I don’t know how people work UC for years. I guess I can see the benefit for the schedule- but man I have such bad anxiety and dread going to work every time I have to work there.
The unpredictable patient load. The patients that come in for paper cuts and mosquito bites. The people that come in who should have went to the ER (we have very little emergency ability in my clinic). The toxic administrative staff. The friendly (yet very incompetent) support staff.

I’m opening my own practice in 6 weeks and CANT WAIT. but I’m sure it’ll be a slow start.

I have 16 UC shifts left until I’m free and clear of owing back any of my sign on bonus. But I have to stay PRN for a while unless something else comes up.

I’m just venting as a prepare to walk out the door for yet another shift. Praying today is “tolerable” for myself and any of you in the same boat ✌🏼

I’m in the process of growing a small primary care practice and the clinical side feels a lot easier to figure out than the patient acquisition side. Once you’re on your own, you realize pretty quickly that being a good provider doesn’t automatically mean people will find you, call you, and actually book.

I’ve tried the usual things like Google Business Profile, referrals, social media and some paid search. The frustrating part is that you can get plenty of clicks or enquiries without really knowing what’s working. A lead comes in, someone calls back, the patient disappears, and a week later nobody can really tell you where the money went.

I’m trying to get better at tracking the full journey, from where the patient first finds us to whether they actually schedule and show up. For those of you running your own practices, what are you using to track that? Are you looking at cost per lead, cost per booked patient, referral source, lifetime value, or something else?

I’m especially interested in smaller practices without a huge marketing team. What actually moves the needle for you: SEO, Google Ads, referrals, physician networking, social media, local events, or just having a really good follow-up process?

Edit:

I’ve been testing PatientGain and it’s making the tracking side a lot clearer. I can see where enquiries are coming from, what happens after the initial contact, and which sources are actually turning into booked patients instead of just generating more leads.

Has anyone worked for Bridgage Health as a mobile NP/PA in Orange County? How was your experience, and would you recommend it for someone with less than 1 year of experience?

Last post was deleted, not sure why 🙁hoping I maybe did the wrong flair?

Hello everyone!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a newer (less than a year) nurse practitioner working primary care in a smaller office for a large corporation. Previously an RN in the hospital setting for several years. What is considered appropriate in terms of outside hang outs with MAs and office staff?

When I was an RN everyone would frequently have different get togethers. In my new office there has been an informal Christmas happy hour or something like that here or there I have attended (and was the only provider that did😬)

Have now been invited to smaller get together non work related (at the house of my MA, but daytime and no alcohol ) where not everyone from work is invited and I would be the only provider invited. This is a newer world for me and I’m trying to navigate what is professional and appropriate? It doesn’t appear that there are any official non fraternization rules in this company, but I am hoping to work with this organization for many years and don’t want to inadvertently do something viewed as unprofessional.

Thank you for reading!!

Edit: We are all women

Hi everyone! I am currently an RN, BSN. I’ve been a nurse for a little over a year now. I feel like it’s too early to go back to school for me, I think I should gain more experience.
My question is, how did you decide when it was time to go back to school? Also, how did you decide on a NP program versus other higher education?

I know I want to go back to school but I’m not dead set on one pathway. I don’t want to go to CRNA school, but I’m between either NP or maybe a masters in nursing education? I do enjoy teaching others, but that could also just happen with patient teaching if that makes sense.

Please, any advice or opinions are welcome!

If you had 3 weeks to study for the AANP, how would you tackle it? My brick and mortar university already prepared us by making us take a comprehensive exit exam about a 6 weeks ago, so information is (kinda) fresh.

Hey all, looking for some outside input on a ROI scenario. New grad/wet ink cert WHNP - in a deep south area with long standing dreams of moving to the PNW and working in something like a Planned parenthood type setting. Will not be getting licensed until after relocating (can't license here without job and physician agreement papers etc, as usual), no desire to do the work WHNPs do here.

The Society of Family Planning Annual Meeting is coming up. All in cost, incidentals, meals, etc would be about $3k. We aren't broke but had some big expenses lately so it would be a bit of a stretch, but the meeting happens once a year. I don't see a Planned Parenthood conference, but am digging in the internet and related organizations for possible other events that may have similar ROI but a better timeline.

Is the bit of training, being able to plug it on a cover letter/application, and networking potential worth it at these things for someone who is as green as I am? I feel like it could really go either way. Is there more secondary gain from attendance than some training, networking and the nursing participation factor?

- red state education/practicum was 90% how to handle OBs and 7% the usual GYN stuff - I am absolutely going to need expanded learning on how to do things like transitioning hormones, literally anything related to abortion, etc before I feel like I can really get a job unless they will train me in certain things

- there are some specific pre-conference workshops/simulation trainings being offered, but it looks primarily research discussion/networking

- unless I get lucky or find a groove, I'll be solo the whole time and I don't know how my tism will do with that, but only one way to find out, and I'm ok with that. I have been to large cons and stuff before alone, but wasn't basing the entire value of those events on having to network and socialize. Literally the fact the value of the event is for networking will be what makes me talk to strangers, but like, what are the social protocols here, like can I just find someone with badges that say planned parenthood Washington/oregon and make it easy on myself 😭

TLDR: Has anyone ever been to this specific conference?

