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 Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

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.

There is some insanity to your comments. You say NPs are going away...so you are going to go to school to be one.

You say midwifery is going away. It's not.

I'm not sure what your sentence about being "on ground" means. You will be going or are going to a top 5 ranked program? Earlier you were going to go to get your NP. Now, there's something about a top 5 program. Ranked by who? I'm glad you think your program is superior to online programs. Your opinion is simply that...an opinion. Based on how well online programs are going I'm going to guess your opinion isn't being listened to.

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Specializes in ER.
There is some insanity to your comments. You say NPs are going away...so you are going to go to school to be one. You say midwifery is going away. It's not. I'm not sure what your sentence about being "on ground" means. You will be going or are going to a top 5 ranked program? Earlier you were going to go to get your NP. Now, there's something about a top 5 program. Ranked by who? I'm glad you think your program is superior to online programs. Your opinion is simply that...an opinion. Based on how well online programs are going I'm going to guess your opinion isn't being listened to.
I guess you have decided that insulting me is going to change my mind. Let me know when you even look at what the mds have done to midwifery in this country.I think my statements about my intentions are very plain. Shortly, I will move and attend a top ranked on ground graduate program. You ask by who? Well, who ranked yours? Probably us news and world report.As for why, I want to salvage something out of the absolutely idiotic choice I made to go into nursing. If the market changes, I will do something else.The only people that I think have a viable future are the crnas.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I guess you have decided that insulting me is going to change my mind. Let me know when you even look at what the mds have done to midwifery in this country.I think my statements about my intentions are very plain. Shortly I will move and attend a top ranked on ground graduate program. You ask by who? Well, who ranked yours? Probably us news and world report.As for why, I want to salvage something out of the absolutely idiotic choice I made to go into nursing. If the market changes, I will do something else.The only people that I think have a viable future are the crnas.[/quote']

I'm not looking to change your mind. I'm not trying to insult you. I just can't see the sanity in your statement s.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Debate is good.

Bringing it on down to a personal level ... one-on-one, is usually never good as intent is lost and delivery of message is less-than-desirable.

We are professionals here. Please conduct youself as one (all posters). Quit making this a personal debate. Thanks for heeding this re-direct. :)

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I still remember a little of my "statistics for health care professionals" class. I must have either missed or forgot the part where one persons anecdotal observation, in one part of the country is sufficient to generalize a whole population. Maybe I should pull the old book out and review ;)

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
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've done plenty of online courses during and since high school. Online courses were the only way high school students could take college courses for free at my high school during that time. When I was eligible to start taking college courses in high school the dual enrollment program had been suspended in my county due to federal funding issues. I was able to continue with online courses three the Learn and Earn Program. I am so thankful for that opportunity and I've certainly retained the I formation I learned in those courses. In every online course I've taken I never just had discussions and a final. I've had tests weekly or bi-weekly that was Proctored half if the time, and was always a timed test. On top of these weekly or bi-weekly tests I had to do discussion boards and reply, no less than 300 words,to 4 class mates post. Ive had finals in each course and in my hybrid science course I had to complete experiments at home with a kit thank was required for the course and video or take pictures of me completing that experiment thoroughly and submit a lab report. All of this of my own initiative, without the direct guidance and encouragement of a live professor. Online learning is becoming more and more valid, despite what some would like to make out.

It is really of little value to belittle the benefits of online education, when it has proven to be effective and shows absolutely no signs of being disbanded. It is simply unprofessional, unethical, and slightly stereotypical to make a generalized application that NPs resumed online are, in some way less than adequate because of your "limited" experiences.

It is a proven fact that in both brick and mortar schooling and online schooling that it is the student who makes the learning experience. A person can have the must horrible and useless instructor in the world, but if they truly want to learn, they will regardless.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
I guess you have decided that insulting me is going to change my mind. Let me know when you even look at what the mds have done to midwifery in this country.I think my statements about my intentions are very plain. Shortly, I will move and attend a top ranked on ground graduate program. You ask by who? Well, who ranked yours? Probably us news and world report.As for why, I want to salvage something out of the absolutely idiotic choice I made to go into nursing. If the market changes, I will do something else.The only people that I think have a viable future are the crnas.

Viced, are you speaking of regular midwives/ Licensed Midwives (LM, CM) or nursing midwives? Because in the case of the first, I can see a trend similar to what you speak, but not in the cast of Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM).

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I still remember a little of my "statistics for health care professionals" class. I must have either missed or forgot the part where one persons anecdotal observation, in one part of the country is sufficient to generalize a whole population. Maybe I should pull the old book out and review ;)
Come to think of it I took that class online, that must be why I never learned that.
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Specializes in ER.

Just a few comments. I have been caring for patients in some capacity since 1987. I have seen many changes, including DRG's, the introduction of PA's to mainstream hospital medicine, the rise and fall of the imported nurse from forgeign countries to solve the shortage, you get the point.

I think PA's and NPS are both here to stay. Yes, they present a threat to the medical establishment because any time you take money out of a doctor's mouth they get ******.

VicedRN, I remember when CRNA's were "taking over" in the late 80's and early 90's. Made the rich MD anesths at University of Michigan mad. They forced the closure of the U of M Ann Arbor CRNA program. Only program left, inner city Flint. Great place to do clinicals.

There are good PA's, bad. Good NP's, bad. Good docs and bad. I will take someone with experience, compassion, and interest in my well being any day. You have these things, I don't care where you went to school.

I am curious that you are chosing to go into NP, when you are certain of their demise. If you think CRNA's are the only APRNS here to stay, go to CRNA school. Last time I checked, you needed nearly a 4.0 to get in, it is now a DNP program, and you need about a hundred grand in your pocket to finish--cannot work during the program. However, I have a good friend who teaches in the CRNA program for Oakland university, and their grads are having a hard time finding jobs. That market is getting very tight.

Just my two cents!

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Specializes in ER.

Pun-leaze! The acceptance letter addressed to the hubby from a crna program is sitting on our desk. It says, "if you don't a have a year of experience after orientation by the date of program start..." He has three years but this program is happy to take someone with less than one year. According to this program, 100% of their grads have jobs at graduation.I believe nps are in decline but I have other skills and will move on as needed and am hopeful the decline (along with the decline of the rn) will take longer than what is left of my working life span.if nothing else, I can use the msn to teach Bsn clinicals. (At least around here that works) I refer to the certified nurse midwives who have seen their influence, numbers of schools and their skill sets limited by threatened mds. They were ready for us and learned from the crna thing. They will not let us get a foothold again.

Added: gpas at the Grad programs are not as competitive as they want you to think. As long you are above 3.3, they really don't care.

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Specializes in ER.

Ps. Every one keeps saying well there are good and bad in all professions but if I sit here and count...I count like two bad pas and like 95% of the nps I know. Emory and are both close and considered top ranked programs.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
Ps. Every one keeps saying well there are good and bad in all professions but if I sit here and count...I count like two bad pas and like 95% of the nps I know. Emory and vandy are both close and considered top ranked programs.

And I can count 1 good pa and countless good nps...meaningless.

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