Walden University - the latest on the FNP program

mzaur · Apr 8, 2014

I think, across the board, most places require you to get your own...Just be aware you will be on your own when it comes to setting up your practicums and its harder than you think. However, you will most likely run into this with any school you attend,

This is not true at all. I applied to 8 NP programs (Vanderbilt, Yale, Boston College, MGH, Seattle University, UC San Francisco, OHSU, UIC) and all of them provide preceptors. I chose Vanderbilt, and they are taking care of all clinical sites. All reputable schools will do that. I would not have applied to a program if I had to find my own preceptor. It should be the school's responsibility, not the students, especially given how much these programs cost..

futureeastcoastNP · Apr 8, 2014

This is not true at all. I applied to 8 NP programs (Vanderbilt, Yale, Boston College, MGH, Seattle University, UC San Francisco, OHSU, UIC) and all of them provide preceptors. I chose Vanderbilt, and they are taking care of all clinical sites. All reputable schools will do that. I would not have applied to a program if I had to find my own preceptor. It should be the school's responsibility, not the students, especially given how much these programs cost.

Exactly. It's not that distance programs require you to find your own, it's that inferior programs do. Since most people doing distance inexplicably gravitate toward for profits, it's natural that they would think all distance programs provide no help with preceptors. Schools such as Vanderbilt, Simmons, Duke, etc are all distance based and they find your preceptors. All are also reputable not for profits.

mrvlegov · Apr 11, 2014

https://allnurses.com/advanced-practice-nursing/vanderbilt-msn-program-683630.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-online-distance/vanderbilt-msn-m-565533.html

These threads have posts from Vanderbilt students which states they require their distance students to get their own preceptors. Perhaps more prestigious schools do help with this, but you will pay at least $100k for your degree so essentially you are paying a lot of money for that help.

I live in the west, I looked into quite a few programs and most of the NPs in this area graduated from the state university, Frontier or Gonzaga university which all require you get your own preceptors. I'm not sure about all the universities you listed, but I do know OHSU does not have a distance program.

Here is a link that discusses many of the schools and it does say which require you get your own preceptors. Vanderbilt is listed here as requiring you secure your own preceptors Top 10 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs | Midlevel U

i know you may like to bash walden or other for profit schools, but if you are using the fact that you must secure your own clinical sites to distinguish between an inferior or superior school you are putting down Gonzaga University and Vanderbilt also.

mrvlegov · Apr 11, 2014

As a side note, I would hope the education from a prestigious university such as Yale or Vanderbilt would provide a better education and more assistance to their students. You will pay an average of 4 times more to go there, and you will get the exact same type of jobs. When you're done what matters is whether or not you get licensed. I am almost done at walden and I feel there's a lot lacking and wish we were given more resources and better educational opportunities. However, it's getting me where I need to be and I don't owe astronomical amounts on student loans when I'm finished. (Seeing that I'll only get a $4-6/hr raise as an NP in this area, that's a good thing!)

mzaur · Apr 12, 2014

I was not talking about distance programs in my post. You were not clear in your post that you were taking about online programs and instead it seemed you were talking about all programs. Of course with online programs you'll need to find your own preceptors.

mrvlegov · Apr 12, 2014

My response was to the hobbitrn who was disgruntled that walden doesn't help with preceptors. As I said previously, not even a prestigious school such as Vanderbilt arranges preceptors for their distance students. This is not specific to walden. On a side note, it's funny to me that you were comparing apples to oranges and claiming this means walden is inferior when, in fact the very school you are going to does the same thing for their distance students. Futureeastcoastnp specifically said distance programs and specifically stated Vanderbilt which is simply untrue. You stated all reputable schools will find preceptors for you, which is also false. If you're going to waste time on a thread about a school you know nothing about, maybe get your facts straight about your own school.

mzaur · Apr 12, 2014

My response was to the hobbitrn who was disgruntled that walden doesn't help with preceptors. As I said previously, not even a prestigious school such as Vanderbilt arranges preceptors for their distance students. This is not specific to walden. On a side note, it's funny to me that you were comparing apples to oranges and claiming this means walden is inferior when, in fact the very school you are going to does the same thing for their distance students. Futureeastcoastnp specifically said distance programs and specifically stated Vanderbilt which is simply untrue. You stated all reputable schools will find preceptors for you, which is also false. If you're going to waste time on a thread about a school you know nothing about, maybe get your facts straight about your own school.

