Online NP schools

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2014

Frontier Nursing University is online and from what I found out after I called, they will assist if your having trouble. But once enrolled you have access to their preceptor database.

Graceland University, I think they will assist if your having trouble.

Eastern Kentucky University is 100% online, don't know yet about preceptor help.

These are the three I'm interested in as they are highly credible programs from what I've researched.

nightnurse279 · Jan 31, 2014

Frontier Nursing University is online and from what I found out after I called they will assist if your having trouble. But once enrolled you have access to their preceptor database. Graceland University, I think they will assist if your having trouble. Eastern Kentucky University is 100% online, don't know yet about preceptor help. These are the three I'm interested in as they are highly credible programs from what I've researched.[/quote']
That's a great start. Thanks for the info. I'll have to give EKU a call and see what the deal is with them and preceptor placement.
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zmansc, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2014

FNU does give you access to their preceptor database, so if there have been past FNU students in your area, that is a start to finding good preceptors. They also have a suggested process for how you get your name out and what you are looking for in a preceptor. How to go about finding a preceptor. But you do all (most) of the leg work of finding someone who is willing to make that commitment to you.

Once you have found a preceptor and submitted that individual and facility to the university, then they take over and do an excellent job of building a relationship with them, vetting them for qualifications, making sure they understand what is/will be expected of them, and monitoring you and the preceptor through the clinical process.

I would suggest, you start networking NOW, while you are still researching programs. In my opinion, it's easier to find a preceptor and then find a school than the other way around. At least that is how I have done it and so far it has worked well for me. I talked to various providers, both NP and other providers and asked who they thought would be good preceptors, who would be good for me to talk to. Fairly quickly it got around the community of providers, and I had a few names.

I then talked to them in the normal day as we saw each other in the hospital, or I contacted them via phone, email, or whatever and started discussing what their availability would be. Two of them I even scheduled a day to shadow, just so they could get to know me, and I could get to know them. I quickly settled on a first and second choice. Two that I felt would really mesh with me from a personality standpoint, who seemed to know how to teach while they were also doing their normal daily routine.

Both of them, told me they would be happy to work with me "if they didn't already have another student", and told me what schools they were already approved for. That gave me a list of programs to put at the top of my list of programs to assess.

Of course, I had already done some research into programs, but now I redirected that to find out if any of these four I think it was programs met my criteria. Actually most of them did, these preceptors didn't want students from inferior programs, just as much as you don't want an inferior program or a bad preceptor.

All in all, I think I spent a few hours a week, less than 5 per week for a couple of months. But every shift I worked, I was talking to any provider I came into contact with that wasn't too rushed. "Hey, I'm considering NP programs and wanted to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind?" Two plus years later, most of the providers whom I come in contact with in my RN position ask me, "How's that program going?", "What can I do to help you?", "When are you going to be done?", or "When do you want me to precept you?" I get these questions from the MDs, DOs, PAs, and NPs. Often, even when I'm just introducing myself to them.

Hope that helps!