American Sentinel University FNP

Hi everyone! Quick post- just wanted to give back to the community...when I was looking into various FNP programs that both fit my budget and had a challenging curriculum, American Sentinel was one of the schools that I looked into. Unfortunately, although I could find decent information regarding their RN-BSN program, there wasn't much about their FNP program.

It took me months of speaking with them, going through the catalog and finally occurring to me to look at the profiles of NPs on LinkedIn that graduated from American Sentinel to make a final decision. So, even though I don't start my first class until February 17th, I thought I'd just throw this out there in case anyone has questions later on as I progress through the program?

172 Answers

So far so good! I'm in my first class- Advanced Patho...the 1st class of the program, Advanced Role Development and Organizational Leadership only runs every odd month, so I had to start with Patho. The terms are 8 weeks each, you're not allowed to double up or overlap, but I'm fine concentrating on 1 course at a time- it's do-able with my busy schedule. And it's affordable. Like $23,0000 for the program/$27,000 total with ALL fees and charges included. There's a couple of ways to pay- there's a plan at about $425/month, another for $500/month or they also take financial aid. Also- as long as you stay on schedule with the payment plan and don't default, they give you your transcripts and everything once you graduate even if you're not done paying for the program when you're through.

Specializes in Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner.

Hello,  

I graduated from American sentinel/post University, May 2023 with my adult gerontology nurse practitioner.  I completed the program in 28 months without any breaks. It was such a great experience for me. I had no problems whatsoever. I was working full-time, and I have children.  The classes are completely doable. You have a discussion post every week sometimes 2, but rarely and some written assignments for some of the classes. You may have a midterm or a final in some of the classes. You can look on Quizlet for questions related to the textbook for some of the classes.  And the 3P exam you can find a blue print if you go to the APEA website it is helpful, but I think you get most of the questions basically from the work you do in the first three classes.  After finishing the 3P exam, you have three more classes before you get to the core NP classes these three classes are pretty easy, their leadership, research and something else I can't remember pretty straightforward.   After you finish these six classes, you'll go into the core program of eight classes where you have your didactic and clinical.  I don't think I mentioned this but all of the classes are eight weeks long. Sometimes you get a week break in between.   If you are an adult Gerontology, Nurse, Practitioner, like I am you can use the same preceptor for all clinical rotations.  I personally did not want to work with children, so decided not to do the FNP.  For the FNP program during your third clinical and third didactic class you will have a rotation with peds and OB.  For that clinical you have to have two separate preceptors one for Peds and one for OB.  I noticed that it was difficult for some of the students which is mentioned on the facebook page. I also have a friend who did the FNP program while I was doing the AG NP, who worked at Kaiser, so she had no problem finding Preceptors.  Kaiser also paid for her whole program the only thing is that you will have to take breaks if your program paid for by Kaiser so she did take one break the entire time and she took four months off so two classes and she's finishing her last class right now. It just started so she's at her last eight week class and then she'll be an FNP.  Some advice I would give you about the facebook page is a lot of the stuff written on there is coming from an anxious place I believe because I never had any problems with any of professors.  All of the assignments are straightforward they give you instructions as long as you follow those instructions you'll get an A.  Also, I'd like to mention there's been a lot of changes recently for the good for example, they have reduce the amount of soap notes.  During my last clinical rotation I had to do six soap notes a day for each clinical.  The previous class that was probably a year ahead of me they had to do 12 soap notes for each day of clinical for their last rotation, because each clinical the soap, note requirement went up.  Now, right after I graduated, they change the requirement to only one soap note a week, which is quite amazing and let you really focus on learning in your clinical site instead of trying to write a bunch of soap notes.  The other great thing that changed actually changed during my last class, an exit exam which is a APEA.  Before this test was worth 40% of your grade so you had to score pretty high to pass with an 83% in the class., but now it is only worth 30% of your grade and remember the other assignments are writing a discussion post you're going to get A's on those and watching the  APEA videos.  My entire class passed.  The awesome thing is the school does give you the question banks there are four of them and they also give you the APEA videos do not buy these. They provide the Qbank in the second to the last class and the APEA videos within the last class.  I only use these two resources, and passed APEA exam and got an A in the class.  This was truly an awesome experience at American set an all post university, so much so that I talk to one of my friends and they're going back to school and she will be starting the program July 2023. Another one of my peers who did the AGNP with me, and graduated talked his wife who is also an RN will start the program in July 2023 also.  Another thing I'd like to mention is both my classmate and I took her a NP certification exam quickly after graduating, I took mine 16 days after graduating, and my classmate took his three days after graduating and we both passed the first time.  I feel like all those writing assignments all of the soap, notes and everything you do in school really prepares you for the certification exam.  I only studied for two weeks and pass the first time.  Whenever the negativity sets in or the worry of not passing or finishing the program, just keep telling yourself take it one class at a time and that you can do it!!  You got this!!   Please forgive any errors this is voice to text.

take care 

Christine 

On 5/3/2020 at 12:31 AM, Jka3rn said:

Is there an on-site intensive before starting clinicals?

