Nurse practitioner student awaits arthroscopic knee surgery

A little update regarding my surgery intentions.... I will be having arthroscopic meniscus replacement for a "bucket handle tear" in my right knee (medial side). OUCH!!
Not looking forward to it at all. I totally trust the surgeon, but because he no longer comes to our hospital to practice, I have to go to another hospital where I don't know any of the staff. Makes me nervous.... I am taking recommendations from other doctors regarding the right choice for the anesthesiologist. That's the part that scares the crap out of me! I REALLY would like to not feel anything and then wake up after surgery. (Wouldn't we all!!!)
Another aggravation is that this is a workman's comp case and I just found out that I cannot collect my accrued sick time to make up for the other percentage that WC doesn't cover while I'll be out of work for 6-8 weeks.. Pretty nasty move if you ask me! It's a penalization for getting hurt on the job! I saved up the sick time, I should be able to use it for God's sake! It's not like I want 100% from WC and then collect 100% from EIB, that would be "double-dipping".. Just enough not to lose my house while I'm out of work.. Too much to ask?? I didn't think so!!
Enough of that rant!!! Sorry guys and gals!!!

Off I go to neurology clinicals, which is pretty interesting and may be a potential specialty for me. We'll see what happens in the future!!

Another great article about Nurse Practitioners

Click the title to read another great nurse practitioner article that explains some issues facing nurse practitioners. Enjoy!

Nurse Practitioner Salary Survey for 2005

By Jolynn Tumolo and Jill Rollet

Today's nurse practitioners are more educated and perform more procedures than at any time in their 40-year history. They work more independently, in more specialties and in more settings. And as they demonstrate more vividly their value and cost effectiveness, they're being paid closer to what they're worth — or they're paying themselves.

The 2005 National Salary Survey of Nurse Practitioners shows that the average annual full-time salary for a nurse practitioner has reached $74,812. That's an 8.1% increase over the average just 2 years ago (Table 1), when the last survey was conducted. The average part-time wage rose more dramatically, by 8.6%, to $36.80 an hour (Table 2).

The 2005 National Salary Survey of Nurse Practitioners calculated exclusive data from 5,905 surveys completed between July and October 2005. The analysis of this data, presented in word and visual forms in this article, will help nurse practitioners assess their market value in the varying circumstances they work in today. Click on the title for the rest of the story.....

Regardless of your opinion of Nurse Practitioners, we are moving up in the world of medicine. We are highly educated and are continuing to strive to provide excellent patient care through collaboration with doctors when the need arises. In some states, nurse practitioners can be independent owner and operators of their own businesses. How far can we go? Only time and evidence-based practice will tell!!!

The Wait is over for the Nurse practitioner student's MRI results!

Hello all! I got the results from my MRI on my knee and it's a surgery for sure now. I have to wait for Workman's Comp to okay it. Looks like a meniscus replacement due to a nasty buckle and twist tear to the inside (medial) part of my knee. Sounds nasty, I know!! It really hurts like... well, you can say a few choice words for me here...
This REALLY sucks because it is going to put me behind in my clinicals this semester but I'll hobble on with the best of them! The good thing is that I have the same orthopedic surgeon who did the same left meniscus tear last year just about this time doing the surgery for me again. He even said that he'll use the same entry scars.. WHOOO HOOO! (Like I'm really worried about scarring!) Going under anesthesia is what scares the crap out of me..
Of course, the living will is filled out prior to going in and all the phone calls will be made prior. I know it's a minor surgery (same day) but one can never tell about these things.. You know how we nurses are... we know enough to make us dangerous.. I'll keep everyone updated of course for those who are regulars...
P.S. Check out my links page template and tell me if you think it's too dark.. I'm ready for a change and am getting a little bored with the template here also.. Any suggestions???

Nurse practitioner student gets MRI results today

I'm going to my appt. today to get the results from my MRI of my injured area. After I get the results, I'll have to tell everyone how the stupid injury happened in more detail. Needless to say, work is hounding me to come back but without knowing the results.. well it's a waiting game.

Out of the mouths of babes!

Your favorite nurse practitioner student took her 7 year old son to the doctor's office today. During the exam, the new ARNP asked my son to take deep breaths. I noticed that he was taking shallow breaths and I encouraged him to breath deeper but to no avail. Being a nurse practitioner student, I knew that this can be frustrating. So on the way home, I was admonishing him when he spoke up and said, "But Mom! His breath stunk!"

Note to self: Always remember the breath mints before patient exams!

Supreme Court Upholds Oregon’s Physician-Assisted Suicide Law

The Supreme Court today upheld Oregon’s 1997 law allowing physicians to aid in the suicide of terminally ill patients, a statute that the Bush administration battled furiously. The court voted 6-3, with Chief Justice Justice John Roberts dissenting along with Justices Anthony Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

What do you think about this issue? On one hand, some health care providers believe that a patient should have the right to have a physician help them to end their lives when they are near the end of a terminal disease. I recently had a patient who is in end-stage COPD and has been hospitalized several times in the last few months. She asked, "why is it we can put down our beloved pets when they are sick and we as humans cannot have the same compassion?"

