Totally online FNP program: no campus orientation

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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I know that Indiana State is completely online, but I am having trouble finding other programs that are completely online with no campus orientations or visit. I have looked into South Alabama and they require campus orientation. Are there any other schools out there without this requirement?

Specializes in ICU.
I understand not having time to attend classes but how do you become a NP w/o having done your time working with a doctor or another NP?

Sounds incomplete to me. Reminds me of Vanderbilt University. If you have a bachelors in any subject, architecture, interior decorating, indian chief, whatever....you can attend Vanderbilt for 2 years and become a NP. How scary is that!? :o

The educational requirements are the same for online students as they are for those who attend class in person. The delivery of the information is the only difference.

Clinicals are done with NPs or MD/DOs and fulfill the same state requirements as any other school. The hours must be verified prior to the completion of each semester or else you retake the class.

It is neither incomplete nor scary. There are those for whom attending a school in person is not possible for many reasons. It does not make them less worthy of being an NP or becoming excellent providers.

If you have any questions, I'm certain there are many here with experience and willingness to help you understand the new generation of web-based programs.

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Specializes in ICU.
Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

Multiple Entry Options

Program Length (full-time study)

Non-nurses- 3 semesters pre-specialty + 3 semesters ANP courses

ASN or diploma RNs- 2 semesters RN pre-specialty + 3 semesters ANP courses

BSN RNs- 3 semesters ANP courses

Students without a Background in Nursing

Students who enter Vanderbilt School of Nursing without a nursing background are traditional students and are required

to attend live weekly lectures and complete clinical hours in Nashville during their pre-specialty year. In the following specialty year, the entire ANP program is delivered in a blocked format. (2 years complete program)

http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/msn/anp_plan.html

Sounds like one of the many direct entry programs out there encouraging people to enter mid-level practice. You can find plenty of discussions on this topic around allnurses along with the opinions of those who are for or against it.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
If you have any questions, I'm certain there are many here with experience and willingness to help you understand the new generation of web-based programs.

I understand. I got my RN online but I was an LPN with 23 years prior experience.

These students scare me. I have been to one such NP. The doctor she worked for fired her after just a couple of months stating that she did not have the knowledge to do the job. I asked him "why did you hire her in the first place"? You guessed it, she was asking for less money.

My dh has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and yet he could go to Vandy for 6 semesters and graduate as a ANP. Sorry, that's just down right scary!

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm not familiar with the Vanderbilt program or any other DE focus. All I know is that online programs are not all evil as you probably know from personal experience. You're going to get all sorts of folks graduating from the best degree programs out there whether they're online or not and still end up with less-than-great practitioners. The same goes with RNs. You know they came from different backgrounds and went through regular, in-person classes and clinicals, yet sometimes you have to wonder how they passed the boards and are anywhere near capable of working at the bedside. I just focus on myself and keep my side of the street clean. That way, I don't need to worry so much about the ones who aren't well-prepared to act as APRNs.

Are you looking to enter a graduate program?

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Are you looking to enter a graduate program?

No, the thread just caught my interest and I wanted to learn more about getting a NP online. I'm not too old to go back to school. I'm 52 years old but I'm too tired to even think about it at this time.

My daughter has gone back to school to get her doctorate in physical therapy. She is in a 2 year full time program and her bachelor's is in Human Ecology (formerly home ec). Thinking about it that's pretty much like becoming a ANP in 2 years without ever being a nurse.

Hum...interesting!? I don't doubt for one minute that she'll do great!

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Specializes in ICU.

Are the requirements changing for PTs as well? I know that they changed over the years to a master's level education in order to practice. Are they moving onto doctorates as well? Or are her interests after graduation outside of direct patient care? I almost went into PT years ago, but fell into nursing by accident. And here I am!

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Are the requirements changing for PTs as well? I know that they changed over the years to a master's level education in order to practice. Are they moving onto doctorates as well? Or are her interests after graduation outside of direct patient care? I almost went into PT years ago, but fell into nursing by accident. And here I am!

