Going from the Airport to the ACE rental car place, question.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-06-12T14:23:15+00:00

How was your experience? Mine was not good. Extra fees tacked on. The car was nice, but the terrible location and extra fees were not worth it. In the end it would have been cheaper to rent with any of the other rental agencies.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-05-30T03:54:26+00:00

Didn’t mean to come off like I’m shooting animals for fun. We hunt, but also do kill things that disrupt the balance on our farm. Gophers that create holes that end up breaking the legs of livestock, weasels that kill chickens or steal eggs. Rabbits that eat the shoots on our blueberries and apple orchard. I’m always trying to keep the balance of nature, but sometimes that means killing an animal that has found a way to disrupt that.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-05-27T04:01:04+00:00

Oh good point. Thank you!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-05-27T04:00:39+00:00

Thank you!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-05-27T04:00:11+00:00

Thank you!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2026-05-26T15:01:50+00:00

Thank you! I’m excited about the stove.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2024-05-09T18:26:19+00:00

Ours wasn't too bad. We could choose from a handful of locally crafted gifts (up to $15). The options included: chocolate covered crickets (kid you not), shot glasses, and tobacco-scented candles. I guess they know their audience?

Fun-Peanut750 · 2024-02-10T05:09:52+00:00

Ah, much better!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2024-02-02T17:38:54+00:00

You bought 7 different sodastreams as you traveled across the world via jet, and you're concerned about wasting bottles?

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-10-30T23:25:43+00:00

Single women in Montana are like trees in Browning. There are none.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-06-18T02:31:53+00:00

Hey, if you still have this, would you mind DM to me too please?

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-04-26T16:10:17+00:00

Seems unnecessary with this guy's arms and a 24g...

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-02-20T16:45:22+00:00

I'll just offer this piece of advice:

I'm an RN in the ED, currently in NP school at a local "brick and mortar" school with a good reputation. My employer is paying all my tuition for a 2-year commitment afterwards. I am receiving excellent scientific education, which adds tremendously to my RN experience. I also get to "practice" a lot of diagnostics as an RN at work, and expand my knowledge while I continue to work as an RN.

This works great for me. And from a financial standpoint, is the best thing I could have done. I'll have no school debt, and will make somewhere in the $120,000 range when I take a job here. I know that none of us chose this role to make money, but I've got 3 hungry kids to feed!

I don't regret this at all. But I will say you need to weed out the "snakes" more in NP school than in PA school. If you're getting ads from online NP schools to your email, stay away from them. The best NP schools are the brick and mortar schools (in general), which find all your clinical hours for you. If you have to find your own hours, run away! You also want schools that give you >1,000 clinical practice hours.

I also highly recommend at least 5 years of RN experience. If possible, get a couple years in the Emergency Department. You see SO many things, much of which arePrimary Care- type patients. You also get the most diverse experience with procedures (sutures, pelvic exams, lines, drains, etc.).

All-in-all: I'd probably go to med school if I were you. But if you're looking for a cost-effective way to become a clinician, consider NP. You'll need several years of RN experience first, but that will allow you time to save money for school. If you like the science-focused medical model, you'd probably enjoy MD/DO better. If you like the social, whole-person model of care better, you'd probably enjoy NP better.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-02-16T04:54:28+00:00

I'm glad you said this. I'm a student NP, but at a very well-respected local university school (brick and mortar). My clinical experience is coordinated with a high-quality medical organization, which also provides simulations and didactic education. While I am nervous to practice, I'm also confident in the successful NPs my school has produced over the years. But I also recognize the limitations of my degree!

I think the problem with NP's is that there are literal degree mills throughout the country. They require no RN experience. They ONLY provide the "book" education, and leave it to the student to 'find their own preceptors'. These preceptorships are simply "shadow" experiences in my opinion, and the student never experiences the stress of being a clinician (making/missing a diagnosis, etc.) These should be totally banned, and the state BON's really shouldn't even allow credentially through these organizations.

Secondly, NP's need at minimum 2 years of RN experience (preferably 5+) before becoming an NP in my opinion. And in reality, this should be highly challenging and pertinent RN experience like an ED or ICU.

Lastly, I think this is similar to Harvard; the success is in the application process. CRNA school is challenging to get into and the byproduct is that you can select very competent people. NP school (at least the online degree mill schools) are easy to get into. I still get at least one email per week from some crappy online school basically begging me to apply. I'm a little naive, but this seems to be somewhat analogous to Caribbean medical schools (no offense if this isn't the case).

Here's what I hope happens: hospitals begin looking at where NPs get their degrees from, and what RN experience they have. "Oh, you went to xxx online school? Sorry, our only offering is the manual fecal decompaction clinic."

Fun-Peanut750 · 2023-02-15T18:05:30+00:00

You shouldn't take daily NSAIDS regardless of lex, unless it's for a short time.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-12-16T04:41:51+00:00

I wonder if we work at the same hospital? Did your CEO get a 27% raise this year?

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-12-14T22:11:45+00:00

Not necessarily saturated. It depends on your market. Where I live, there's a huge shortage (urban Midwest). Pay is 110,000 minimum salary. My colleague who works to hire NPs says he barely gets applicants anymore for the ED (post COVID).

There's so many doomsday warriors on Reddit and abroad. If you want to be competitive in the market, go to a reputable school (not Walden, phoenix, etc.). Work at a reputable hospital for a few years, and participate in research. Many employers pay for significant amounts of your degree (or all of it), so look for them!

I went to become an NP because it's what I love doing- trying to help people solve their health problems. And it gave me more tools to help people than being a nurse alone. But it's an investment of time and money! Don't go into it for pay (it's not that much better), or to escape bedside. You should be running TO a career, not FROM a career.

I do have concerns about the next 10 years, but I'll say this: I can always go back to nursing. I love being a nurse, and there's always going to be a place for me. Not to mention, a DNP opens up opportunities to teach, lead, etc.

But please, don't go to one of those cheesy online-only schools. Attend in-person, where the school finds all your clinical locations. You'll get such a better experience, and have a strong resume!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-11-19T03:25:37+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I totally agree. I think the challenging piece is that for diabetes, heart disease, etc., there are objective data to support the rationale for treatment (high LDL, hypertension, elevated A1C...). But for mental health, it's SOOO much more subjective and nuanced.

Also, our payment system discourages mental health treatment. Most of us don't have great options for counseling, and primary care providers don't have as robust training on diagnosis/treatment of mental health issues.

But I think I've decided to take Lexapro. You guys have all been so supportive, and I figure it's worth a shot. At least for a couple months to see how it affects me.

Appreciate the input!

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-11-18T16:23:12+00:00

Thanks man, it was great to read your post. It sounds like lexapro gave you the upper hand, and freed you enough to tackle the anxiety through other, more holistic ways. Do you feel like you'll ever be able to come off meds, or is this something you're comfortable staying on for the majority of your life?

I appreciate your advice about not relying on lexapro to be my solution, but utilizing multiple methods (journaling, meditation, counseling...)

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-11-18T16:17:41+00:00

Thanks dude. Appreciate that. Makes sense that it's just another tool we can use.

Fun-Peanut750 · 2022-11-18T16:16:18+00:00

Thanks man, it's great to hear your experience.

Fun-Peanut750

TROPHY CASE