On the other hand, we as doctors, NPs, and nurses take an oath to "do no harm". We are supposed to heal, not help kill our patients, besides the religious aspect of suicide and murder.

Personally, from what I've seen and experienced with death and dying, I want to at least have a choice. I think that a person should be evaluated by a team of doctors and mental health specialists to determine that a person isn't "just depressed" and have a terminal disease process with a life expectancy of 6 months or so to be able to be in control of how they depart this life.

My husband differs in his opinion. He says that we should not play God. That only he as the right to life or death.

What do you think?

Your favorite Nurse Practitioner student had a slight accident!

I was recently injured at work saving a patient. I won't go into details here, but to say the least, if the doctor had listened to me in the morning, the accident could have been avoided. I'm okay but may have to have a minor surgery. I hope not but we'll see after another diagnostic test.
For lunch today, my husband brought me some Arby's and we ate lunch in the lounge. After he left, I got called to the front desk overhead. To my surprise, a volunteer had a bag in her hand that contained a beautiful white stuffed cat and a card from my husband. She told me that my husband loves me very much and that she and her husband had been married for 58 years. With tears in her eyes, she said that she could tell that my husband and I would be together for a long time.
As always, there was a nice poem written inside the card. It said,

The air is sweet, for my love for you grows with every breeze that blows.
The sun shines so bright, for your face lights my world
With every smile, it glows..

He is the greatest husband a woman could ever ask for. He sends me flowers and cards just because and for all the usual birthdays and anniversaries as well. He takes such good care of me and the kids!! I love him sooooo much!! He wrote that poem in 30 seconds while talking to the volunteer. I only wish I could be so romantic!!

I hope everyone who reads my blog has a special someone that treats them half as well as my husband treats me!!

Blue Cross Invests in training nurses

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is funneling $1.2 million to two area schools in hopes of plugging the nursing shortage.

The health insurer, which is undergoing a cost-cutting drive, including job cuts, said Tuesday it is donating $600,000 each to the University of North Florida and the University of Florida. The state will match each gift at $420,000.

The corporate donations address a community need and a business need, said Catherine Kelly, Blue Cross's vice president for public affairs.

"Nurses are the bedrock of the health care system and an adequate well-trained supply of nurses is important to the health care quality and access in Florida and the nation," Kelly said.

BY THE NUMBERS
Vacant jobs

The nursing shortage in Florida, estimated at 34,000, is projected to hit 61,000 in 2020. Northeast Florida hospitals reported that 8.1 percent of nursing positions remain vacant, the same as the statewide average for registered nurse vacancies.

"The cost of unfilled nursing positions is very expensive, both in terms of patient safety as well as overall affordability of health care."

A lack of faculty at nursing schools and limited openings, industry experts say, exacerbates the shortage by limiting the supply of nursing graduates. The Blue Cross gifts and state matches hope to address that problem.

In Florida 6,293 of the 10,923 qualified nursing school applicants were turned away for fall semester 2004 mainly because of insufficient faculty to teach them, according to the University of Florida.

"We estimate that within the next three years, 140 of Florida's 795 nursing school faculty will retire," said Kathleen Long, dean of the University of Florida College of Nursing. "We are anticipating over the next three years a shortage of approximately 20 percent ... that is if we don't expand programs."

Blue Cross has a vested interest in helping address the nursing shortage, said Pamela Chally, dean of the College of Health at the University of North Florida.

"When there aren't enough nurses, patients don't get well as quickly as they would otherwise," and extended hospital stays cost health insurance carriers, Chally said.

Source: The Florida Times Union

It's nice to see some of the larger companies contributing to the nursing colleges. The hospital I work for donated a "SIM man" to our local nursing school. I hope that it helps students and faculty to better understand patient care.

Typepad problems anyone?

I get so aggravated when I try to comment on blogs and get error messages! ARGHH!!
I've been trying to leave a nice message in response to Crzgrl's nice message and typepad keeps giving an objectionable content error message.... Technology sucks sometimes!!

Getting ready for the new semester!!

I am in the middle of tracking down what books I will need for the coming semester that starts on Monday. So far, I've spent about 158.00 and have about another 160.00 to go.. The price we pay for higher education!! I always keep my books for reference so I see them as an investment.
Classes this semester include Advanced Health Assessments and Nursing Research. I am supposed to have a working thesis by the end of this semester and I still have no idea what I want to research. I am interested in so many things.. I can't wait to get started though. I expect to be very busy and am looking forward to getting back to the medical part of NP education instead of theory..
Off I go to look at the books I bought!

Vote For Me for Best New Medical Blog on Medgadget

Hey everyone! The voting has started for the best new medical blog started in 2005.. Stop by by clicking the title and vote for me!!!!!

Linking undocumented illegal immigrant students to the nursing shortage?

