Helloeverybody

Hey, I was accepted into the program pending a few things, I have an RN with a non nursing bachelors degree. I am having a little buyer's remorse, and I don't want to ask them about it, since it might be weird to ask questions about a program, I have already been accepted into. I am reading different things about the program. Can I realistically work fulltime 8 x 5? Maybe over time? I am single, and no kids. I am not sure because I keep getting mixed messages. I was emailed by the school saying I must finish the program in 5 years, and that most people finish in 3 years. But the ones that finish in 3 years, do they work full time? How do clinicals work, do I set up a schedule with my preceptor, and follow it? Also can I precept in the same hospital I work in, or must I precept in a different location? Also, and this is really daring I know, can I precept while working, if the psychiatrist agrees to it? Sorry for all the questions.

Thank you so much for all the information. I am a bit anxious in committing to a program before I cross my T's and dot my I's in regards to all the details. I have people telling me finding a preceptor made some people drop out of their NP programs, not stony brook people, and my own thoughts of loans, and my need to work full time, which I know you addressed, but I still need some information. Even the Stony Brook website doesn't have a date for any info sessions, its all TBA. Anyhow, I am continuing my own research on this, and even considered buying a membership here so I can search for comments like yours in chronological order.

For the following nurse practitioner concentrations at Stonybrook.edu Family health, Perinatal health, Neonatal, Psychiatric mental health, and finally Nurse midwifery. There is a person that you are supposed to email. The professors responsible for those concentrations do not have any contact information listed, and when you call the School of Nursing phone number no one picks up there is a recorded message that advises you to check the website. Without going into too much detail, how has your experience been dealing with that person? I feel like the email responses I receive are less than professional and have a "Ugh, can't believe this" tone to them. Has anyone had a similar experience? Please let me know.

Do you apply to the loan repayment program first, and then find a job in a critical shortage facility? Or do you get a position with a critical shortage facility, and then apply to the loan repayment program? I am asking this because someone on the facebook site for the Nurse Corps said that she recommends we apply while still in school???

I read through the guidelines, and I might be overthinking it. My question is, do you first apply, and accept a job at a facility that has a score, hopefully a 20, and then apply to the loan repayment program? Or do you apply to the loan repayment program, get accepted, and then search for a facility? Can you have another job while working at said facility? Or would that disqualify you?

Definitely pay the highest interest rate one first. But if short term liquidity, meaning you don't have some cash laying around to pay off at least the minimum payment in one of the loans, then yes, of course disperse it, better than failing to make a payment. But math wise, paying off the one with the highest interest rate is the best thing to do.

Yes, you didn't mention anything about job prospects, I threw that in there to give you a second idea about a long term outlook, and I brought up the CNA position because you said that you considered it in a later post after your Q. You mention volunteering, and doing a CNA down the line. Are you sure you will have enough time to work in coding from home, take care of family business, and volunteer/do a CNA program *while* going to nursing school? Because if you did have enough time to volunteer, what could be a better idea is work as a CNA per diem, instead of volunteering. You hit three birds with one stone like that, you get paid, it looks good on your nursing school resume, and it will help you in the future get an RN job.

You can go online and buy anything you want including empty vials. You can buy a baby gorilla's left kidney at half price on Black Friday if you want while shopping online, why risk taking vials? Come on man. Not only can you get fired, but no one in the USA will hire you in their hospital again. Go to alibaba.com I am sure someone in China is making them.

If you can't manage to work as a CNA, take care of family business, and school, then yes do the coding program. If you think you can be a CNA, manage family and school, definitely become a CNA. A CNA job, will probably be better than a coding job on your nursing school resume. I say this because we had a lot of CNAs in my class, including myself. But here's the long term thought. A CNA job will almost 100% get you an RN job in your facility, no guarantees in life though. On the other hand, a medical coding position will not get you an RN job unless the Dr is willing to hire you afterwards, but from what I understand from your post is that you will be working for a company that manages the outsourcing of billing for physicians. Is this correct? So maybe a zero shot at a job directly through them. Bottom line is, if being a CNA while in school, will not allow you to finish school, then forget it. No point if you can't finish school.

I will reiterate what everyone else says. I know what you are thinking, and why it would make sense to wear scrubs, but you must wear a suit or a tie and shirt. I thought the same thing, when I went for my CNA interview, and wanted to show them I am ready to go, and here I am practically one of you guys already, etc. etc. Yeah, the picture in your mind is good, but in reality it's not good. Fortunately I had a friend RN that told me not to. Just to be funny, how do you think it would look like if a fire fighter went to an interview wearing a fire fighter uniform, with a helmet under his arm? :-) Or an astronaut interviewing with NASA wearing a space suit?! :-)

I am messaging people left and right about this, and I am hoping to find an answer here. Background, I worked part time through ADN nursing school, and it was extremely difficult for me to do so, but it's because I obsess over details. My class also had a 50% passing rate, if that gives you a clue about the program. Anyway. I am a NY'er, my first degree was actually from SUNY Plattsburgh. I saw the PMHNP program that Stony Brook is offering. Well without further ado, the question is, how convenient is it to work full time as an RN, and get through this program? By convenient, I mean, being able to work, and study, and not be sleep deprived, nothing else. I am not talking about going out every other weekend, or spending social time with family. Just work and study, like a freakin ant! lol Also can a person extend the program for 4 - 6 years? I hope this doesn't sound strange, I just don't really know how NP programs work.

Buy "fundamentals success", and medsurg success. Do a lot of questions online from quizlet it really helps. For example, if you are taking a certain topic like GI diseases, go to quizlet and search the exact disease+nursing, you will get lots of questions. Some of them might even show up on your test. Buy Saunders nursing book, it will help a lot for 2nd semester. Do you know what broad subject you will be covering? Make sure you have a lot of time to study. The concepts you learn in nursing school are not very complicated, they're just very time consuming, and you need a lot of time to study. That was my experience.

Hello! Thanks for a great topic. 1. It makes complete sense that a person should have psych RN experience while pursuing a PMHNP program, but does being a medsurg nurse ruin it for you? The only spot I can find is a medsurg nurse position, and I really consider myself lucky for having it waiting for me, until I pass my boards. I am currently a CNA. 2. To revive the OP's question does it matter where you went to school? Or as long as you are licensed, boom, you're good? 3. In terms of getting a precept, believe me I have no clue, and forgive the questions if it's stupid, remember I had clinical instructors appointed to us. How easy is it to find a preceptor, and do they sign up with your university or do you have to do all that leg work for them?

I don't think it's a good idea to negotiate your first salary unless it was very low. Check out salaries on indeed or glassdoor.

Your manager comes back on my Birthday! I am also a CNA and waiting to take my boards. The BON in NJ is extremely slow. No one in my school received a date yet. Just doing questions, questions, questions. What did you use that helped you with the NCLEX? Kaplan? Uworld?