Does it matter which FNP school I pick?

RiaC · Dec 5, 2017

I think the best school to go to is the right school for you and that includes considering factors such as cost, program curriculum, preceptors and clinical placement, location, etc. While some employers and some positions may favor graduates from renowned institutions, at the end of the day, it is the same license and letters at the end of your name. Go where it suits your needs and interests.

friendlylark · Feb 11, 2018

Honestly, going to USC would be a HUGE luxury. It is about $90K for the USC program vs. $40 for the Chamberlain program. I have no student loans - I am definitely a saver, not a spender. I worry about going in to debt - because I would like to buy a home in Southern Cali (and I will graduate with my NP at age 45). I want to set myself up to have a nice home and not live in a 2-bedroom apartment for the rest of my life. HAHA. And in Southern Cali, this takes preparation and planning!!!

So ... that means I have chosen Chamberlain.

CaliforniaNurse2BE, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2018

My question is why are you even considering Chamberlain? Is your GPA bad? Min. work experience? I wouldn't even consider USC with that price tag. I am paying 30k for my FNP at a reputable program and I feel like that is a lot. These schools have a bad reputation because of their admission standards and in some cases...education you receive.

FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP · Feb 11, 2018

USC is a private school. They will offer a financial aid package to accepted students, so the cost is individual to each student and is not necessarily the "list" price.

USC has a HUGE alumni network in California. They also have a well regarded medical school. Who do you think hires most NPs? MDs do. And MDs are extremely conscious of school reputation. As a new grad NP, you are going to face a highly competitive job market for your first job. Your school will matter.

As many other posters have commented, be leery of any NP school that does not find your preceptors. And if you have to find your own preceptors, you may or may not get good ones.

I would definitely pick USC over Chamberlain.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 11, 2018

Hi llg ... I agree about the preceptor issue. I currently work in the Emergency Department ... and I asked one of the ED physicians about this ... he said they are willing to precept students that would be interested in getting hired on with that ED group.
I thought that was an interesting concept - and possibly a good way for me to get my 1st job!!!
I dunno - lots of pros and cons. The cost of the Chamberlain FNP is very reasonable compared to the USC program!!!

Chamberlain will not allow clinicals in the acute care setting whatsoever, no exceptions. You can use family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics (1 rotation), OB/Gyn (1 rotation), or urgent care (1 rotation). And if any of your clinical hours include rounding in a hospital, you cannot count the hospital rounding. So, don't rely on your ED to give you clinical hours for Chamberlain.

I was attending this school for FNP because I completed my RN-to-BSN there. I am transferring to another school due to all the negative changes which have occurred in the past few months. I would strongly suggest going to a school that no one will bat an eyelash when you say the same. Seriously.

I opted to go with them because I could start right away and get the FNP sooner than if I had waited to start at the school I'm now transferring to. I wish I had just gone with my transfer school from the start. Lesson learned.

allnurses Guide · Feb 11, 2018

USC is a private school. They will offer a financial aid package to accepted students, so the cost is individual to each student and is not necessarily the "list" price.
USC has a HUGE alumni network in California. They also have a well regarded medical school. Who do you think hires most NPs? MDs do. And MDs are extremely conscious of school reputation. As a new grad NP, you are going to face a highly competitive job market for your first job. Your school will matter.
As many other posters have commented, be leery of any NP school that does not find your preceptors. And if you have to find your own preceptors, you may or may not get good ones.
I would definitely pick USC over Chamberlain.

This is solid advice. Take it.

friendlylark · Feb 13, 2018

Hello :-) Oh man ... I would seriously LOVE to go to USC :-) Another good option for me would be California State University.

To be honest, the reason I am choosing Chamberlain really has to do with the cost. I am in my 40's - and still renting ... and I would like to buy a home before I am 50. This means ... I just don't want to go into huge student debt right now. My LIFE PLAN GOALS (smile) are to get through my Master's program with my FNP and get a home of my own before I am 50. If I was in my 20's ... or maybe even 30's it might be different ... and I get that physicians are brand conscious. Chamberlain is $650 per credit hour.