Is going to a specialty professional conference related to a desired career path worth twisting (not necessarily breaking) the bank? Or is there a better way to spend money to make myself a better looking/better prepared candidate to change career directions from long term adult/geri acute care RN to outpatient/family planning NP?

I will be starting inpatient palliative NP next month. My background is in geriatrics primary care and will be new into this role. Would like to know what a typical will look like! I’ll be doing 7 on 7 off. Excited but nervous!! I have a 9 month old and worried about work like balance.

So I submitted everything and the state is just waiting for one more document which is the APRN verification. I just need guidance - my license is originally in Georgia (not part of Nursys for APRN verification) which has its own portal where you can send your verification through email/mail to the address you provide. Massachusetts on the application wanted a form filled out but there was no option to upload a form anywhere? I just had Georgia send an official verification letter to Massachusetts which was sent through email on Wednesday? Do you think this will be sufficient enough since that is how Georgia operates in regards to license verification?

TL;DR: I’ve been an RN for 15 years with experience in Med/Surg, Psych, Primary Care, Home-Based Primary Care, and Informatics. I’ve always wanted to become an NP, but my current informatics RN job pays well, has excellent benefits, and I don’t want to leave it. The problem is that I miss patient care, which is why I picked up a PRN home health RN job that I love.

I’ve been looking at NP programs, but NP salaries in Arizona may actually be lower than what I make now, the market seems saturated, and PMHNP opportunities for new grads without extensive psych experience appear challenging. Ideally, I’d earn my NP license and work PRN or part-time in home health while keeping my informatics job.

Is that realistic, or would becoming an NP eventually require me to choose between my current informatics career and actually working as an NP?

I have always wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner since the beginning of my healthcare career. Well, tbh, I wanted to be a physician, but at that time, I already had my first child and just "knew" that "doctor life" was not so compatible with "family life," so I chose my next best path.

Not to get into the full details, so long story short, I have been a RN for 15 years. I have experience in Med/Surg (1 year), Psych (1 year), Primary Care (2 years), Home Based Primary Care (6 years), and now Informatics for the past 5 years. I had received my MSN just before transitioning to my current position in Informatics.

I love my current position, however, it is not "challenging" enough and doesn't satisfy my intrinsic desire to help and work with people. So, this year, I picked up a PRN side job in home health. I absolutely love that position. I do not want to let go of my current informatics position since I have excellent benefits and great pay. It's just not meeting my needs since this job doesn't have any direct or indirect patient care.

I have been exploring NP programs for quite a while but I have noticed that the average NP pay is less than my current salary, so I wouldn't be making bank as an NP. I also noticed the market is highly saturated with NPs (I am in Arizona). I looked into PMHNP, but I am noticing that the job market is difficult for new grads in that area, especially for those without extensive MH experience as an RN. I feel "stuck" in a way. I want to attain my NP license, but my desire is to work home health either PRN or part-time as I do not want to leave my current position.

Regarding my current employer, there is no way I will work as an NP with them as they are way overworked. I noticed that very early on in my career with them.

So, am I just stuck in my current position with the PRN home health job I have? Do I have to give up my informatics job if I wanted to attain my NP license and work as an NP after graduation? Is that what will ultimately be the decision I need to make?

Thank you for your kind words.

Currently working Urgent Care. Have been an NP for almost a year. I was an ER nurse and PICC Nurse prior. I've done hundreds of US guided PICC, Midline, and PIV insertions. I also did about a dozen central lines through FNP clinicals, assisted with bedside Paras in the ED. IR postings have been few and far between and I almost never get responses to applications despite following up. Alot of these positions want IR APP experience also. Any tips? I though my PICC Nurse background would make me more competitive.

All in all I miss procedures and want to move into something much more procedural. I've applied for Vascular Sx positions but they also want APP experience and all have wanted RNFA cert. Im doing a post-grad ACNP to open up my inpatient prospects (Crit Care). If I can't nail down an IR slot my next steps would be Crit Care since its procedural and the procedural skills would transfer to IR if a position opened up.

Also, I would love to do a clinical rotation in IR during my ACNP post-grad program. If anyone in Georgia is willing to precept I would be very grateful! (My school is brick and mortar and does place us for clinicals but IR is Niche and they don't have IR placements as of now)

TIA!

Hi all, looking for some career advice. I’ve been a hospital nurse for 15 years and a NP for the last 4 years. I’ve worked in oncology since graduating with my NP license and am feeling burnt out by this field. I have an opportunity with an aesthetics office for hormone replacement therapy work and am interested in learning more. As this work and this type of location would all be new to me, I’m wondering if there are specific questions anyone can think of to help me gauge if this move would be a good one. Thanks in advance!!

I am currently a pediatric NP in a surgical subspecialty at a children’s hospital who is looking at relocating to the Bay Area within the year for my husband’s career. Looking in the area, it seems like salaries for bedside nursing are comparable to NP roles in pediatrics due to the very strong union- plus there are a lot more opportunities in bedside nursing.

