Are online ANP degrees destroying our credibility?

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I was talking to a private practice doctor about an opening in his practice. Currently, I am employed by the hospital. He told me that they will only consider PA's due to having more of a hard science based training and longer residency. I have heard this before and brushed it off. Especially, considering that would only be of factor for new grads possibly. I brought this up and he gave me a second rejection with a whole new excuse. His practice as a whole were considering hiring NPs until a PA brought up you can get your degree online. He stated they can not take our education seriously with such low standards. UUUURRRGGGHH. I didn't really know what to say. Mostly due to not expecting that response. Either way he is not someone I would want to work for with that attitude. I want to know what other people's thoughts are regarding the online programs? Will it hurt our profession and the quality of our reputation?

Specializes in ER.
You say the PAs are "way" better than the NPs. Please quantify. What standards are you applying? What outcomes are you measuring? If the best articulation you have is "way", that will simply not suffice. Measure "every" variable? How about just one?
Since this is the healthcare environment, qualifications include the diagnosis and treatment of disease and acute processes.My standards:1. Accurate thorough for complaint physical assessment/ exam.2 appropriate diagnosis.3 appropriate treatment of said illness.4. Timely appropriate discharge.5. Ability to identify patients of higher acuity and properly refer to md or consult md on higher acuity patient.6. Skills: neat appropriate thread used sutures and appropriate layers of sutures. Ability to i&d. Etc.Sadly, I have been incredibly disappointed by the skills and speed of our nps. Frankly, they are morons. I have seen them: only able to process one pt per hour, become confused by a parenychia (don't care what your background is), neglect to identify patients that need iv antibiotics for deep laceration, fail to take pedal pulses before splitting an obviously dislocated ankle, fail to provide appropriate antibiotic therapy etc.The pas are quicker, have better skills and do better assessments.I have worked in two different facilities and have interfaced with pas and nps as a patient and mother, and socially. Sorry but we need to rethink our graduate education.
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

Online programs are easier? Can your provide anything to back that up besides an opinion? Top universities are providing online programs...are those easier too?

Specializes in ER.
Online programs are easier? Can your provide anything to back that up besides an opinion? Top universities are providing online programs...are those easier too?
. You mean other than my experiences? I took some online classes and I have watched my coworkers take them for their Bsn. The fact is that I understand how it works. It's mostly discussion based with an exam at the end. If you get a 99 in discussion and a 74 on the one exam (the final), you end up with a b in the class. If you don't know the material, I have watched my coworkers have their kids post for them, their spouses, other nurses who are taking the same class take their quizzes, etc. all kinds of shenanigans.Then there is the product: makes no sense for an np to suck more than a pa...Prestige means nothing. I believe that these programs have several layers of graduates and are well aware of what sham products they are producing online. S o much subtlety...in learning from a preceptor of your choosing versus the university's choice, etc.
. You mean other than my experiences? I took some online classes and I have watched my coworkers take them for their Bsn. The fact is that I understand how it works. It's mostly discussion based with an exam at the end. If you get a 99 in discussion and a 74 on the one exam (the final), you end up with a b in the class. If you don't know the material, I have watched my coworkers have their kids post for them, their spouses, other nurses who are taking the same class take their quizzes, etc. all kinds of shenanigans.Then there is the product: makes no sense for an np to suck more than a pa...Prestige means nothing. I believe that these programs have several layers of graduates and are well aware of what sham products they are producing online. S o much subtlety...in learning from a preceptor of your choosing versus the university's choice, etc.

I did a brick and mortar Psych CNS program and distance ed Psych NP at Rush. You will have both good and bad schools in both, however, at Rush we had a lot of case studies, same as we had in business school. It's more "real" than exams. It was also an advantage to be able to discuss things with people scattered all over creation vs in one locale.

Specializes in ER.
I did a brick and mortar Psych CNS program and distance ed Psych NP at Rush. You will have both good and bad schools in both, however, at Rush we had a lot of case studies, same as we had in business school. It's more "real" than exams. It was also an advantage to be able to discuss things with people scattered all over creation vs in one locale.
I definitely think that a bigger problem is greater variation in quality of education for msn programs than pa programs. I think that online programs contribute to that greater variability partially because I believe their students have a low barrier to entry into the board exams. I am not saying there aren't good sides of online learning. Indeed, I have seen some of the good (ie self teaching actually does create better retention) but they remain easier to pass in my experience.
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
. You mean other than my experiences? I took some online classes and I have watched my coworkers take them for their Bsn. The fact is that I understand how it works. It's mostly discussion based with an exam at the end. If you get a 99 in discussion and a 74 on the one exam (the final) you end up with a b in the class. If you don't know the material, I have watched my coworkers have their kids post for them, their spouses, other nurses who are taking the same class take their quizzes, etc. all kinds of shenanigans.Then there is the product: makes no sense for an np to suck more than a pa...Prestige means nothing. I believe that these programs have several layers of graduates and are well aware of what sham products they are producing online. S o much subtlety...in learning from a preceptor of your choosing versus the university's choice, etc.[/quote']

Well I have seen none of what you describe. I have also seen online programs what won't pass you if you fail the final regardless of your overall grade.

