List of 100% Online Acute Care NP Programs

Nursing Students NP Students

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Is there anyone out there who knows if there is a comprehensive list of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs (MSN) in the U.S. that offer 100% online learning? There are quite a few programs out there who present themselves as an online programs, but when you look at the fine print, you still are required to travel to campus from time to time. (very deceptive marketing indeed!)

I have found two potential programs so far: University of Southern Indiana and University of Southern Alabama. Like many working nurses, I do not have the time nor the money to climb on a jet and travel to some faraway campus every couple of months. Anybody else out there like me? Are the nursing school administors listening to people like us? Not everyone out there is single, 25 years old, footloose and rich.

Any input is much appreciated!

Hey, just curious, I'm also looking into online acute care NP programs...how are you liking the uniersity of Northern Colorado? How long will it take to complete?

Little update here........decided to go with University of Northern Colorado's AGACNP online program. I was very happy with the decision, although it definitely required quite a bit of discipline and hard work. I am graduating in May and just received a potential offer from cardiology. So I guess they didn't laugh me out of the room. I reckon things are a little different out here in the good ol' west.

It says on their website that there is an on campus visit. Honestly in my mind, I don't think there is a realistic scenario where a NP program (sans clinical) can be done 100% online. Preceptors are often found via students and not paid. Who validates preceptors? Skills? Procedures? Scary stuff. It's great you are graduating but let's be honest, NP school is not a rigorous beast.

My big state school had 3 summer intensives and it was definitely not enough...

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
No, there isn't. The only online PA program that exists is an online masters completion program for PAs who already have a bachelors or certificate in PA studies. They've already done the hands on training/clinicals.

There is no entry level PA program online.

Yale just started an online PA program. They place you in clinicals as well. You do have to go to campus twice, but not too bad. And your degree is from Yale Medical School, so looks good on a resume. The cost is what kills me (starts at $98K just for tuition, not counting books, supplies, travel, etc.). Just can't afford to recoup that investment at my age.

Yale just started an online PA program. They place you in clinicals as well. You do have to go to campus twice, but not too bad. And your degree is from Yale Medical School, so looks good on a resume. The cost is what kills me (starts at $98K just for tuition, not counting books, supplies, travel, etc.). Just can't afford to recoup that investment at my age.

Yeah, and Yale's 3 weeks on campus includes cadaver dissections and all the skills taught in any traditional PA program. So, still better than any NP program...

Yale just started an online PA program. They place you in clinicals as well. You do have to go to campus twice, but not too bad. And your degree is from Yale Medical School, so looks good on a resume. The cost is what kills me (starts at $98K just for tuition, not counting books, supplies, travel, etc.). Just can't afford to recoup that investment at my age.

I guarantee the difficulty to get in far surpasses any NP school out there. Hell, the pre reqs and GRE would deter 99% of NP applicants.

"At no time are students required to identify or obtain clinical training sites for their education."

Love it. Make no mistake, this is a direct slap in the face to the joke that is the NP education model nowadays. They also have 16 required rotations....

Comparing a novel PA program from an Ivy school to online NP programs is apples and oranges.

I guarantee the difficulty to get in far surpasses any NP school out there. Hell, the pre reqs and GRE would deter 99% of NP applicants.

"At no time are students required to identify or obtain clinical training sites for their education."

Love it. Make no mistake, this is a direct slap in the face to the joke that is the NP education model nowadays. They also have 16 required rotations....

Comparing a novel PA program from an Ivy school to online NP programs is apples and oranges.

Absolutely. If NPs don't change their educational standards, I think PAs will become the "advanced practice provider" of choice before too long.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
I guarantee the difficulty to get in far surpasses any NP school out there. Hell, the pre reqs and GRE would deter 99% of NP applicants.

"At no time are students required to identify or obtain clinical training sites for their education."

Love it. Make no mistake, this is a direct slap in the face to the joke that is the NP education model nowadays. They also have 16 required rotations....

Comparing a novel PA program from an Ivy school to online NP programs is apples and oranges.

I'm not comparing PA to NP programs. I was merely replying to the "there are no online PA programs" statement.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Yeah, and Yale's 3 weeks on campus includes cadaver dissections and all the skills taught in any traditional PA program. So, still better than any NP program...

I agree. Would have loved to apply for this program. I definitely have the GPA & GRE score for it to get in. However, can't go into that kind of debt at my age.

I don't believe Yale's NP program includes cadaver dissection. I could be wrong, though.

It does include cadaver dissection. The online program gives you the same experience as the on campus program. It's just structured differently. They were able to offer an online program without sacrificing quality. Compare this to maryville, Kaplan, Walden, etc.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
It does include cadaver dissection. The online program gives you the same experience as the on campus program. It's just structured differently. They were able to offer an online program without sacrificing quality. Compare this to maryville, Kaplan, Walden, etc.

Excellent! I certainly wouldn't expect Yale to have sub-par education :)

Yes, I agree. Maryville & Walden do not have any on-site campus visits for skills training whatsoever. I just can't imagine not having some type of hands-on training before starting clinicals. I certainly would not feel confident.

Excellent! I certainly wouldn't expect Yale to have sub-par education :)

Yes, I agree. Maryville & Walden do not have any on-site campus visits for skills training whatsoever. I just can't imagine not having some type of hands-on training before starting clinicals. I certainly would not feel confident.

I agree. I purposefully chose a school with multiple on campus weeks. But, you have to remember the type of people that choose programs like Kaplan and Walden. They are actively seeking the easiest route possible. It's a different mindset. And that's why we need minimum requirements for accredidation. To keep those types of people out of the profession. That's why the average MD and PA are higher quality than the average NP. It's unfortunate.

I agree. I purposefully chose a school with multiple on campus weeks. But, you have to remember the type of people that choose programs like Kaplan and Walden. They are actively seeking the easiest route possible. It's a different mindset. And that's why we need minimum requirements for accredidation. To keep those types of people out of the profession. That's why the average MD and PA are higher quality than the average NP. It's unfortunate.

I spend a great deal of time studying with the goal to become a strong provider. Then, I read posts on here from students mentioning how much easier their programs are, and it destroys me.

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