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Discussion

ACNP - best programs in your opinion?

Hello all again!

I've made a decision to go back to school. Ideally, I would like to work for a surgeon/s and help address orders, plan of care, see their patients in the hospital, see patients in the clinic, and write discharge orders.

Can a ACNP do this? Or must I get my FNP? as far as surgeries, I am open. I am currently an RN circulator, and I really enjoy the pediatric population.

How is job satisfaction? what are your schedules like? and What schools would you recommend and why? What factors did you play into picking your schools? I would like an online only program, and work part time while doing full time school. Oh, and how difficult were your programs?

I don't have kids, just a husband who is planning on attending CRNA school in 3 years, and a dog and 2 cats. We would have to move as we have no CRNA programs in our state, and we currently own a home so this will also play a factor into the NP program i choose. Also, I am planning on starting next fall 2020.

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    I'm also wondering what are the good ACNP programs that can be done via distance based learning. I see a lot of complaints about bad programs, but never hear about good ones.

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    • Author

    Same! Not entirely sure what specifically to look and not look for! What makes the program bad or good?

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    I don't know if there will ever be a reliable best ACNP program for everyone. There are certainly those places where "reputation" and "name recognition" allow them to stand out. For me, I would say a good ACNP program will have sufficient preceptor pool to make sure all students are provided clinical placements in all the main ACNP rotations like Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, and Hospital Medicine. The role of the ACNP revolves around in-patient management and it's important to have the solid background in those patient populations. However, some students already have a specific goal in mind as to what specialty they will work at. Maybe they have a job lined up. Those guys typically will do OK in most of the current pool of ACNP programs.

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    • Author

    Thank you! Very helpful for sure!

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    Juan, thanks for the info. This is the kind of encouragement and info that is useful, and not the typical bashing that can take place. Because I have fairly extensive amount of critical care experience, and contacts, I'm fairly certain I know what I would do after ACNP training, and where I would work. Do you mind commenting on which programs you feel are more reputable and can be done mostly online with exception to clinical and skill intensives?

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    • Guides

    The only online program that I have some knowledge of as I've precepted a student from there is UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). I've seen this student's online lectures and it was pretty extensive. The clinical rotations were arranged by this student, however, and there is no face to face follow up from UAB (as you would expect) but I did get some emails from their faculty checking on the student's progress. Vanderbilt has a distance option I thought. I work with one of their grads but this person did the on-campus ACNP option. This NP is excellent and seems to have gotten a great education from there.

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    I'll check out those programs. I have contacts locally to help with clinical placements but having quality lectures is paramount for me.

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    If you're looking for good lectures, do NOT look into Maryville University. I found the program on lists of highly rated NP programs and thought it would be worth the investment. There is no faculty instruction at all. It's the typical discussion board posts and professors that have other full time jobs and too many students that just want to make money. There are posted chapters and each professor hosts a review before an exam, maybe an hour. I have, fortunately, found my own fantastic clinical preceptors and I'll put in the effort to make myself successful but it will certainly be in spite of, not because of, my school's program.

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    I have heard good things about Vanderbilt from a co worker whose spouse just finished.

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    • Experts

    UAB has an ACNP with RNFA specialty. Definitely check them out.

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    On 9/21/2019 at 8:33 PM, JBMmom said:

    If you're looking for good lectures, do NOT look into Maryville University. I found the program on lists of highly rated NP programs and thought it would be worth the investment. There is no faculty instruction at all. It's the typical discussion board posts and professors that have other full time jobs and too many students that just want to make money. There are posted chapters and each professor hosts a review before an exam, maybe an hour. I have, fortunately, found my own fantastic clinical preceptors and I'll put in the effort to make myself successful but it will certainly be in spite of, not because of, my school's program.

    I'm currently applying to more reputable but competitive programs. I am considering Maryville as a back up school. At the end of the day, it would get me to the degree and the license. Do you think it's possible to feel prepared and confident as an ACNP with the education Maryville provides? With the understanding that you have to put in your own work?

    On 10/14/2019 at 11:50 PM, buttercup9 said:

    I have heard good things about Vanderbilt from a co worker whose spouse just finished.

    Vanderbilts program looks incredible but their price tag is quite the doozy.

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    • Experts
    53 minutes ago, RN116 said:

    I'm currently applying to more reputable but competitive programs. I am considering Maryville as a back up school. At the end of the day, it would get me to the degree and the license. Do you think it's possible to feel prepared and confident as an ACNP with the education Maryville provides? With the understanding that you have to put in your own work?

    You have absolutely zero campus time at Maryville, which means no one is teaching you essential skills (suturing, intubation, central line insertions, etc.) before you start clinicals. I just personally feel it's a disservice to students by not providing on-site skills instruction. I'm currently in clinicals with a different program and it was immensely helpful to travel to campus during the summer for on-site, hands-on skills instruction.

    A former co-worker is currently attending Maryville and he said he would have never gone there if they said up front how much group work is required. He's not happy with the program but at a point where it's too late to transfer elsewhere.

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