TWU in Denton NP Program OR UTA NP Program

[missvictoriat]

Hi!

I have 2 years experience in Med-Surg, Telemetry and Oncology. I am single with no kids and work full time (three 12 hour shifts) NIGHT shift at a hospital on a TELE/ONC floor. I am wanting to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and work in state health dept clinic. Recently, I have applied for Texas Woman's University Family NP program in Denton and University of Texas at Arlington Family NP Program. I still haven't heard back but I am wanting to start school FALL 2011.

My questions are for former and current students of TWU and/or UTA in the FAMILY NP Program.

1. What do you like and dislike about the program?

2. What are their Family NP exam pass rates?

3. Did you work FULL TIME or PART TIME while attending school? or NOT work at all?

4. Would you encourage me (single, no kids) to work FULL TIME and go to school FULL-TIME?

5. Which is easier to juggle, working NIGHT SHIFT OR DAY SHIFT and attending school?

6. Did you have to go for an interview before acceptance into the NP program? What did it consist of?

7. Do you think my 2 years experience as a staff RN in a hospital is ENOUGH experience to go back for my masters FNP?

8. What made you decide on your school? What was the determining factor?

9. Do you have to find your own perceptors? How did you find them? How does the school assist you find perceptors, if you are not able to find one?

10. Was anyone able to find grants or scholarships to attend grad school?

11. How many classes were online and on campus? Because I will have to commute from Lewisville and Denton is closer to be than Arlington.

Thank you. LOL. Sorry so many questions. I appreciate any feedback!

[Karen313]

I applied at UTA and TWU for F-NP program Spring 2012. I was recently accepted at TWU. Still awaitng UTA. So far it's its looking like Im going to TWU. I'd like to get to know others who will be starting as well. Hopefully making the process of returning to school a little bit less stressful. I'm a RN with 5 years Progressive Care/Cardiac Intervention experience.

[Sanuk]

Hi Karen,

Not sure if you read the whole thread, but I'm in the Post-Bacc RN-MSN program at TWU FNP track. That's a mouthful, huh? I will be finishing the "bridge" in Spring, taking two graduate courses and one last undergrad class. Chances are we may see each other if you end up going there. I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would. Of course, I fully expected to hate it. :) Having been out of school for 9 years, it was tough going back.

[Karen313]

Sanuk,

I will be picking up my course outline this month, who knows? We may cross paths I'd definitely like to keep in contact with you! What courses are u taking this spring?

[Sanuk]

Well, I am actually already registered for Spring :) so I know exactly what I am taking. I will be in Advanced Assessment, Nursing Research, and the last undergrad class I need which is Nursing Leadership. Hope to see you around, even just on the board. It would be nice to have a little thread for us to come back to and chat.

[TCUgirl15]

@ Sanuk,

If you don't mind me asking, how many hours do you work a week? I'm starting the FNP program in the Spring...and I wanted to register for 9 hours, but I work PRN 24 hours a week. Do you think it would be manageable to take 9 hrs? How were your classes for the first semester? I'm thinking they said it would be Patho, Theory and then maybe I would add on one more if I could?? I'd really appreciate any advice anyone could give!! :)

@ Karen 313,

Are you going to be at the Orientation on November 29th??

[Karen313]

TCUgirl15

I won't be able to make November 29 orientation because I work that day. I called my advisor and she said I can pick up my course outline anytime and they will schedule additional orientation days for those who are not able to make it.

[Sanuk]

I work at least 36hrs/week and usually 48-60. No choice really as I am paying for school as I go along. So, in my opinion, you could definitely do 24hrs/week and attend full time. This semester, I took Advanced Patho and two of my bridge classes for a total of 10 hours.

I won't be going to orientation because I am already in the program, but I think it would be worthwhile especially if it's been a while since you were in school. Let us know when you get your class schedule. :)

[Kat5]

TCUgirl15 and Karen313,

I just got accepted to the TWU's FNP program (Denton campus). Well, at least I think I did...it says "accepted" on my Pioneer Portal page, but I haven't received anything in the mail yet. So I don't know if I'm invited to the orientation or not =)

Working f/t, kids...I will be going very part-time...2 classes max each semester.

It will be very nice to get to know you both!

[Karen313]

So I've been accepted for FNP at both UTA and TWU. Great news! I originally applied to both in case I did not get accepted at one. Now I have to choose. Does anyone have any input on either program? I need to make a decision this week. Thanks

[Kat5]

Karen313,

Both programs have great reputations. I finished my RN-BSN at UTA and was overall very pleased. It would have been a no-brainer for me to just stay on and do UTA's FNP program...IF I lived closer to campus and/or had a more flexible schedule.

Unfortunately, I work M-F (school nurse), and the commute for me would be 2 hours each way, so I didn't even apply. Time=sanity - I can't be wasting it driving!

A friend of mine graduated from TWU a few years ago (like me, a former ICU nurse who went into school nursing when her kids got to be school age). She was allowed to complete all her clinicals in the summer and on school breaks. That was the clincher for me! Time, flexibility...can you tell what's important to me?!

I also like that TWU requires health promotion/primary prevention, and emphasizes underserved populations. Just more things to throw on the decision table.

Good luck with your decision - two very good schools to choose from!

[Karen313]

Kat5,

Have you looked at your course outline yet? I went to TWU Dallas CPUs and picked up my tentative course outline. I still have not made a decision between UTA and TWU. How will you manage working school hours and be able to attend classes. Some classes are online some are in class, some are hybrid classes.

[Kat5]

Karen313,

Yes, I've looked at the class schedule on Pioneer Portal. From what I can tell, I will be able to keep my job as-is until I get to Adv Assessment. I would like to think I could convince my boss to let me off every other Wednesday, but I'm not holding my breath...=)

Almost all the other core classes that are hybrids meet at 5pm, about once a month. I think I will enjoy seeing other students and getting to know profs. So...if I take a max of 2 classes per semester, that will keep me busy for the next year to year and a half.

Once I get to Adv Assessment and the clinical courses, I will have to (a) win the lotto (my personal preference), (b) work part time, or © go back to hosp or home care. All for the cause, right?

I know that both schools will evaluate graduate transfer credit (I think the max is only 6-9 hours, but I would definitely double check!). It's risky (and a pain - you have to submit syllabus, etc), but if you started one and just hated it, you could at least finish a couple of classes and then transfer without losing too much time.

Have you been to both campuses? Maybe that would help. Which one are you leaning towards?