CoffeeQ1PRN

You think you will be respected as a nurse? Yes my patients/families are often thankful and wonderful, however overall I would not consider myself greatly respected as an ICU RN. Even doctors get "treated like garbage" occasionally. If you don't love nursing and what you do for other people, and can make more money doing warehouse work, I would suggest sticking to that.

Hey! Im about half way done with an AGACNP program, so anything I have to say is of course, only from a student. What I have seen both as an RN and NP student is it has more to do with what the specific hospital will let you do, rather than what is technically within our "scope". We are taught to place central lines, a-lines, intubate, perform LPs, suture, and place chest tubes. Many procedures are within the scope of practice of an AGACNP, many NPs also work as first assist in the OR. While these things are wonderful learning opportunities, it will depend both on hospital protocol and available staff if you will actually be performing these procedures. Same thing with independently prescribing. From what I have experienced as nurse, smaller day to day decisions can be made by the NP, however larger decisions i.e drip changes, antibiotics, consults, are often discussed with the attending MD/DO. (as they should be) The idea of independent practice is slightly less important in acute care in my opinion because NPs work as part of a team with physicians. In the ICU for example, there are usually multiple physicians available and part of the patient's care team. Personally, I am thrilled to be learning these procedures however, my ability to intubate per hospital protocol will not be a factor in the job I choose. Good luck!

Hi sajRN I personally did take chem and bio, however I do not believe they are required for the program. If got your BSN without those classes I would not worry about it. I also got the GRE waived. I believe most if not all accepted students were not required to take the GRE based on GPA.

Hey! Im starting UPenn's Acute Care NP (AGACNP) program full time in May 2017. Id be happy to answer and specific questions. I can tell you the application process took longer than I would have liked (almost 6 months) but I applied a year in advance, so I that might be in part because they were not reviewing applications when I applied. And yes I had 5 letters of recommendation.

Hey guys! Just wanted to join the thread. Ill be starting at UPenn in may as well but in the Acute Care NP (AGACNP) program! Im looking at apartments right now, I will likely live in center city. Nursing school/hospital itself is in University city but to me and my fiancé it seemed a little too much like living on an undergrad campus (been there... done that). Congratulations to all accepted students! Seems like we will be in many classes together before splitting off into NP speciality.

I worked out most days and trained for multiple full marathons, running 40+ miles a week in nursing school (BSN). I actually found it easier to workout/eat right in nursing school than I did when I started working 12 hour nights. You will be fine. Like most things in life... you make time for what is most important.

Hey, my application said "ready for review" after my interview until I was accepted! :) I would think the same would apply for BSN/MSN applicants. (Im an accepted MSN only applicant)

Location: NYC Experience: 2 years Specialty: ICU Stepdown in a large medical center Pay: 90kish Base Salary + benefits

I agree with 3.5! The hospital I work for requires a 3.5 for all new graduates. In many NP programs you can skip the GRE if you have a BSN GPA of above a 3.5 (sometimes a 3.2). Working as a full time RN applying to NP school I am very thankful I did not have to take the GRE.

Mini sharpies! I keep one on my ID to time/date/sign any dressing change/tubing/IVPB/open saline bottle/whatever. Having it right there is a great way to never forget to label something!

I found out a few days ago I was accepted into the full time AGACNP MSN program! Starting May 2017! Good luck everyone applying to the BSN/MSN program. I heard that sometimes NP students and BSN students do clinical scenarios together in simulation so ill see you guys around!

Congratulations everyone! I have my interview end of November for AGACNP MSN only. I'm not sure if that is the same time as the BSN/MSN people interview but I'm happy to be getting it over with! I am not far and will be taking the train.

From previous threads it seems MSN only applications have a different timeline, I still have no details about when I will be interviewing. I heard Friday 11/11 about setting up an interview.

Hi! I'm also applying to Upenn but for MSN only (I'm already a working BSN-RN). Working in critical care applying for AGACNP to start full time summer 2017! I was invited to interview recently (application submitted way early this summer). No details yet on when but I'm excited to interview! Good luck!