UTEP, A&M CC, TT which one for FNP?

Nursing Students NP Students

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Got accepted to all, wondering which one would you goto and why. They are all online.

Thanks,

Mike

FuturFNP,

From reading your posts I'm assuming you're finishing up the UTEP FNP program this semester. Congrats! I just got accepted to the Spring 2014 class. I'm a little nervous and just had some questions regarding the program. I know there is an estimated number of times we need to be on campus but how many time did you actually travel to El Paso? Did you find an online program to be thorough and an overall good experience? Were you able to work throughout the program/do you recommend not working? Did you have an easy time finding clinical sites? I've been having a little trouble with that. I can't seem to find anybody else on the site who is starting this program in the Spring, any information would be helpful and extremely appreciated.

Thank you

Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Sundayd,

I just finished up my 3rd semester in the UTEP FNP program, and so far we have only needed to go to campus for the nursing school graduate orientation before the program started. At one point there was talk that we would ne to go in during our Health Assessment class, but this was cancelled. To my knowledge, I will be required to go to UTEP once in the coming spring and once in the summer for various clinical skill check offs/teachings. I also believe once next fall as well, plus again for graduation. That said, a coworker who is graduating this December said he only went in 3 times total during his time at UTEP, including the orientation, but the program evolves based on student feedback (it's very refreshing).

In terms of clinicals, yes, it is a pain. One of the issues I have had is they require you to get your instructors over a year or more in advance, and two of my preceptors left their current jobs for different specialties, meaning I have to search all over again. They do keep some preceptors available for emergency situations in case something like that happens at the last minute. One thing I would recommend is to join the Texas NP organization, or if you aren't in Texas, your states respective organization. It is free your first year and they maintain a list of preceptors all over the state. I found two of mine through the Texas NP site, and the other two through personal connections. In all honesty, if you reach out to people, they will usually say yes to precepting you. I was only turned down by one preceptor and it was because she switched from Womens Health to just Family Practice.

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I can answer questions about classes, workload, etc.

Thank you, Riburn3! I checked out the Texas NP site, immediately signed up, and found some possible clinical sites. It is awkward to ask preceptors about doing a clinical a year or more in advance. I've gotten some confused looks about it. I live in south Texas so travel to El Paso is quite a distance but doable, and 3 or 4 times is not bad for a 2 year program. Did/Are you still working? Is it easy to balance the classes and work? Do you collaborate, study, or communicate with classmates often? I'm sure as I get closer to starting I will have more specific questions. Thanks again for being a source of information.

Specializes in Internal Medicine.

sundayd, yes I am still working fulltime, usually 50 hours a week as the charge of a CVICU. I have actually found it very easy balancing work and school, which has been a shock. A big advantage for me working nights is there's often some downtime where I can study or work on a paper while sitting in the monitor area.

In terms of classmate collaboration, yes it happens often. You'd be surprised how many people come from central and South Texas. Every class is organized similar to a giant message board like this one where there will be a prompt and people are required to have discussions about them each week. Similarly, some classes are broken into discussion groups where you will be chatting with the same 7 or 8 people all semester long about work and providing feedback. Additionally for a couple of classes, group work is required, and although I was skeptical about group work going into the program, at the graduate level it is night and day above the group work that was required in an undergrad level. I haven't encountered any lazy group mates.

If you start in the spring you are probably going to take Advanced Patho and Nursing Theories. Both weren't too difficult, and although the amount of reading required is a lot, the assignments that accompany the readings are not bad at all. Theories only required two big papers during the semester, which even then is between 5-7 double spaced pages. A big tip, buy PERRLA APA software. It's a one time $35 software program that runs with Word, and it basically does APA format for you on autopilot. All work is required in APA format, and often 10-20% of your grade will simply be for APA format. Before starting school, APA format was my biggest fear of grad school and PERRLA completely erased that. I haven't gotten a single point docked for APA format.

I wouldn't apply to the TAMUCC program. You have to find your own preceptors and the professors don't do a very good job in terms of class preparation. What notes they do prepare tends to be riddled with typos, page numbers to old editions of textbooks, and occasionally wrong information. Coordination tends to be poor.

If I could do it again, I would have attended an on-campus FNP program because they just tend to be higher in quality.

.......

Hello ,

I am looking into various FNP programs and this is really pulling me towards it but I have few questions regarding clinicals and class work load. WOuld you be willing to help me ?

Bijal

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