I also have seen many terrible PAs and many wonderful NPs.

I'm sorry you feel online students who graduate are shams. I've seen many people come out of non-online programs who are quite ignorant.

The good news for many is that your opinion doesn't seem to be changing how things are done. The online schools are thriving and we are all still taking our boards. So just because you graduate doesn't mean you will pass your boards. There is a checks and balance in place.

Specializes in ER.
Well I have seen none of what you describe.I also have seen many terrible PAs and many wonderful NPs. I'm sorry you feel online students who graduate are shams. I've seen many people come out of non-online programs who are quite ignorant. The good news for many is that your opinion doesn't seem to be changing how things are done. The online schools are thriving and we are all still taking our boards. So just because you graduate doesn't mean you will pass your boards. There is a checks and balance in place.
There are none so blind as though that can not see.It does matter to me and to lots of people because when nps prove incompetent or to be of extremely variable competency, the jobs will dry up. Read through this thread, plenty of folks already complaining that docs would rather hire pas. Burying your head in the sand is not gonna solve that problem.
Specializes in ER.

And frankly, I feel badly for people doing online programs in some cases. They are getting little accountability from the programs and if they can't pass the boards, have wasted federal loan dollars.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
There are none so blind as though that can not see.It does matter to me and to lots of people because when nps prove incompetent or to be of extremely variable competency the jobs will dry up. Read through this thread, plenty of folks already complaining that docs would rather hire pas. Burying your head in the sand is not gonna solve that problem.[/quote']

You think NP jobs are going away? Really. Okay. I'd continue the conversation but that belief makes me think you are slightly nuts. NP jobs aren't going anywhere. So have a nice day and enjoy your RN. Why are you even posting in the NP section since you clearly aren't one and don't plan to become one? That would be like me, an RN pursuing my NP, posting on a board for a PA or MD.

Specializes in ER.
You think NP jobs are going away? Really. Okay. I'd continue the conversation but that belief makes me think you are slightly nuts. NP jobs aren't going anywhere. So have a nice day and enjoy your RN. Why are you even posting in the NP section since you clearly aren't one and don't plan to become one? That would be like me, an RN pursuing my NP, posting on a board for a PA or MD.
I'm not nuts at all. Take a look at what happened to the midwives. It used to be that my city had a thriving graduate program and plenty of practices that offered midwife deliveries. Now, there are very few midwives delivering and the school shut down. The docs have been aggressively pursuing them for a decade. It can and will happen to the nps if we refuse to learn from that example.all they need to do is tell the insurance companies to stop covering our care like they did with the midwives.Unfortunately, I will go to np school because there are no pa programs in the place we are moving. I refuse to go online.
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I'm not nuts at all. Take a look at what happened to the midwives. It used to be that my city had a thriving graduate program and plenty of practices that offered midwife deliveries. Now there are very few midwives delivering and the school shut down. The docs have been aggressively pursuing them for a decade. It can and will happen to the nps if we refuse to learn from that example.all they need to do is tell the insurance companies to stop covering our care like they did with the midwives.Unfortunately, I will go to np school because there are no pa programs in the place we are moving. I refuse to go online.[/quote']

Are you serious? Midwifery isn't dying. It might not be good where you are but it's not dying.

So you are going to pursue a career in something you believe is going away. Okay. Have fun. You enjoy your tradition school. I will enjoy my online program at a top university. I will take, and pass, the same state exam you will take. Best of luck to you during the application and acceptance process. I hope it goes well for you and you enjoy a career as an NP even though you don't believe there's a future.

Totally sane.

Specializes in ER.

Are you serious? Midwifery isn't dying. It might not be good where you are but it's not dying.

So you are going to pursue a career in something you believe is going away. Okay. Have fun. You enjoy your tradition school. I will enjoy my online program at a top university. I will take, and pass, the same state exam you will take. Best of luck to you during the application and acceptance process. I hope it goes well for you and you enjoy a career as an NP even though you don't believe there's a future.

Totally sane.

What's insane is ignoring the Acog position Statement on midwifery but there was ok reason for you to be rude to be and call me insane not once but twice.

I believe we will need to protect our profession to keep it viable. My money is on getting a better job because I was on ground at yes, a top five ranked program. See you on the other side! I will pursue and land the job of my dreams.

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