. I see so many sick uneducated people who have surgeries or procedures that could possibly been prevented if they had better care early on. I just worry about the responsibility of diagnosis and prescribing meds. So does FNP school prepare you enough to feel confident and of course after gaining experience? Thanks for anyone's insight :)