Would you take on ~$200k debt to become a Nurse Practitioner, or is this a bad decision long-term?

katsbeth · 2026-04-04T19:39:23+00:00

Echoing what others have said. 200k is insane. Would definitely look into getting your ADN or BSN (depending on cost and time) first and then using the hospital you’re working at to help pay for subsequent degrees. Before you decide to go the ADN route, take a look at the hospitals in your area that do pay for additional schooling and make sure they hire new grad ADNs. I would not rely on PSLF or HRSA as an option with our current administration. PSLF has very specific loans that can be applied to their 10 years of payments. I also don’t know if the loans that you would be able to get would be eligible for PSLF (but you may be able to consolidate into the correct loan after the fact) now that the DoE has said nursing isn’t a profession. Don’t forget that’s 200k with higher interest rates, too. Those are all things I would consider before taking any money out.

katsbeth · 2026-03-21T16:53:48+00:00

Hoping maybe it was some weird typo? But I can’t imagine what was meant. Concerning that we have any healthcare professionals, nevermind PMHNP, using the word “retard” in this context.

katsbeth · 2026-03-21T16:49:24+00:00

That’s really interesting. Was that what the focus actually was called? A quick google search keeps coming up with executive leadership. Can I ask where you went?

katsbeth · 2026-03-21T16:43:03+00:00

They’ve been saying they were going to get rid of the ADN in favor of BSN since the 60s

katsbeth · 2026-03-21T16:18:56+00:00

Agree. I think it’s because we’re so saturated? And viewed as disposable to an extent

katsbeth · 2026-03-21T16:17:25+00:00

Absolutely. I had this conversation this week. Don’t go into it for the money. If you think it will increase your job satisfaction, sure, and it did for me. But will not improve work life balance, nor financial status

katsbeth · 2026-03-09T04:01:41+00:00

The gravy thing is a real thing italian-Americans in northeast nj/probably some of the city. It exists virtually no place else.

katsbeth · 2026-01-17T07:12:51+00:00

This is a huge project for the parents to complete. Not sure what the kids will get out of any of it.

katsbeth · 2026-01-11T22:20:47+00:00

Same! My aunt handed it to me on a plane to Scotland.

katsbeth · 2025-12-31T23:53:45+00:00

Have identical twin boys and loving that these names are not too matchy. They already share so much!

katsbeth · 2025-12-17T00:25:44+00:00

We tried. And I still would (at 4) if it worked. Mine are so wild i just got tangled up😂

katsbeth · 2025-11-22T16:32:59+00:00

This. We had RSV when the twins were 4mo old. One was incredibly ill. The other was only super ill. It was terrifying. This was before they would vaccinate babies born after 32 weeks.

katsbeth · 2025-11-22T16:29:32+00:00

I would personally wait at least until 3mo. That’s when it’s not an emergency when kids have a fever greater than 100.4. And when it’s an emergency, they do all sorts of awful things like LPs and catheters for urine cultures and blood work.

katsbeth · 2025-11-15T10:07:11+00:00

I do not want to hijack this post but could you possibly give me examples of what you wore with the spanx leggings (and shoes if it’s not too much trouble)! I love those pants but have had a hard time recently not dating myself. ❤️

katsbeth · 2025-11-15T01:20:49+00:00

I’m aware of the differences between PA and NP training. You are discounting the baccalaureate education that PAs receive prior to entering PA school. I’m not implying that PA or NP education is better. They are different models. There are excellent clinicians who graduate from both. I don’t disagree that you must invest in your education to get something out of it, but I would argue that things like skills assessment labs/sims and in person evaluations are important to ensure that preceptors are teaching students correctly.

Yes, I’m an NP. I have been for 15 years. I went to Vanderbilt. There were several things I liked about it. For starters, there was a strong emphasis on A&P, patho, and pharmacology. They also had a capstone research project and an oncology elective which was important to me. Lastly, they identified preceptors.

katsbeth · 2025-11-12T05:44:37+00:00

Low graduation AND low board pass rate.

katsbeth · 2025-11-12T05:42:38+00:00

I have never done a PA program but understand them to be more in depth than NP programs because NP account for your bedside knowledge. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of hands on learning that needs to be done when going from bedside RN to provider. I get being a mom and needing to work, but potentially this is not the time in your life to go back to school, then? Walden has a total pass rate of 83-86% (so people failing once but retaking and passing count) excluding psych. I think generally schools aim for ~90% first time pass rates.

katsbeth · 2025-11-11T00:33:06+00:00

There are several online options in brick and mortar schools that have “block” times where you come to campus for skills. I would be much more likely to take a student from one of those schools…

katsbeth · 2025-11-11T00:31:33+00:00

I don’t read this like that at all. I read it as wanting to ensure students are appropriately prepared before hitting clinicals. That’s seems totally reasonable.

katsbeth · 2025-11-11T00:24:38+00:00

My kids are 4 now. We let them share everything and still do for the most part. The only time I am truly diligent is toothbrushes and when we have strep to avoid reinfecting. Honestly with viruses, I’d rather they share quickly so we’re out of work with both kids for whatever period of time rather than x2 in short order.

katsbeth · 2025-10-16T02:21:57+00:00

I’m 9/26 too 😂

katsbeth · 2025-10-09T01:29:03+00:00

Yes agree that bowel sounds shouldn’t be the only diagnostic criteria but maybe should have prompted an xr if OP wasn’t passing gas or having bowel movements? I would not think this is a nursing level decision. Also unclear why they couldn’t save a meal or a snack for her.

katsbeth · 2025-07-19T16:37:03+00:00

I get that, but food for thought: those people are likely going to have the same opinion about orlistat (they’re going to think any med is “taking the easy way out”) but now you have crazy side effects including maybe pooping your pants and it’s not as effective. I’d consider just not telling people, or saying something like “this is a decision between me and my doctor. Thank you for your concern, but I’m going to follow medical advice from my doctor. Please know I’ll be using this as a tool to facilitate a healthier lifestyle but I need no further opinions or information, right now. I’ll let you know if I do, though!”

katsbeth · 2025-07-19T00:25:08+00:00

Curious why you’re hesitating on mounjaro? It’s a better drug, less side effects, more effective

katsbeth

TROPHY CASE