I am the first person in my family to go to college. I have paid for all of it myself ... gotten scholarships, went to community college, got my RN and BSN. My family has never really placed value on education (due to religious beliefs ... don't ask, haha) ... but in any case ... I get how important socially it is to have a name brand school ... but I am probably never going to be one of those people with a name-brand education.

Another thing with Chamberlain is that ... in CASE I MOVE out of California - which is entirely a possibility ... my college moves with me. I'm not actually from California, came here as a travel RN, but all of my family is in another state. So it is POSSIBLE that I could go back to my home state and finish my education in that state. So having the flexibility to LEAVE California is a nice thing to have for me :-)

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2018

To be honest, the reason I am choosing Chamberlain really has to do with the cost. I am in my 40's - and still renting ... and I would like to buy a home before I am 50. This means ... I just don't want to go into huge student debt right now. My LIFE PLAN GOALS (smile) are to get through my Master's program with my FNP and get a home of my own before I am 50. If I was in my 20's ... or maybe even 30's it might be different ... and I get that physicians are brand conscious. Chamberlain is $650 per credit hour.

Have you talked to local NP employers? Will they hire a Chamberlain graduate? $650/credit-hour is only a bargain if you 1. get a good education and 2. can get a job afterwards. Even at $650/cr-hr you are still making a big investment of both money and time and you need to think about whether it is worth it or not. In a perfect world you should be striving for the best quality program not the cheapest, as I am sure you would want from the person taking care of your or your kids, but I understand in the real world other factors play into this. Just consider to investment before you make it. A quality program might cost a bit more but may also mean less time looking for a job, not having to move to find a job, or a higher paying job; all of these things impact the overall cost-benefit.

Also Chamberlain (to my knowledge) does not assist in finding clinical placements which is another significant issue that can results is lost time and money. Consider that as well.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 14, 2018

Hello :-) Oh man ... I would seriously LOVE to go to USC :-) Another good option for me would be California State University.
To be honest, the reason I am choosing Chamberlain really has to do with the cost. I am in my 40's - and still renting ... and I would like to buy a home before I am 50. This means ... I just don't want to go into huge student debt right now. My LIFE PLAN GOALS (smile) are to get through my Master's program with my FNP and get a home of my own before I am 50. If I was in my 20's ... or maybe even 30's it might be different ... and I get that physicians are brand conscious. Chamberlain is $650 per credit hour.
I am the first person in my family to go to college. I have paid for all of it myself ... gotten scholarships, went to community college, got my RN and BSN. My family has never really placed value on education (due to religious beliefs ... don't ask, haha) ... but in any case ... I get how important socially it is to have a name brand school ... but I am probably never going to be one of those people with a name-brand education.
Another thing with Chamberlain is that ... in CASE I MOVE out of California - which is entirely a possibility ... my college moves with me. I'm not actually from California, came here as a travel RN, but all of my family is in another state. So it is POSSIBLE that I could go back to my home state and finish my education in that state. So having the flexibility to LEAVE California is a nice thing to have for me :-)

University of South Alabama is a state school, has an online program (don't need to live in AL), and is less expensive than Chamberlain. Look around at your options. I am leaving Chamberlain due to the negative changes the school recently imposed. I no longer trust them. I had an excellent experience with my RN-to-BSN program, but the FNP program has had change after change after change from day 1. I've completed 1/3rd of my program and will now have to transfer to another school and lose half the credits I've already completed. I would strongly caution you to choose another program. I regret going there for the FNP and wish I had started at a different school. Chamberlain spends 80% of their educational budget on recruiting new students and only 20% of it on actual education. There are currently 2 class action lawsuits against the company that owns Chamberlain (Illinois & California) and are going to be settled out of court because they don't want the negative publicity. Don't drink the koolaid.