Master Degree in Nursing

just_cause, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2008

Are you looking at working pt and doing hybrid/distance or looking to attend school ft?

yoginurse2b · Nov 27, 2008

Hi just_cause,

I don't mind full time or part time, or distance/hybrid or attending classes. Either one is fine for me.

Thanks.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2008

Yogi,

For any state I would recommend looking at this annual report:

URL:http://www.webnp.net/ajnp08.html

to see the authority and restrictions imposed by your state. I would then try to talk to several different NP/CNS at your hospital to see the demand of both. Have you also posted in this in AllNurses Region/cali section? Personally I find the FNP a great position to start out and have a more generalized approach and able to enter a wide range of jobs - always having the options of doing a post masters certificate to gain a more specific cert in NP down the road.

In my area I have not seen a lot of jobs for CNS but understand it really varies be region - and where you want to work within the healthcare system.

I've heard great things about UC SF and Davis..

http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/spec-acp.htm

Here is a link to CA's NP programs..

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/schools/npschools.pdf

I think your state is a great place to be based on current demand / salary. If you are a current RN do you have options at your current work place or potential alt workplace for them to pay x amount of credits? If so I would try to work while attending an online UC program in order to become an FNP.

Look forward to hearing more specifics and what you find out!

btw, check out this link - it's a bit old but gives a nice perspective

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/scope/scope3-5.htm#4

v/r

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 29, 2008

Hi,
I am thinking of going for my Master degree after one year of working as an RN. I have an ADN in nursing, but a bachelor's in Biochemistry. I don't know which schools in Los Angeles provide good Master programs in Nursing. Does anyone has any input? Does it matter which school do you go to? Also, I am sure a lot of people has been asking this before, but, which one is more in demand...an NP or a CNS?
Thanks in advance!

University of Southern Indiana

Cheapest tuition in the US for MSN/FNP

Has ADN-MSN path

100% pass rate on NP boards

All lectures are televised

No school visits required

You do all clinical in your home town.

You have the ability to fire your preceptor if you don't like their teaching style.

All faculty are really good and actually work as NP's

http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/grad/fnp.php

Good luck

allnurses Guide · Nov 29, 2008

Tammy, I'm starting to think you're getting a commission.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 29, 2008

Tammy, I'm starting to think you're getting a commission.

They should put me on the payrol:idea:

allnurses Guide · Nov 30, 2008

You could edit your profile to say: "USI-Pimp "

ANPFNPGNP · Nov 30, 2008

University of Southern Indiana
Cheapest tuition in the US for MSN/FNP
Has ADN-MSN path
100% pass rate on NP boards
All lectures are televised
No school visits required
You do all clinical in your home town.
You have the ability to fire your preceptor if you don't like their teaching style.
All faculty are really good and actually work as NP's
http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/grad/fnp.php
Good luck

I visited the website. Where's the information about the 100% pass rate?

What is the national ranking of their FNP program when compared to others?

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 30, 2008

I visited the website. Where's the information about the 100% pass rate?
What is the national ranking of their FNP program when compared to others?

I don't know why they don't put that on their web site. To me this was the best selling point of the whole program. If it were me, I would put that in bold red letters at the top of the site, but then again, it's not like they are hurting for students as the program is impacted. To verify, however, anyone could call USI and find out. Their number is 812-465-1174. Also ask them why the fact that they have the least expensive NP program in the country isn't on their website either. Or the fact that all their faculty actually work as NP's, or the fact they have the first NP in the state of Indiana on faculty, or any of that other stuff.

As far as rating, I'm not aware of any rating system that rates graduate nurse practitioner programs except the junk science rating system used by US News & World Report. I use the term "junk science" lightly as my intentions are not to cast dispersions on legitimate producers of junk evidence. I chuckle when others actually give weight to their ranking schema, as it is evidence that they are completely clueless to the process of scientific inquiry, discovery and evidence.

As in the US News & World Report Survey Junk Science system of measurements, 5% weight is given to schools having international faculty, yet they fail to give any correlation between lack or presence of international faculty and the quality of the program.

They also give 5% weight to the number of publications through research projects by faculty teaching the program. Yeah, I want my faculty buried in quantitative methodological instrument design development as they are lecturing on primary care. Again, no correlation between the quality of a program and the number of publications by faculty.

Then, they give 40% weight to "Academic Peer Review" which has a nice scientific ring to it and suggest that the review was held to some form of scrutiny. Not! All that is relates to faculty from other programs filling out some invalid and junk questionnaire about a program in which they know nothing about. I say junk questionnaire because those at US News Enquirer purposefully don't list the instrument used, as with others, nor do they state how the instrument was developed. I guess in their world, ignorance is bliss, and ignorance of the reader is mandatory.

