Georgetown NP online

Students NP Students

Published

Stay away. Not sure even where to begin. So you get into this school and you think its great, it's Georgetown! So prestigious! :bookworm: There is a lot of work with this program compared to other schools and at the end of the day you get the same degree. :nurse: And other schools are cheaper!

1. GU lets you think that they are helping you find clinical sites, WRONG! Mid-way through our last semester they made us sign a contract stating that if we do not have a clinical site then we cannot proceed in the program. And there is another policy where if they find one for you they cannot release that information until 2 weeks before that clinical starts. So how am I suppose to register for classes?

2. OCI. On Campus Intensive. What a mess! You have to travel to GU twice during the course of the program. It is called OCI. I went to my first one and it was a joke. We got there and they did not have any of the paper work ready (It was not a surprise that we were coming) They blamed it on the printer acting up. Well when it happened a couple of times... I am sure it was the person not the printer! They scare you about the practical exam and start teaching you a bunch of new techniques the day before the exam. That was a mess too because one teacher was saying one thing and another said something else. We did not have access to the internet but they were emailing us stuff (What they could not just tell us in person?) Oh and if we wanted access to it we had to pay. (75,000 isn't already enough to pay?) They did not have our "Go cards" ready, it was the "printer" guys fault with that one too. The last day was a terror. When we were expressing our concerns, a GU rep started to reprimand us telling us "that may have been what we heard, but that is NOT what she said". So very rude! We were also expected to dress professionally but the Dean of the University shows up in jeans and a sweater, does not even tell us who he is, to apologize for how everything is going. That was nice but it was not until I asked around and found out it was the dean, why did he not show up during the welcome talk, in a suit? Guess he was too busy with all my tuition money to show up for that.

Am I getting across here? I am writing this to save you from heart-ache and grief. Do not attend Georgetown, go somewhere else where the tuition is cheaper and you can still have your sanity. :roflmao:

Plus they will start hounding during the initial application process! Calling you to make sure you send all your info in. At first I thought this was nice, they must really care. I assure you they do not. :cry:

The on campus sounds like a mess but I noticed you said its a lot of work for the same degree...isn't that the point of better programs? Doing lots of extra work should make you feel like you're getting a better education, you don't want a program where you can glide to the degree with minimal work.

freedomrn1

69 Posts

Your story does not surprise me and to the first comment, lots of extra work does not equal a better education.

I am sorry you are feeling frustrated. I am graduating from Georgetown this month... have been done with classes for a few weeks and receive my degree on the 31st. I agree with the clinical aspect, it was very frustrating and I was worrying every semester whether or not I would have a site. I am glad to be done with that. When they came out with the "contract" I already had my final placement. I can imagine being in the middle of the program, that is very frustrating.

Aside from that, I think you are slightly overreacting to the other issues. Personally I thought it was great that the dean came to meet us at OCI. I didn't really pay attention to what he was wearing. I also think as the dean you kind of get to wear whatever you want and as the student you follow the rules. I didn't meet the dean of my undergraduate nursing school until the day of graduation when I went up to shake her hand. Like I said, I was just pleased that the dean was there to meet us to begin with.

As far as OCI disorganization, that could definitely be improved, but I did not have the same experience.

I also want you to know that after about 3 days of applying for jobs, I had 6 interviews lined up. I don't believe that without my education from Georgetown that I would have had all of these doors opened to me. I think having that on my resume really helps getting calls from all of these employers. As far as the amount of work in the program, I agree it was a lot of work, and I don't have another graduate school to compare it to, but I feel prepared to take the certification exam and begin practice as novice NP. I don't know if all graduates from other schools feel that way. Good luck in the rest of your studies.

I am sorry you are feeling frustrated. I am graduating from Georgetown this month... have been done with classes for a few weeks and receive my degree on the 31st. I agree with the clinical aspect, it was very frustrating and I was worrying every semester whether or not I would have a site. I am glad to be done with that. When they came out with the "contract" I already had my final placement. I can imagine being in the middle of the program, that is very frustrating.

