Acute Care Pediatric NP

owler · Jan 6, 2014

I went to a dinner on Dec. 2 sponsored by Drexel and the Drexel associate at the dinner told me it had been approved. Then last week I got an email from the vice-president of business development saying that the acute care pnp program had been approved (along with several other programs that she listed). She also said that the program was due to start in the spring of '14.

Can I ask how do you like their primary care pnp program? Acute care is my first choice but any added insight would be welcome.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 8, 2014

I went to a dinner on Dec. 2 sponsored by Drexel and the Drexel associate at the dinner told me it had been approved. Then last week I got an email from the vice-president of business development saying that the acute care pnp program had been approved (along with several other programs that she listed). She also said that the program was due to start in the spring of '14.
Can I ask how do you like their primary care pnp program? Acute care is my first choice but any added insight would be welcome.

So I got word today that yes indeed...acute care approved and more information coming. I'm really curious what other programs they are adding.

So every school has issues. I am happy with Drexel and even happier knowing I'm going to be able to do Acute and Primary. Is everything perfect? No. Would I do it all over again? Yes. I have had some WONDERFUL instructors so far. The pharm instructor...OMG going to miss listening to him because he was just so wonderful. Overall happy...but it has issues like any school. Would I recommend them? Yes...because for the issues we have I would expect the same or different issues at another school. I can't imagine a school without issues.

owler · Jan 8, 2014

Here is a listing of the new programs. I copied them from the email I got so I hope they go through here. As you can see, not all of them have to do with nursing.

1. MSN Pediatric Primary Care and Pediatric Acute Care NP (Dual Option) – SPRING 2014 launch

2. Pediatric Acute Care NP Post-Graduate Certificate – SPRING 2014 launch

3. Certificate in Advanced Practice in Hand & Upper Quarter Rehabilitation – Fall 2014

4. Certificate of Advanced Study in Holistic Hospice and Palliative Care – Fall 2014

5. Certificate of Advanced Study in Integrative Addiction Therapies – Fall 2014

6. MS in Systems Engineering – Fall 2014

7. MS in TV Management – Fall 2014

8. Doctor of Health Science – Fall 2014

9. Graduate Intern Teaching Certificate, Pre-K – 4 - Summer 2014

10. MS in Applied Behavior Analysis – Fall 2014

11. MSN Pediatric Acute Care NP – Fall 2014

The straight MSN in pediatric acute care doesn't start until fall. I already have an MSN so I'm hoping I can get in for the spring post-masters program. If the program has just been approved and is set to start in the spring, I wonder if there is still time to apply.

I agree that every program has it's problems. In my program specialty, there were very few students and the director, who was also our main professor, quit half way through. The school didn't appoint a new one until we had graduated, so my classmate (yes, just one other!), pretty much taught ourselves. We must have done a good job because we both passed our certification exams .

Annaiya, NP · Jan 8, 2014

I went to UAB and feel like I learned what I needed to. UTA's program does not provide a good critical care education, so if that is your focus I would not recommend them. UAB isn't as strong as Penn's peds critical care program, but Penn is not online. UAB is also very affordable.

owler · Jan 14, 2014

According to the websites for both NAPNAP and the PNCB, Seton Hall University in NJ has an online acute care pnp program as well as a primary care one. I don't know anything about it other than it is not as inexpensive as USA. I'm going to call the school to see what I can find out.

Has anyone here had any experience with Seton Hall's graduate nursing program?

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 14, 2014

According to the websites for both NAPNAP and the PNCB Seton Hall University in NJ has an online acute care pnp program as well as a primary care one. I don't know anything about it other than it is not as inexpensive as USA. I'm going to call the school to see what I can find out. Has anyone here had any experience with Seton Hall's graduate nursing program?[/quote']
My only experience is starting an application with them when I had fears of not getting accepted into drexel. I never finished the application. My only take was they are very expensive, they told me they are not 100% online and there seemed to be some amount of "nose in the air" towards less educated nurses. They want all letters of recommendation to come from master prepared nurses...one being a nurse manager. When I asked what I should do if my NM didn't even have a BSN (true story) the answer was well...not received well by me.
They are expensive!!!

owler · Jan 20, 2014

Based on the research I've done thus far, I think I've decided to apply to both Drexel and Seton Hall. The program at Rush looks wonderful but is too expensive. UPenn looks great as well but is also too expensive and not online. USA is very reasonably priced but from what I can see from their website, offers a post-master to dnp rather than a post-masters certificate. It's a lot of credits and would take me at least three years to complete.

Seton Hall and Drexel are not exactly cheap but my employer has a partnership deal with both of them for a 25% reduction in tuition as well as deferred billing which postpones the billing until you get your tuition reimbursement. They both require campus visits but for me, the distance is driveable, and, with Seton Hall, the costs of staying over are included in the tuition. For me, SHU and Drexel seem like the best choices right now.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 20, 2014

Based on the research I've done thus far, I think I've decided to apply to both Drexel and Seton Hall. The program at Rush looks wonderful but is too expensive. UPenn looks great as well but is also too expensive and not online. USA is very reasonably priced but from what I can see from their website, offers a post-master to dnp rather than a post-masters certificate. It's a lot of credits and would take me at least three years to complete.
Seton Hall and Drexel are not exactly cheap but my employer has a partnership deal with both of them for a 25% reduction in tuition as well as deferred billing which postpones the billing until you get your tuition reimbursement. They both require campus visits but for me, the distance is driveable, and, with Seton Hall, the costs of staying over are included in the tuition. For me, SHU and Drexel seem like the best choices right now.

Funny because that's pretty much exactly where I was. I was deciding between Drexel and SH. I ended up not initially applying to SH but just Drexel. I started an app to SH at the last minute when fear set in that I wouldn't get into Drexel...I never finished the application. Ultimately, I was accepted into Drexel and SH sent numerous emails trying to convince me to finish my application and even called a few times (always when I wasn't home).

With Drexel...you can do the Primary and Acute at the same time...which is actually nice if you do that because it is only to your benefit. I was told that I will only need one additional class for the acute.

my3suns · Jan 21, 2014

Yes owler, I am still interested! I want to see all of my options. I do meet the criteria for USA and some others but the cost was a big thing for me. I actually wanted to pay for school (as much as I can) while in school to decrease the loans. I will be looking into them now. Thanks.

HopefulPNP · Mar 19, 2014

Hi! I've applied to Drexels Primary and Acute PNP program for Fall 2014. Still waiting to hear.....

Did you end up applying?

my3suns · Mar 24, 2014

I am going to apply. Hopefully, by the end of this week. My biggest issue is this paper we are supposed to write. I keep writing, changing, rewriting!! It is driving me nuts! I just want it to be right.

my3suns · May 6, 2014

Hi! I was trying to see if you had heard anything yet? I didn't know if they waited until the deadline to make decisions or decide as the apps come in?