PLEASE SHARE YOUR WISDOM about NP school

carachel2 · May 6, 2008

I'm in Texas. Which programs are you considering? If you can afford to go part-time, definitely do it. Otherwise, a lot of students work full-time or weekend options and just take one or two classes. If you have kids, something has to give....either cut back on work or cut back on how many classes you take. You'll get to know people in your classes who will tell you which professors to avoid. I have found I avoid certain profs for different reasons than I did in undergrad. I tend to avoid the ones now who are so uptight about APA format they forget what they are trying to teach me.

My school finds most preceptors for us, so it hasn't been an issue. I do have some classes coming up where I have to find my own, but it isn't really a problem. Do a good job at your clinicals, treat it like a job, be eager and and show your stuff and they will ask you back.

Buckeyejunk · May 6, 2008

I went to school in Ohio. My program found preceptors for us so that wasn't an issue, although I've heard of many that make you find your own. To that end, I would just say leave no stone unturned. If you have to precept with an NP you might have to actually GO to offices & practices because sometimes NP's are not billed as providers in the yellow pages ad...the infamous, invisible, mid-level provider. :)

I did work as an RN during my program but it was brutal. I was married but did not have children at the time. There is no way I'd have done this pace if I'd had kids then.

When I was doing my advanced practice clinicals, I would do an 8am-2pm day in the office with my preceptor, then go work 3-11 as an RN, which was really more like 3-1:30am or 2. Go home, sleep a bit, and repeat. I had class 1 or 2 days a week also, 1 hour away from my house. Mostly lived in my car, rarely slept, rarely saw my husband. Good times!

It was worth it, I love the profession, but there are sacrifices.

I never got to choose teachers. Some were good, some weren't so sharp....just like any other program you'd go in to.

Online vs. in-person I think depends on how disciplined you are as a learner. I usually prefer in-person because I am very visual and need to be there looking at the material while I hear it and think about it. I also ended up taking an upper-level research/statistics class online and that was a huge mistake - that was very complex material for me and I really needed to have been in an in-person format, but it was not offered the quarter I was taking it.

I think online classes take a lot more discipline than people realize if you truly want to do well, retain material, and use it clinically for the future. good luck.

buster4 · May 6, 2008

This is a great thread!! I too have been accepted to start in the fall, part time... for FNP program..

any words of wisdom, advice, tips, etc.. would be appreciated!!!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · May 7, 2008

Well since today was my last day of my ACNP program (I graduate next month!!!!) I feel inspired to share some wisdom with you. :) My advice to you would be to be very organized (although nurses usually are anyways) because it can get very challenging trying to remember when you're working, in class, clinical, when assignments are due, etc...Also, try your best not to work full time while in graduate school. I understand that each person's situation is unique, but if you don't have to, don't work full time. I switched to per diem during my clinical year and was so happy I did that. Also, try your best not to procrastinate and study last minute for exams, papers, etc. I ended up doing this several times and paid for it later because of lack of sleep, stress, etc. And remember to take care of yourself (and your family) and to not ignore your own needs while you are in school. Because if you do, in the end you'll run out of energy and won't be able to focus on schoolwork. And also remember to give yourself credit for what you accomplish. I wished I could have slowed down a bit and enjoyed my good grades and how much I learned along the way, but instead usually just raced off to the next assignment. Ok, that's all for now! Good luck! :)

buster4 · May 7, 2008

Christi mentioned organization being important... can you give specific examples of what things, pda's, etc. that helped you be more organized???.

Again this is a great thread!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING YOUR NP PROGRAM!!!

carachel2 · May 7, 2008

Christi mentioned organization being important... can you give specific examples of what things, pda's, etc. that helped you be more organized???.
Again this is a great thread!!
CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING YOUR NP PROGRAM!!!

Well, I have on year to go, so I don't know if you want my advice or not but here goes. A PDA is a must IMO. I have a Treo and couldn't do without it. I color code all of my classes, work and personal schedules. I sit down at least a week before classes start for the semester and go through the syllabus and mark things on my PDA calendar and set it to alarm at least a week ahead of time so I know what is due. I also go to the school a week ahead of time and do a massive printing of syllabus, required readings, etc.

My study method has kind of evolved over the courses of the last year or so. For each section we study (for example "Pedi. Respiratory"), I put the class notes in a bradded pocket folder, make some flashcards and try to review just a bit each day. The next da before I sit down to read or study, I make myself review the flashcards from the previous day...and so on.

Each semester I combine the contents of these folders (label them on the outside of cousre with sticky labels) so by now in the respiratory folder I have "Advanced Resp. Assessment, Asthma management, interpreting chest Xrays, interpreting pulmonary tests, Pedi. Resp. issues , pulmonary and asthma meds, etc.etc.. It is a wonderful and easy way of pulling up notes and having a quick review available at your fingertips.

