FNP Walden

BostonRN13 · Mar 13, 2014

Oh, this is a hot button topic for some on here! You will find many posts on Walden, both positive and many negative. You could search old posts and find it all. Try seeing what past or current students with firsthand experience have to say.

futureeastcoastNP · Mar 13, 2014

As BostonRN13 said, this is a huge hot button issue here because Walden is a for profit university, which are generally more in it for the money than the education process. There are many investigations going on into for profit programs and you can find info on other threads about Walden's statistics compared to other schools.

Here's the thing: If I discuss Walden and my viewpoint on it, I will be bashed by Walden students. I am not a current student and cannot tell you anything about it from a student standpoint. If you're asking what the reputation of the school is from a non-student and would like to hear what I think, as long as you ask me directly I believe I am allowed to talk about that

mzaur · Mar 13, 2014

Is it reputable? Not in my opinion. Will you be able to sit for boards and gain licensure? Unfortunately yes. But if there is backlash in the future against such schools, which I think there will be because they harm the profession, then you may regret taking the easy route. NPs want to be considered equal to physicians, yet we have programs like this. How would you feel if a doctor went to a school with 96% acceptance rate from a school that spends more on marketing then teaching? I suggest you go to a traditional reputable program.

Mark Hill BSN · Mar 13, 2014

The fist thing you need to do is completely ignore what Future has to say. He has not attended Walden, and he is not an NP nor is he attending an NP school! I graduated from Walden University this year, took the AANP exam 10 days later without a review course, passed it easily, and I received my state license to practice this week. The school prepared me very well. It is not a perfect school, as there are no perfect schools, but I had few problems with the program. I have no regrets about attending Walden, but beware, they will not hold your hand and you will earn everything you get. I have started working at a large rural health clinic in in south Mississippi with absolutely no question asked about my level of education. I have a fantastic starting salary, Monday through Friday schedule, profit sharing, and NO call. Research Walden and others schools well before you choose. You will need to be a self starter, organized, APA proficient, and you will have to arrange your own preceptors. This school I not for everyone, but some will do well as I did.

futureeastcoastNP · Mar 13, 2014

Well, I will go ahead and give you my input. As mzaur said, you will be able to become an NP by attending Walden. If you study hard, you will likely pass boards. Some things to note, though, are that Walden spends more on marketing than teaching, and that they have a drop out rate of above 30%. In addition, they have a higher student loan default rate. The acceptance rate is near 100%, so they pretty much take anyone who meets the requirements. The "enrollment counselors" are actually trained as salesman and are paid based on how many students they can get to go there, so they have no reason to turn away students.

Beyond that, Walden and similar for profit schools are seen by many people in the public as inferior. Whether or not this is true, it is indeed the prevailing idea. You may have a harder time getting some jobs, especially as competition for NP positions grows. As a new graduate, it may be hard to get a first job as a Walden grad when you are up against Columbia, UCSF, Duke, Vanderbilt, etc new grads. Furthermore, schools like Walden are contributing to the oversaturation of the NP market by pumping out new graduates constantly, as all they care about is making money, not about individual preparation or helping the profession as a whole.

Ultimately, it is your choice, but I personally would never recommend anyone go to Walden or any other for profit program.

mzaur · Mar 13, 2014

Well, if you want to work in rural Mississippi then I doubt it really matters where you went to school, but I wonder how Walden grads fare in competitive urban markets.

allnurses Guide · Mar 14, 2014

I have been accepted at Walden for the FNP and wondering if anyone has info on this university I am in Michigan and not sure if I should go for it or no. Its 100% online and CCNE accredited but I don't know if its a reputable university. Please if there is anyone with information, may I have it. Thank you all[/quote']
Have you done some local research about the setting you wish to practice in?
The NP job market varies widely based on where you are located. Speaking with some NPs in your local practice area may give you an idea what the market is like, what employers are looking for, and may even help get you set up for preceptorships.
Ideally you also talk to local alumnae of the program that have been in practice for a year or two and see what their thoughts are. The school should provide you with some alums to talk to if you request it.

Blindsided · Mar 14, 2014

Interesting topic. How do you get the clinical if it's online?

zmansc, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2014

I would strongly advise that you start networking with practitioners of all types (NP, PA, MD, DO) now, before you decide on a program. This is extra important if you need to find your own preceptors. I have several classmates who did not prepare and were blindsided by their lack of having a network in the local community of practitioners when it came time to find preceptors, so if you start building your network now, just like in any business, you will be in a much better position when the time comes that you need that network. You will likely need it for your preceptors as well as for when you start looking for work. Depending on the school you pick, you may need them sooner rather than later.

Good luck with whatever program you choose.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Mar 14, 2014

Interesting topic. How do you get the clinical if it's online?

Only the lectures are online. The clinicals are not online. The student seeks his or her own clinical placement in the community where he or she lives with a nurse practitioner preceptor who is not associated with the school and assumes the teaching role on a voluntary basis. Depending on the academic policies of the school, the said preceptor may need to be pre-approved. This can be done by having the preceptor's CV reviewed by the faculty prior to precepting the student.

zmansc, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2014

Interesting topic. How do you get the clinical if it's online?

Most online programs I know of have you identify potential preceptors. They then negotiate with the preceptor and their agency for an agreement that the preceptor will meet the schools requirements during your clinical rotation. In my programs case, the preceptor must submit their CV and meet the schools requirements, patient population is taken into account and there are frequent followups during the process to track how the student is progressing in their clinical rotations. It is really quite a big task to be asking someone out of the blue to do without knowing that person at least minimally.