DNP vs. MD

An interesting article appeared in yesterday's New York Times debating the issue of nurses completing their doctorate, and labeling themselves as "doctors."

I find this issue particularly interesting because, as I've mentioned before, I'm currently in a Family Nurse Practitioner program. With the federal mandate that in 2015 all NP programs be eliminated and transitioned to DNP (doctorate of nursing practice) programs, I know that eventually I will be going back to school for my doctorate, and then I'm in the same position as the nurses in the aforementioned article.

It's a really interesting topic, and I'm sure with all the changes that are coming in healthcare, it will be something we see debated for a long time to come.

What are your opinions?  Do you think that DNPs are going to "steal the market" from physicians?  Do you think it's fair for doctors to pass legislation preventing doctorally prepared nurses from advertising themselves as "doctors?"

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Photo courtesy of Josh Anderson for The New York Times 

PALS

Today concluded day two of my pediatric advanced life support (PALS) course.  It was short and sweet, just the way I like it, and I managed to get out of there a couple hours earlier, provider card in hand!

I feel like I've gotten a lot done, and it's only Wednesday!!

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Image via Safety Store

Donate Blood!

One donation of blood can save three lives!! If that's not reason enough to help, I don't know what is!

Here are some additional facts about blood donation, courtesy of the American Red Cross:

• The number one reason donors say they give blood is because they "want to help others."
• Two most common reasons cited by people who don't give blood are: "Never thought about it" and "I don't like needles."
• One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
• If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 1,000 lives!
• Half of Red Cross donors male, and half are female.
• The American Red Cross accepts blood donations only from volunteer donors.
• Among Red Cross donors in a given year, 19 percent donate occasionally, 31 percent are first-time donors, and 50 percent are regular, loyal donors.
• Only 7 percent of people in the U.S. have O-negative blood type. O-negative blood type donors are universal donors as their blood can be given to people of all blood types.
• Type O-negative blood is needed in emergencies before the patient's blood type is known and with newborns who need blood.
• Forty-five percent of people in the U.S. have Type O (positive or negative) blood. This percentage is higher among Hispanics – 57 percent, and among African Americans – 51 percent.
• Only 3 percent of people in the U.S. have AB-positive blood type. AB-positive type blood donors are universal donors of plasma, which is often used in emergencies, for newborns and for patients requiring massive transfusions.

So check out their website, find a blood drive near you, and schedule an appointment to donate today!

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Photo courtesy of Google Images

Where Have I Been?

That's a good question!  I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time, it's just that there hasn't been much to post about lately.

I've been working my butt off every day filling out job applications, to no avail.  I have my RN license in hand, and I keep applying places, but there just don't seem to be a lot of jobs out there for new graduate RNs, at least not in my area.  It's quite frustrating!

I thought for a while I was going to strike gold, had an interview for an ER position set up and everything, but the nurse manager's wife went into labor the night before my interview, and he hasn't returned to work yet, so that interview is postponed until further notice.

With grad school's start date looming right around the corner (Sept. 1), it's looking more and more like I'll be a full-time student, at least for the first semester.  I'm going to keep applying for jobs every day, and hope that someone will bite, at some point!

Fingers crossed!!

Grad School Orientation

Yesterday was orientation for the Family Nurse Practitioner program that I am starting in September.

My cohort is rather small, only 19 people.  I'm not sure if I'm surprised by that number or not.  I actually knew one of my fellow students, as she was also in the second-degree BSN program with me that I just completed.  It was nice to see a familiar face, and certainly took the edge off the day.

Orientation was pretty informative.  I still haven't decided if I will be taking a full or part-time course load.  Everything is contingent upon if I am able to find a job or not.  I registered for a full-time schedule, taking advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, theoretical foundations, and human diversity and social issues.  If I can find a job, I will switch to part-status, and will only be taking advanced pathophysiology and theoretical foundations.

Full-time studies allow me to finish my FNP in 15 months, whereas, if I am part-time throughout the degree, it will most likely take me about 28 months to complete.  This isn't the end of the world, as I'd like to be working while going to school, but if it's not in the cards, at least I'll have someplace to focus my energy!

I have a phone interview with a really great hospital today, so I'm hoping that that will lead to an in-person interview, and eventually a job offer!! But, we'll see!

It's Official...I am an RN!

After 48 hours of anticipation, I received my results and I passed NCLEX.  Now the job search can commence!!

NCLEX is Tomorrow!!

So let me just start of with a big AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Ok, well now that that's out of my system...

Tomorrow I am taking the NCLEX-RN exam.  It's sort of a big deal.  For those of you who are not nurses, the NCLEX exam determines competency for all new graduate nurses; if you pass, you are granted a license.  If you fail, you have to wait 45 days (in NJ) to retest.

Since I'll be starting my nurse practitioner in the fall, I really need to pass, so I can actually attend the classes that I will be enrolling in...more on that in another post.

Anyway, I've been a bit stressed out, so I woke up this morning and decided that the best way to prepare for tomorrow would be to go to a nice, relaxing yoga class this morning.  So that's exactly what I did, but now it's 2 p.m., and I haven't opened a book yet...

So on that note, let me get back to the books, and WISH ME LUCK TOMORROW!!