Let's look at your initial reply.

I also go to Walden and although I agree that they are not very helpful with practicum placement support (and never return calls/approve practicums etc) I have talked to a lot of other MSN students including those going to the local State University doctorate FNP program and they don't get assistance with setting up clinicals either. I also have talked to students from Gonzaga in Spokane WA and they ran into the same problems. I think, across the board, most places require you to get your own. I agree they should be more helpful but I definitely wouldn't say DON'T go to walden because of this. Just be aware you will be on your own when it comes to setting up your practicums and its harder than you think. However, you will most likely run into this with any school you attend, especially a distance program).

The only part where you mentioned distance program was at the end, and you never specified that you were ONLY talking about distance programs. You said 'especially a distance program', which means what it means, that not only do distance programs not find you preceptors, but mostly ALL programs also do not find you preceptors. You were not clear whether you were talking about a distance program in regards to the 'local state university' nor in regards to Gonzaga.

I was under the assumption that you were talking about ALL NP programs, which is why I responded. Yes, all reputable brick and mortar programs will find you preceptors. As for Vanderbilt distance program, I know that they do assist you with finding preceptors and give you a list of preceptors in your area, so you are not completely on your own.

As for what 'Futureeastcoastnp' said, I am not him/her.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Apr 12, 2014

Here is a link that discusses many of the schools and it does say which require you get your own preceptors. Vanderbilt is listed here as requiring you secure your own preceptors Top 10 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs | Midlevel U

Ugh! not picking on your post, but who came up with that list of so called Top 10 ACNP programs? Midlevel U? The list is so arbitrary with no real sense of how it was arrived at.

stacinstough · Apr 30, 2014

Have you asked others from your courses about clinicals in Dallas, or called any of the places that have been listed as previous places that have offered preceptorship? I am starting my first Adult Clinical for FNP @ Walden in June and already have Adult, and Peds clinicals set up. I live in Dallas -

christie.kellar · May 9, 2014

Mark, I am currently in Waldens NP Program and am on track to graduate in December. Have you graduated yet and if so I wanted to ask you about the licensing process you went through to practice as a NP in Mississippi. I graduated from USM with my BSN and I am currently living in Mississippi still so I wanted to know what the process was like. thanks

Mark Hill BSN · May 18, 2014

10 days after graduation, I sat for the AANP exam. I graduated February 23rd and was licensed and practicing on March 17th. As soon as the state received my passing score from the AANP I drove to Jackson and walked my license through, receiving confirmation the next day. Walden had my degree conferred and, and my transcript sent to the AANP the day of graduation. It was a very quick and seamless process. Next month I will have completed my 720 hours of supervised practice and will apply for my DEA license. I have been working 50 to 60 hours a week since licensure. My employer has purchased a satellite clinic in a neighboring town, I will be the sole provider at the clinic at the end of my training period. Walden prepared me well, and my employer has mentioned as much on more than a few occasion. Don't listen to people who want to disparage Walden, they don't know anything about the school or the type of students that attend.

mal530 · Jul 6, 2014

I hardly ever write comments, but since I currently attend Walden I will give some feedback. I too was hesitant about applying to an all online university. However, I knew two very knowledge and good nurses that were attending Walden, so I waited a year to apply to see how they felt about it. Both just graduated this spring and passed boards on the first try. I will graduate in February 2015. I have found the curriculum very informative. The instructors I have had are tough, but are easy to communicate with if they see you are putting forth the effort. The one comment I see often regards practicum. When you apply to Walden, part of the application is about possible practicum sites and preceptors so that students are looking far in advance for sites. They tell you up front that it is adult learning, and students are responsible for finding their own sites. I have had no trouble with sites agreeing with the affiliation agreement with Walden. The nursing department has been wonderful and calls me if they have had any questions regarding my application or just making sure I was completing it. I had one site request a call from Walden before signing the affiliation agreement and Walden called them that day. They have always been quick to respond to any questions or concerns I have had. I have truly enjoyed my education at Walden, but like any school, you have to put the time and effort in to really make it count.