Also, invest in an NP certification review book. The questions are almost identical to what you will find on your tests for school.

I agree with christvus: don't work full-time if you don't have to and don't neglect yourself. Also, if you have kids, don't neglect them. My theory has been to go slow and still have a life.

buster4 · May 7, 2008

"Well, I have on year to go, so I don't know if you want my advice or not but here goes. A PDA is a must IMO. I have a Treo and couldn't do without it. I color code all of my classes, work and personal schedules. I sit down at least a week before classes start for the semester and go through the syllabus and mark things on my PDA calendar and set it to alarm at least a week ahead of time so I know what is due. I also go to the school a week ahead of time and do a massive printing of syllabus, required readings, etc."

What do you mean exactly go to school and copythe syllabus etc. You mean, use the copier at school??.. I know this may sound stupid, so I apologize in advance.

Explain a little more about the folders.. You make notes.... label the folders... I don't quite understand... (please tolerate my slowness here). If you have a digital camera, take a pic, and email it to me... somtimes a pix is worth a thousand words...

I am just so scared.... not knowing what to expect... etc..

How did you decide a treo was the pda to get??

jemrn56 · May 7, 2008

I went to grad school in Pgh in '94. At that time the PNP/CNS program was undergoing a change in curriculum so ours was the last class to graduate under the old curriculum. I could clearly see the newer program was a better one. However, I had great clinicals & preceptors; our program found preceptors but I had worked with some MD's as an RN and requested to do clinicals with them. I liked having a mix of NP's and MDs as preceptors. Be assertive if there is a particular interest of yours for clinicals. My relationsip with the professors was more collegial than when an undergrad. I chose to go to school full time; worked per diem the first yr of grad school and also was a reservist. I then accepted a GSA/TA positions at the University. As a GSA, I precepted undergrads for their peds clinicals; it was fun. I also assisted another professor fwith her research study.

6 of the FT students got together for study groups for some of the classes (i.e. developmental physiology), which was very helpful. There is a tremendous amount of reading to do so you have to remain focused. I was a much better grad staudent than undergrad; I did not procrastinate. I did not have a PDA but I can see where that tool would be useful. I also used an index card system to make notes of articles I felt were imporatnt. I don't recall making copies of syllabus; our program provided copies of the reading material/syllabus. All of our classes were face to face.

I wish you all the best of luck! :mad:

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · May 7, 2008

I have a PDA, but I actually rely more on my datebook (paper version) to stay organized and on top of things. I write everything in it: when things are due, when I'm working, in class, clinical, job interviews, etc...and carry it around with me everywhere. I would look at it so often I swear I have the whole thing memorized! lol :)

NPs4health · May 7, 2008

Carachel2, I am considering UT Health Science Center in Houston and UT Arlington. Although I just found that one of the programs is mainly online and am pretty skeptical about the quaility of online education. What school are you at?(you can private message me, I couldnt figure out how to do it.) Any more advice you can give about Texas schools? Im sure you did research on it before starting at your current school.

DaisyRN, ACNP · May 7, 2008

hey there,

yes... where in texas? which schools?

1. preceptors: utmb in galveston tries to set them up for you, but if you are responsible for it at your school... or do not want the school to set them up, i found mine by word of mouth. i knew people that i wanted to do rotations with so i just called them up and asked them to be my preceptor. the school has to have an agreement set up with whoever your preceptor is though, for liability issues. you can also rely on the aanp np finder and the tnp site to connect with nps in your area.

2. work full time: i didn't and do not know how fellow classmates did it. i do not recommend it, if you can help it.

3. online courses: i love em. you have to be self-disciplined though... because it's easy to let yourself be distracted at home. however, i would not have preferred to have my acnp courses online, simply because the content is very involved. it was worth it for me to drive 4.5 hrs a week (one way) for my didactic content.

4. teachers: tough cookie. in my programs, you did not get to choose. the only variation in teachers was in the pre-req courses and some core courses. once i got into the program courses, i had the same faculty for the entire year.

good luck!

hi everyone! i've applied to two np programs in texas and have been accepted! does anyone want to share any wisdom about what they found out about their np program after starting and then wished they had known before starting the program?

any advice on finding preceptors?

is it good to work and do full time study?

were online courses adequate or did you find lectures more helpful?

tips on choosing teachers? (unlike undergrad, there's no forum for teacher rankings in grad school it seems. so it's like a blind shot at whether your teacher is good or not)

any additional advice/comments that would help a new np student would be much appreciated! thanks!