Looking for an online NP program recommendations

Mark Hill BSN · Mar 20, 2014

Like it or not, the standard for practicing in the U.S. is attending a CCNE accredited university that then allows you to sit for either the AANP, or the ANCC certification examinations. Those two certification bodies could care less where you attended school, what the name of the school was, or how much your education cost. If you pass the test, it has been established by those bodies that you are competent to practice a novice NP. Your level of expertise, and competence as a NP will then be based on how you as an individual choose to pursue your career. No one can tell you how your going to perform as an NP, not even the credentialing bodies. You will be a good or bad NP based on your skill, knowledge base, and drive be the best provider you can be. Your success or failure will have nothing do with where you went to school.

Mark Hill BSN · Mar 20, 2014

Education Outrage: When You Can’t Afford Yale

This post by Roger Schank (a former professor at Yale, Stanford, and Northwestern) pretty wells spells out the differences of ivy league schools compared to others. I couldn't agree more.

"This might seem like peculiar advice coming from someone who was professor at Yale for fifteen years (as well as a professor at Stanford and Northwestern for another fifteen years.) But, it is time someone set the record straight about these schools. Surely, no one currently employed by them will do so. Our current economic times demand the truth. These schools are simply not worth the money. There I said".... [COLOR=#948a04]Roger Schank

futureeastcoastNP · Mar 20, 2014

Mark hill the article you posted is correct: schools like Yale and Harvard do not give an education quality high enough to justify the price tag when compared to a local state school. That has nothing to do with for profits though, I am quite sure the author of that at article would not advocate going to online for profit schools over not for profits. There's a big difference in choosing a state school over an ivy and choosing a for profit over a traditional school. Apples and oranges.

Mark Hill BSN · Mar 21, 2014

Future, you again are commenting on a subject of which you have NO knowledge. You think because I chose to pursue my education at a for-profit university that I am somehow inferiorly educated. Dose it matter that my undergraduate degree came from one of top regional universities in the nation with an acceptance rate of 37%. , and that I chose to pursue my degree in the manner that I did based on convenience, and the knowledge given me by other NPs that the quality of my education would hinge on my clinical experience, and not on the reputation of the school that I attended? I'm sure in your (very inexperienced) eyes none of these thing matter. Of course, your opinion is meaningless, primarily because you have NO experience in any of these matters! Most curriculums in higher education are very similar, if you don't know this, then you have much to learn. The individual student is in the unique position during the higher education experience to be responsible for their own quality of education. Each student can make the most of their education, or choose to coast. Hence, each student is responsible for assuring that that they receive the education they need to succeed in their chosen profession. Neither you, or I are in a position to tell anyone how to pursue their goals educationally of professionally. Each person has to research their own path based on what meets their needs. If the U.S. government, and more importantly, state government recognize my degree, and my certification as legitimate, and grant me a license to practice, who are you, or anyone else, to question my ability to do my job effectively based on your bias against my chosen school? I say again, if you don't like the way things are, then take it up with CCNE, AANP, AANC. Ranting and raving on this board will do nothing but make you look petty and bitter, but at least you will be in good company!

bushrn75 · Mar 22, 2014

I got waitlisted for Drexel's program! How did you fair?

Barinbass · Mar 22, 2014

Future, I understand what you mean about comparing cost and quality. However, I am not at all sure how one determines quality of education in that the same criteria has to be met in each school to be CCNE certified. There is some variation in what courses are required. Ethics was required at my school, but it is only an elective at the state school here. I think Ethics is very important as it also includes how we treat each other as nurses too. It included the Nurse Practice Act (NPA), and that is important, or my school thought so anyway. Maybe if everyone had to take Ethics and read the NPA, there would be less eating of one's young as nurses are very apt to do no matter the degree. That to me means quality, but that is my opinion and how I define quality. I graduated from a private school, and the per hour cost was much greater than the state school although I found other schools with a much higher hourly rate than mine was. I chose that school though, so I have that cost to bear. The Certification exam was the same no matter the school. Re what you stated, I would have had much less to pay had I finished at a state school without the Ethics course and would have received the same certification. In this area, to have done your eduction at the local school means something to those hiring, but that has nothing to do with quality nor cost.

medictechie · May 12, 2014

I also visited here to check out what others thought about their online programs before applying. I checked out USA and decided not foe me as their program is set up to require more courses per semester than I wanted to do. I may still have the program of study. If they class is in a Cohort, you have to take the courses in sequence, and if you miss one, you have to wait a year to pick it up as it is not taught every semester. Also I did clinical at the same site as one of the USA students at the same time. We had different preceptors. I talked with her, and she got only 30 minutes to take an exam. I got 2 hours! That fit me much better. I hate being pushed for time. You need to consider what GPA you have and what the schools requirements are. Some schools want a cumulative GPA, but the one I selected only wanted the BSN GPA and transcripts from only those schools that related directly to your BSN. I had a 3.67 BSN GPA but less on the cumulative. I checked Petersen's website during my search and visited here. I applied to four, but the cumulative GPA prevented me from being accepted to three. I just finished my ANP and MSN at Felician in August 2013. I actually enjoyed it, and found it very supportive of students. The classes are very small, but it was nice and was totally online. It is also very well accredited. I am also from NC. There were two of us from NC in the same class which was unreal! As a result of our needing clinical sites, Felician now has contracts with two large corp groups her in this area of NC and agreements with others. They are very willing to try and get other contracts for the students to have sites. I also passed the AANP Adult/Gero cert exam in Sept. Finding a job here is hard as a new grad with no NP experience!!! By the way, I only went up to NJ where the school is to walk across the stage and met the profs then! Good luck.

Barinbass, I'd like to hear more about your esperience at felician. It sounds like a great school. Will you pm me? I am unable to pm at this time.

Thanks.