Source: Associated Press..
When Fabiola Guevara graduated from highschool 11 years after her mother fled from Mexico, she had nearly a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Her dream was to enroll in a state university nursing program, but she didn't even apply. Guevara couldn't afford higher education.
Like thousands of other illegal immigrant students, Guevara was ineligible for college financial aid. And it would cost triple her mother's housekeeper wages to attend a public university because undocumented students don't qualify for in-state tuition discounts. " I studied here all my life. What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life? Work as a housekeeper? Pick beans in the fields?" says Guevara.
Federal law prohibits illegal immigrant students from receiving government-backed loans and grants to attend college. The law, which was part of 1996 immigration reforms, also discourages states from providing these students in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.
But lawmakers in Congress have proposed legislation to help students like Guevara. The Development,Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, more commonly known as the DREAM ACT would allow undocumented students who arrived in the US before they turned 16 and have lived here at least five years to become temporary legal residents, making them eligible for college financial aid and other benefits.
Foreign-born students could potentially fill teaching and nursing jobs, addressing a shortage that grows more critical as baby boomers retire, Flores said.
"These children are being penalized. It's no fault of theirs that they're not citizens," Frederica Wilson says. Many were brought to the US by their parents when they were five or six and worked hard for years in the US public schools. "I think we owe them. They have a right. They want to be somebody. It's reminiscent of many civil rights battles that I as an African-American had to fight," Wilson said...
Guevara's mother remarried an American citizen and now is eligible to apply for citizenship....

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait just a damn minute! Since when do illegal immigrants have the RIGHTS that legal Americans do??? Why tie this into the nursing shortage?? It has nothing to do with it.. The reason for the nursing shortage is because of the pitiful wages that the colleges pay the instructors. Who wants to leave the hospital arenas to teach when you would have to take a serious cut in pay? That's why the median age for instructors is in the late 50's and they are getting closer to retirement..
How do these illegal students get through our school system without being noticed that they are illegal?? I had to transfer my kids from one school to the next and without their "Original" birth certificates, I was given a rash of crap!!!!!
Here's a couple of solutions!!! Apply for a green card and go through the system!! Become a LEGAL American and we are more than happy to help you succeed. Or you can just marry an American and stay here through that loophole like lots of people do..
Don't get me wrong.. I'm not anti-immigration. My family came over from Germany back in the 1700's.My husband's family came through Ellis Island from Italy in the early 20th Century. Everyone here except for the Native Americans are transplanted from somewhere else. I don't have a problem with others coming into this country to make a better place for themselves. JUST DO IT LEGALLY!!!!!!!! Stop trying to tie other issues into the nursing shortage to play on people's sympathies... These illegal immigrant students should be placing the blame on their own parents who didn't follow the law and come into this country legally... People who leave their countries pass up the opportunities to be their future politicians and hopes for their peoples. Change can only happen by the will of the people. People can only change their corrupt governments by standing up to them. The Mexican people need good medical care just like we do. If you love your homeland, change it! If you want to come here instead, come legally and we will welcome you with open arms!!!

A footnote for thought! Sneaking illegally into Mexico will not get you free welfare benefits, social security benefits, free public education, and free medical care. You will get thrown into prison and will not get a free bus ride to the border..

What is a Nurse Practitioner

Since Docrum doesn't seem to understand that a Nurse Practitioner is medically trained.. here's a definition once again... I don't think that NPs are in the same category as paramedics.. Though paramedics do an awesome job but NP training is much more indepth medically..

What’s a Nurse Practitioner (A.R.N.P.)
A Nurse Practitioner is a Professional Registered Nurse who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Florida Board of Medicine designates the term for the nurse practitioner as “A.R.N.P” or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. Most Nurse Practitioners have national board certification in their area of expertise and hold Master’s or Doctoral degrees. Nurse Practitioners serve as primary health care providers for children and adults during health and illness. Their goal is to help people of all ages stay as healthy as possible. They do this by teaching people and treating their acute illnesses (such as infections) and chronic disease (such as hypertension, diabetes, and many others).

What can a Nurse Practitioner do?
Physical examination, treatment & procedures• Order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic studies• Family planning service• Healthcare during pregnancy• Well/sick care for all ages• Health risk evaluation• Psychological counseling• Coordination of health care services• Health education• Fitness for duty examinations

Can Nurse Practitioners prescribe medications?
Yes. How a Nurse Practitioner prescribes medications is regulated by each state's Nurse Practice Act. In Florida, Nurse Practitioners have prescriptive authority through written agreements with a collaborating physician. In Florida, ARNP’s are restricted and cannot prescribe controlled substances. Through legislation, we are working on this.

Why Choose a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners are also trained to promote health and prevent disease through comprehensive health care and education. More and more people are choosing a Nurse Practitioner for their regular health care provider because Nurse Practitioners are highly trained health professionals who:• take time to listen to you and your family's worries and concerns• explain the details of health problems, medications, and other topics to help you understand how to take care of yourself • provide individualized care• work in collaboration with physicians and other health professionals to insure that you receive the best possible health carereally care about you, your health, your family, and the community you live in• treat you when you are sick• teach you how to care for yourself when ill and how to stay healthy

Contact the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network to locate a ARNP for your health or referral for a family member.
Retrieved from www.fnpn.org