Then, US News & World Enquirer gives only 10% weight to employer review, which of all the criteria should, I would assume, have the highest weight, except for patient satisfaction by graduates, which in keeping with the nonsensical nature of this report is completely absent. That's right, absolutely no scale or weight as to the end product of the program in the form of quality of care provided by program graduates.

All in all the US News Enquirer and World Report is pretty much junk, lead by junk scientists using bogus procedures termed "methodology" where no method or scientific framework exists, using invalid, non reliable, non published and secretive measurment instruments in an attempt to aid consumers in directing which school looks good--all while charging money for their junk news magazine. In most states' penal codes, they might consider this fraud. In the evidence-based community, they call this nothing more than junk.

Gee whiz, I really hope this wasn't the ranking sham scale you were referring to.

At any rate, please let me know if you aware of any legitimate ranking systems that uses established, scientific evidence and validated tools as manifested by publication in any science peer-reviewed periodical in a developed country to measure the quality and thereby rank graduate nursing practitioner programs in the US? Please let me know if any exist. I'd really like to point out that I'm a graduate of the top nurse practitioner program in the country.

ANPFNPGNP · Nov 30, 2008

I don't know why they don't put that on their web site. To me this was the best selling point of the whole program. If it were me, I would put that in bold red letters at the top of the site, but then again, it's not like they are hurting for students as the program is impacted. To verify, however, anyone could call USI and find out. Their number is 812-465-1174. Also ask them why the fact that they have the least expensive NP program in the country isn't on their website either. Or the fact that all their faculty actually work as NP's, or the fact they have the first NP in the state of Indiana on faculty, or any of that other stuff.
As far as rating, I'm not aware of any rating system that rates graduate nurse practitioner programs except the junk science rating system used by US News & World Report. I use the term "junk science" lightly as my intentions are not to cast dispersions on legitimate producers of junk evidence. I chuckle when others actually give weight to their ranking schema, as it is evidence that they are completely clueless to the process of scientific inquiry, discovery and evidence.
As in the US News & World Report Survey Junk Science system of measurements, 5% weight is given to schools having international faculty, yet they fail to give any correlation between lack or presence of international faculty and the quality of the program.
They also give 5% weight to the number of publications through research projects by faculty teaching the program. Yeah, I want my faculty buried in quantitative methodological instrument design development as they are lecturing on primary care. Again, no correlation between the quality of a program and the number of publications by faculty.
Then, they give 40% weight to "Academic Peer Review" which has a nice scientific ring to it and suggest that the review was held to some form of scrutiny. Not! All that is relates to faculty from other programs filling out some invalid and junk questionnaire about a program in which they know nothing about. I say junk questionnaire because those at US News Enquirer purposefully don't list the instrument used, as with others, nor do they state how the instrument was developed. I guess in their world, ignorance is bliss, and ignorance of the reader is mandatory.
Then, US News & World Enquirer gives only 10% weight to employer review, which of all the criteria should, I would assume, have the highest weight, except for patient satisfaction by graduates, which in keeping with the nonsensical nature of this report is completely absent. That's right, absolutely no scale or weight as to the end product of the program in the form of quality of care provided by program graduates.
All in all the US News Enquirer and World Report is pretty much junk, lead by junk scientists using bogus procedures termed "methodology" where no method or scientific framework exists, using invalid, non reliable, non published and secretive measurment instruments in an attempt to aid consumers in directing which school looks good--all while charging money for their junk news magazine. In most states' penal codes, they might consider this fraud. In the evidence-based community, they call this nothing more than junk.
Gee whiz, I really hope this wasn't the ranking sham scale you were referring to.
At any rate, please let me know if you aware of any legitimate ranking systems that uses established, scientific evidence and validated tools as manifested by publication in any science peer-reviewed periodical in a developed country to measure the quality and thereby rank graduate nursing practitioner programs in the US? Please let me know if any exist. I'd really like to point out that I'm a graduate of the top nurse practitioner program in the country.

How do you know you're a graduate of the top nurse practitioner program in the country? You take 100% of your classes online and never even have to show up on campus and you actually think this is a top program? Name ONE medical school or physician assistant program that is 100% online. I had never even heard of your school until you started popping up on this forum.

Furthermore, I'm board certified in 3 different specialties and I'm here to tell you that the FNP exam was NOT difficult. In fact, I was shocked that exam is being used to ascertain my abilities to practice as a FNP.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2008

I agree with this and as a future aspiring mid-level I am concerned about the certification and standards that are in place. It seems that the variance and abundance of NP programs will have a potential to saturate the market and leave a bad rep for NPs through insurance stats, claims, word of mouth, etc if there is not a higher level to validate programs and the competencies. I see a huge variety of programs and feel the lower tiered programs, due to competition, will continue to grow and thus bring sub par performance which could lower the overall standards associated with NPs.

This is not meant to start a flame war - this is an actual concern. I feel the PA model and certification has kept a much tighter curriculum and set of standards. I look forward to feedback,

v/r