A doctorate is now required for physical therapy. I tried to persuade my dd to go into the medical field when she got her bachelors. She wanted absolutely no part of it. Now she realizes that Mom was right and she can't do anything with her Human Ecology degree. She's been working in a bank for $10 an hour. Her 18 y/o brother makes more working part time as a "firedog" at Circuit City. My son is in college to get a degree in Network Security. My dd has told ds "make sure you get all the education you want and need while Mom & Dad are paying for it". She now has to have a student loan. I am very proud of her.

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Specializes in ICU.

So out of curiosity, did a pay raise come along with this requirement for a doctorate degree?? I understand that those already certified to practice probably got grandfathered in, but are they going to pay new grads a higher salary for the extra few years of education?

Good for your daughter to get into the medical field. Sometimes it isn't easy to foresee the future when you're young despite all the right influences in your life. I know that a decade ago (long before I was a nurse) a friend of mine (who happened to be a nurse) told me that pharmacy was the area to get into if I was interested in the medical field. I passed on that advice... boy do I regret it! Had I begun a program to become a pharmacist things would be much different now... oh well. At least I like being a nurse. :D

Student loans aren't all that bad. It's an investment in yourself. Just encourage her to pay them off ASAP so that they aren't hanging over her head in 30 years. All that interest!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC.
So far I have found:

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

East Carolina University

Allen College (although it's hard to figure out exactly if all courses are online because they aren't clear on this)

Clarkson College

Graceland University (this was one of my top 3 choices)

Montana State University

Northern Kentucky University

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

University of Missouri

Wright State University

Duquesne University (another one of my top 3 choices, but they require you to visit once a year before Thanksgiving - great school, however)

Vanderbilt University

University of Phoenix

University of Delaware (hard to say if FNP can be done completely online)

University of Southern Indiana (a friend of mine is finishing up her program there and did it all online)

I'm currently a student at Indiana State University. If you want to hear about it I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

You may also want to consider Northern Arizona University. www.nau.edu. They have a distance FNP and I believe it is all online. Plus, they are pretty cheap. They are in Flagstaff and cater to rural northern Arizona, so the distance thing is not a big deal for them. They have locally helped me (I am about a couple hours drive from Flagstaff) find clinical experiences when necessary. I have had a good experience there in my BSN program.

There is also University of Utah. While they do require a campus visit (Salt Lake City) they consider Arizona to be "in state" for tuition and so it's only $3800 per semester, which is pretty good for grad school.

I hope this helps.

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I am enrolled in the University of Phoenix and they do not have an online only NP program at the moment. they are looking into it according to my councelor. They do have the RN to BSN program which is what I am in now and a NP program on campus in Arizona and So Cal.

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I know that Indiana State is completely online, but I am having trouble finding other programs that are completely online with no campus orientations or visit. I have looked into South Alabama and they require campus orientation. Are there any other schools out there without this requirement?

Tennessee Board of Regents Online Degree Program (RODP)

http://www.rodp.org/msn/default.htm

This is the program I'm enrolled in and love it so far.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Trauma.

I attend the University of South Alabama's Online Program. It is true we have a clinical attendance component at the beginning of the 4th semester, lasting a few days, so they can do some hands on lectures, and stuff like suturing.

I can assure you, that even though it is online, it is demanding, and one does not suffer from lack of information, you get it in boatloads. You have to be very organized and directed to be successful. You have very specific due dates, the assignments are detailed, and there is a broad spectrum of information to be learned. It can be done, but it is not for the faint of heart.

They do have an approved clinical list, but one can submit there own clinical preceptors for approval. I am only at the halfway point, so I cannot give you more information than that.

I believe when I did my research, that 96 percent of their grads are successful at certifying post graduating on the first attempt. I know the program is respected.

I am happy to answer any questions, that I might be able to. I would recommend this program, but with the caveat that it is a tough one. Be prepared.

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