Who else is excited about starting grad school?!!

krisssy · May 14, 2006

I just completed my first course in graduate school. It was a theory course, and I loved it. The reading and posting was so interesting. We worked in small internet groups. It was a lot of work, and sometimes I felt that I couldn't keep up, but I did. The best part is that I was able to focus the course to my own specialty. We had to write a concept analysis, and I wrote it on my specialization. I loved doing it and learned an amazing amount. I am just sad that I have to wait so long to work with patients. I have to take a lot of courses first in this program, and we have to find our own practicals. I am quite nervous about that. I have no idea how to go about it. I just loved it so much that, even though there were many times I felt overwhelmed, I didn't really mind, because I was enjoying what I was learning so much. I was able to apply mostly every theory to my specialty and found them well worth it. Krisssy

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · May 14, 2006

christine,
best of luck! i'm sure you'll do great! a positive attitude is a great asset. :)
which school are you attending? by philly perhaps? :)

Thanks! :) I will be attending UMASS-Worcester. Only 2 more days to go. I bet you will do great in grad school as well. :) Now I'm trying to figure out if I should get a laptop soon for all the papers I will have to write. I'm using my husband's computer now for the internet, but I really want to get my own laptop for school. Do you guys all have your own? I need to get microsoft word on it definitely.

-Christine

krisssy · May 14, 2006

Thanks! :) I will be attending UMASS-Worcester. Only 2 more days to go. I bet you will do great in grad school as well. :) Now I'm trying to figure out if I should get a laptop soon for all the papers I will have to write. I'm using my husband's computer now for the internet, but I really want to get my own laptop for school. Do you guys all have your own? I need to get microsoft word on it definitely.
-Christine

I have a new XL Dell with Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word is a must. I go to school online,so I didn't need a lap top. It may be different for on campus programs. I borrowed my sons's laptop when I was hospitalized and worked from my room. it was cool but a necessity. I would also recommend Perrla. It put everything into APA for me, and it made everything so much easier and alklowed me to focus on the contents of what I was writing. Grad students on clinicals, are PDA's a must? What do you put in them that is absoluttely necessary? I was thinking of Tabers and a good drug book. Anything else? Thanks Krisssy By the way, i went to see a NP lately, and she used the PDA constantly.

Krissy

krisssy · May 14, 2006

I'll be starting my ACNP program in September and can hardly wait! I just went online and ordered my uniforms and BP cuff (my school's uniform consists of teal scrubs with an iron-on school patch white shoes, and a white lab coat--not a bad uniform at all!). Don't know what books I need yet, so holding off on that. So no, you're not the only one who's getting a bit excited![/quote']
What does ACNP stand for? How lucky you are to be starting right off working in the hospital. I have to wait until I take a whole bunch of research type courses. Where are you going to school? PM me if you would rather not share it with the board.
Thanks.
Krisssy

Trauma Columnist · May 14, 2006

I just finished an APN and used my PDA constantly. I paid for the ePocrates Pro ($99) and have not regretted it. I also loaded forms onto it so that I would have the templates in hand when I dictated consults and H&Ps. Good luck everyone!

Trauma Columnist · May 14, 2006

Krissy - ACNP - acute care nurse practitioner.

krisssy · May 14, 2006

Krissy - ACNP - acute care nurse practitioner.

So she would work in an ED as an ACNP? Krisssy

Angie O'Plasty · May 14, 2006

What does ACNP stand for? How lucky you are to be starting right off working in the hospital. I have to wait until I take a whole bunch of research type courses. Where are you going to school? PM me if you would rather not share it with the board.
Thanks.
Krisssy

I will be attending the MGH (Mass. General Hospital) Institute of Health Professions. I am pretty sure I want to go into cardiology, and it seemed like the acute care track would be a good one to prepare me for that field. I am in the direct-entry program, so I will be starting out with the basic RN classes/clinicals (clinicals start about two weeks into the program). It should definitely be exciting! Now excuse me while I go for a run in the pouring rain (any of you who are in MA know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!!)--if I don't, I'll be wired for the rest of the afternoon and drive my roommates nuts :-) I'll check back on this thread later.

Trauma Columnist · May 14, 2006

Krissy - Yes, she could work in an ER with an ACNP.

LBH32C · May 15, 2006

I am entering Vanderbilt in the fall as ACNP. There are many departments you could work in as well besides the Emergency Department> Acute Care also covers Trauma, Oncology, Cardiology, Renology, Critical and Intensive Cares to name a few.

Angie O'Plasty · May 16, 2006

I am entering Vanderbilt in the fall as ACNP. There are many departments you could work in as well besides the Emergency Department> Acute Care also covers Trauma, Oncology, Cardiology, Renology, Critical and Intensive Cares to name a few.

Renology? I think you mean nephrology--you must have been thinking of "renal". (Don't you love when the noun and the adjective seem totally unrelated?) I didn't realize oncology fell into the ACNP category--I would have thought it'd be more in ANP territory, but I guess it does make sense that it would be part of acute care since a lot of those pts are very sick. Which field are you most interested in at this point?

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · May 16, 2006

Renology? I think you mean nephrology--you must have been thinking of "renal". (Don't you love when the noun and the adjective seem totally unrelated?) I didn't realize oncology fell into the ACNP category--I would have thought it'd be more in ANP territory but I guess it does make sense that it would be part of acute care since a lot of those pts are very sick. Which field are you most interested in at this point?[/quote']
I'm most interested in cardiology, oncology, emergency medicine....everything that is acute! That's my problem, I like it all. :) How do I pick one thing? Hopefully I'll have it narrowed down some more once I graduate NP school in a couple of years.
-Christine