University of Cincinnati Online FNP Fall '12 - Page 4

Has anyone had their welcome call or attended their webinar? I wasn't able to participate on the webinar, so please share whatever they discussed. I just registered for first semester classes and getting nervous!

Sounds great! I'm looking forward to connecting with more classmates, too!

Hey guys,

I stumbled onto your conversation and thought I would add some insight. I am currently finished with the summer 11 quarter at university of cincinnati and will be beginning fall 12. I finish Spring 12. I had my first clinicals over the summer. Here is my advice.

1) The welcome call is more about how you are going to pay. This will probably be the last in-depth communication you will have with the university. I only know my own advisor, but they are taking on more students than they can handle. My advisor rarely responded with anything other than a "canned" email "as always, hope I can help".

2) The core classes go pretty well. Grading rubrics provide detailed instructions about assignments, and it is not hard to achieve good grades. The second year, however, things seem to fall apart. Instead of educators, the class adjuncts are "working, seasoned professional nurse practitioners". They are generally completely lost, they don't want to be bothered, and they make it very clear. The assignments become very vague, and difficult to understand. I have had a couple of exceptions, but as a rule, don't expect much.

3) Set up clinicals very early. I thought I knew a ton of MD's and NP's after 20 years as a nurse, but all of a sudden, the friendship dries up. Suddenly it goes from "good for you" to "sorry I didn't return any of your 15 phone calls". I am fortunate to be working with an excellent group now, but it was touch and go for a while.

4) The University will require vaccinations, hippa, etc, but they are so bound up they will never issue your "clearance card". This actually resulted in the suspension of my ability to be a student at one hospital, despite my agreeemnt with the physicians. BE careful.

Anyway, if anyone is following this, and would like more info, I would be happy to respond. I wish I could have talked with a current student prior to starting as it would have really been helpful.

Take care.

casias,

Thanks so much for this information! I've been waiting to hear from someone like yourself. One thing I'd like to ask is this: Do you feel that you're getting the adequate "training" during your clinicals? I have this premonition that my MDs/NPs will feel that I'm just there to shadow, and wouldn't provide the necessary hands-on experience. How's your clinical experience so far?

Again, thanks for the great advice.

I have a great time at clinicals. I worked hard for many years to build a reputation with physicians, and working in the cath lab and ICU for many years allowed me quite a bit of autonomy.

I do it this way: Every wednesday I go to a cardiologist office for 6 hrs. I work with both the NP and cardiologist. Now, I see the patients on my own ahead of them, present my plan in the hallway, and they tell me I am right or wrong, basically. I am getting pretty good. Conveniently, the afternoon there is set aside for an "educational" luncheon with a rep. They will provide you more information and assistant than anyone else when you are new. They want you to appreciate their product. But they are also a wealth of information on competitors products, and application.

I also round with the cardiologist a day or two a week. He sends me a text when he is on his way to the hospital and I meet him there.

I will begin in September with a surgeon who I have known for many years. He and his NP are very busy, and I know there work pretty well. I expect I will be assisting with procedures in the OR, pulling drains and catheters, and closing up wounds. He kind of wants your hands in stuff, and they love to teach.

I did spend 6 weeks rounding with a hospitalist group, but the college advisor screwed it all up with the above "clearance card" issue, and I had to stop there. Always have a backup. (The information is now in the hands of the hospital liaison, but they are "very slow" to respond".

As far as training. You are kind of on your own. The information you receive in the program is outdated, and poorly presented, as are most nursing schools. But, as you moved to practitioner world, you have to be a self-starter. It is a business, not a job. You have to change the way you think, and understand that the patient is coming to you for help, and you have to find an answer. There is not a "next shift" who will catch things for you. Physicians and NP's are excellent, typically. Very supportive and happy for you, if you present yourself well.

Take care,

Scott

THanks! It definitely sounds like you're having an enriching learning experience. I am a bit confused, did you say you're in the FNP program at UC? From what I understand (so far), our options for choosing preceptors are narrow. Only outpatient non-specialties, and we need a MD/NP for each field (Primary Care, OB/GYN, Peds). If we want specialty, we can choose that for 60 of our hours.
I'd love to hear otherwise, since I also work in ICU and that would open up my options much more. Thanks again!

I am in adult. As it turns out, the criteria is pretty loose, at least in my specialty (although I believe a large portion of my cohort are FNP).

It can be any NP, MD, or DO. They don't seem to care, as long as you get your hours. Now I am not the advisor, but that is what I am doing. The only restriction is PA, but, provided the MD is your "preceptor", and close by, well......

Like I said, this program is essentially DIY, with little guidance. But then again, so is the career.