Aside from that, I think you are slightly overreacting to the other issues. Personally I thought it was great that the dean came to meet us at OCI. I didn't really pay attention to what he was wearing. I also think as the dean you kind of get to wear whatever you want and as the student you follow the rules. I didn't meet the dean of my undergraduate nursing school until the day of graduation when I went up to shake her hand. Like I said, I was just pleased that the dean was there to meet us to begin with.

As far as OCI disorganization, that could definitely be improved, but I did not have the same experience.

I also want you to know that after about 3 days of applying for jobs, I had 6 interviews lined up. I don't believe that without my education from Georgetown that I would have had all of these doors opened to me. I think having that on my resume really helps getting calls from all of these employers. As far as the amount of work in the program, I agree it was a lot of work, and I don't have another graduate school to compare it to, but I feel prepared to take the certification exam and begin practice as novice NP. I don't know if all graduates from other schools feel that way. Good luck in the rest of your studies.

Thanks for the info sugarsweet - I'm very interested in Georgetown myself. Would you mind telling me what area of the country you were applying to for jobs? I ask because my area is oversaturated with NPs, and I wonder if having a Georgetown degree would make a difference. Are your 6 interviews also in an oversaturated market?

I am in Ohio... I wouldn't say it's the worst market but not the best either. I would imagine especially if you are in an oversaturated market, the degree would help if anything, obviously not hinder you. I was impressed overall with my education at Georgetown.

The only thing I would say if you are considering attending is, be prepared to basically set up your own clinical sites. If you end up relying on the placement team you will be worrying every single semester whether or not you will have a site. I think as long as you do all you can in regard to that, you should have a good experience. Like I said in my previous post, that is really my only complaint and frustration throughout the program.

I am in Ohio... I wouldn't say it's the worst market but not the best either. I would imagine especially if you are in an oversaturated market, the degree would help if anything, obviously not hinder you. I was impressed overall with my education at Georgetown.

The only thing I would say if you are considering attending is, be prepared to basically set up your own clinical sites. If you end up relying on the placement team you will be worrying every single semester whether or not you will have a site. I think as long as you do all you can in regard to that, you should have a good experience. Like I said in my previous post, that is really my only complaint and frustration throughout the program.

How exactly do you set them up yourself? Did you cold call offices?

Yes. Luckily for me my brother calls on offices for home health so he was able to scope out who took students or was willing. Aside from that I googled offices near my house and started calling. Also you could join the state np organization and they generally help with finding preceptorship and networking.

2015

140 Posts

I will be starting clinicals in May and I was able to get a preceptor minutes from my house. I googled NP practices near my house and spoke to some NPs at my work place. I filled the preceptor survey and listed all the places I would like to do my clinicals. I hope that will be the case until the end. If you leave it to them to get your clinical sites, you may end up very far from home. I love love my health assessment instructor. She's awesome. Georgetown is busy busy. I can barely work.

2015

140 Posts

Just an update. I didn't end up going to the places I suggested (I hear it can take the university a long time to approve sites), but the placement I got by the University ended up being so awesome that I didn't matter.

Nurse nation

7 Posts

It is sad to see you had such a bad experience with Georgetown. I could not feel more different about my time with there. I agree that it is expensive but I feel it is worth the investment. I completed the online FNP program this past January and have nothing but positive things to say about the university! Our OCI's were very organized and like "sugarsweet 21612" we met the dean during the both intensives which was a real plus for me, he was very approachable and professional. I had job offers from every clinic and hospital that I applied to after graduation. I was able to negotiate better compensation with potential employers due to fact that a degree from a university like Georgetown increases your initial value. A Mercedes is more expensive than a Honda and although they both get you from A-Z, the Mercedes will turn more heads and sometimes that is what it takes to get noticed in a competitve market.

Icandi2006

8 Posts

Specializes in PACU, ED, IRR...

Georgetown is all about the name, which you will pay for at a rate $1600 a credit hour. Its cheaper to go to U of Penn, Duke etc, they have more prestige and better programs, rated in the top 20.

+ Add a Comment