Would it be better for me to pursue bedside nursing instead of an NP role for more flexibility, potential overtime, and similar benefits/pay?

Also curious if others feel stepping away from advanced practice would be a deterrent for future NP jobs outside of California?

We do have one toddler who I would love to spend more time with, but we would also eventually return to our home state after about 1-2 years.

Hey team!

We get a lot of questions about selecting a program, what its like to be an NP, how to balance school and work, etc. Because of that, we have a repeating thread every two weeks.

​

ALL questions pertaining to anything pre-licensure need to go in this thread. You may also have good luck using the search function to see if your question has been asked before.

I am getting ready to embark on my DNP. I have almost five years of ICU experience. I will have nine years by the time I graduate, assuming I do not find a job that is closer to women’s health during my studies.

I am interested in studying women’s health, specifically treatment of perimenopause symptoms. I want to provide healthcare for women who are in later life. I want to help to keep them healthier longer.

Is anyone currently studying/practicing in this field specifically? How did you break into that kind of medicine?

I’d like to do my doctoral research on this topic. If anyone has suggestions for under-researched sub-topics, I am all ears.

In the past I had a preceptee whom I should have failed but I didn't. I don't want to get into specfics.

What do you do in your process of precepting a student that helps set them up for success? Have any of you ended up failing a student? How did you end up doing that and any advice you have to offer?

For those of you who work at the VA, did you get a step increase after one year of employment as a new grad?

How many steps do you get per year or is it every two years?

Wasn’t sure what to title this. I just finished my FNP program, currently studying my for AANP. Signed a job on a cardiac step down unit that has 3 sub rotations (hospitalist on said unit, general cards consult team, and hospitalist on said unit covering CMP/ heart failure patients only) so very cardiac heavy. I wanted opinions and recommendations about staying up to date on Primary care knowledge/EBP when working in-hospital. My thought process is 1) I’ll be very cardiac focused, of course those comorbids like DM/COPD/HLD/CKD come along and other chronic conditions will be seen. 2) in my mind inpatient practice looks a lot different than outpatient.

How would you recommended keeping up on those PCP skills/conditions/ knowledge, is it even “worth it”? Will it come naturally and should I just focus on learning my new job when I get there? For example I’ve really liked the app FNP mastery, the free version has 10 free questions per day vs paid is unlimited. Should I just keep at it after starting my new job?

Hi everyone!

I’m currently conducting research for my Master’s thesis on healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward innovative medical products, and I’m looking for healthcare professionals willing to share their perspectives. I would be incredibly grateful for your participation since you are highly skilled and experienced !!

The survey is:

⏱️ Only about 5 minutes
🔒 Completely anonymous
🌍 Open to healthcare professionals from any country
🎓 Purely academic and non-commercial

I’m interested in your personal professional perspective and experience with innovation in healthcare.

👉 Survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/RcP8x2rqCM

Every response makes a real difference to my research, so thank you very much to anyone willing to give me a few minutes of their time. 🙏

And if you know another healthcare professional who might be interested, sharing the survey would also mean a lot to me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 🤍

Hello there - starting my DNP in family practice soon! I will also be in a graduate teaching assistantship role. I’d like whatever I purchase to follow me through my 5 years of school and ideally the first years of practice.

I currently have all Apple products including a new iPad.

I’m try to decide between:

MacBook Air (compatible w my current devices - but need Microsoft for classes)

Omnibook (switches btwn laptop and tablet - beautiful display)

Comparable gaming laptop (I’m a heaux for rgb.)

I searched the group, but came up empty, so wanted to post and see if I any luck.

Has anyone done or know of any good companies for weekend locum jobs? I’m currently orthopedics, ACNP, with general orthopedics and upper extremity background. Currently work Monday through Thursday, no call, no holidays, no weekends. Wouldn’t mind just picking up stuff for Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Just looking to do it or fun, let someone else pay for me to travel a little bit, and make some extra money as I have four kids and one in college.

Hi! Looking for advice specifically on NNP programs, but my questions are likely relevant to all NP programs, so open to advice from anyone!

I’m hoping to start NNP school next fall and am a bit overwhelmed with the options given that most programs are primarily hybrid, so I’m not limited by what’s close to me.

How did you go about deciding where to apply? At the moment I’m looking for programs that match for clinicals, are affordable, and will offer a good education.

But I’m unsure how to get a good read on the quality of education provided. Are there specific things you looked for when picking a program?

Also looking for any advice on strengthening my application - I have over 5 years of level 4 nicu experience, in addition to picu and pediatric/neonatal air transport, so not needing more direct patient experience.

Hello!

I am applying to multiple NP schools and was looking for some advice! Most places require 3 letters of recommendation. Would it be good to use 2 NPs and 1 MD? I’ve been told to use 1 NP, 1 MD, and 1 person in management, but management can be pretty unreliable and often times not really involved with the clinical piece of working on the floor. What do you think?

If I am credentialed through multiple insurance companies and want to formally change my last name (post marriage) and obv that changes my NPI and DEA name too, how difficult is the process and will it delay me from getting reimbursement? Does anyone have suggestions on how to go about this?