Any other on site visits?

TYIA

Hi! Nope, I don't believe there are any on-site intensives at all. And for your other question, the Advanced Practice Nursing 1-3 is NOT concurrent with the practicum courses, which I love! You do Advanced Practice 1 by itself, then the next term you do Advanced Practice Clinicals.

Specializes in NCSN.

Thanks! I noticed they were recently regionally accredited, so that is good news!

As a working mom that has been out of nursing school for over twenty years, would you recommend this program? Do you have anything else you thing would be important to my decision?

Can I message you if I have any other questions?

TYIA!

Also, have you heard anything about what their pass rate is on the certification exams?

15 hours ago, Jka3rn said:

Thanks! I noticed they were recently regionally accredited, so that is good news!

As a working mom that has been out of nursing school for over twenty years, would you recommend this program? Do you have anything else you thing would be important to my decision?

Can I message you if I have any other questions?

TYIA!

Also, have you heard anything about what their pass rate is on the certification exams?

I would 100% recommend the program. And they have a scholarship if you've been a nurse for at least 10 years, you get $100 per credit reduced tuition for the life of the program which is thousands in savings on top of an already affordable program! I don't have any info on the pass rate but I'm sure you can ask them. Feel free to message me ?

Hi everyone,

I am new here.  I I’ve been a nurse for a very long time and have finally decided to go back to obtain my MSN -NP as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.  I have enrolled in Sentinel University and start Jan. 18th.  I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what I can do to prepare.  I’m a little nervous about going back to school after all this time.  Also, anyway else starting in January 2021?  

Hello all, 

I will be starting in Jan 2021, I am undecided whether to go FNP or Adult-Gerontology. My current degree plan has FNP but after talking to the advisor today I said maybe Adult-Gerontolgy. 

I would like to have a well-rounded education, I think FNP is the route to go, but I have worked in Internal Medicine and I also enjoy that population. 

How did you narrow down your choice? 

34 minutes ago, ChristineS2004 said:

I wonder if there is time for me to start in Jan.  I will call tomorrow I have been looking at a local school where I live and it is so expensive.  Then I was looking at Walden University and you have on campus days and I live in CA.  Way to far.  American Sentinel was on CA boards website as approved, so only started looking into it yesterday.  I will keep you posted.  Yes, Supporting each other would be great.

You should be able to start, I think Dec. 14 is the cut off. I just started my process this past Monday and I will be starting in Jan 2021. I did my application and had my transcripts sent over, spoke to one of the advisors yesterday and I received my degree plan. If you are interested, go ahead and do your application.

Also, if anyone is a veteran or active-duty military spouse, you qualify for the military tuition. There is also a Nurse Appreciation Scholarship if you have been a nurse for 10 years or more.

Hi everyone!

Reading everyones reply on this platform is so helpful. Thanks to everyone for the feedback about America sentinel. I will be starting Jan 18th 2021 FNP as well and was very concerned about the 3ps with the exam APEA after. 

Also had the psych NP in mind. Glad you can decide after the 3ps if you decide to change your mind

I hope the faculty will be nice. Hope to chat with you'll on the discussion board 

Please what test book are we using for advance patho 

Specializes in Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner.

Yes I will ask her and get back to you.  We were in all the same classes with no breaks up until 20 months and Kaiser paid everything I believe and then she took a 4 month break and came back for her last 8 months.  She finishes in September.  Yes, she used the Ben hudnall program.  There were many times I thought about a break and I just kept pushing myself.  Take it one class at a time.  FYI It been a long time since I went to school too and if I can do it u will too.  Now I am working my first NP job and love it.  R u in CA?  OK write back when I hear from her.  

@ChristineS2004

I see you grad 05/2023, Congratulations!

do you live in CA? Have you apply for furnishing licensure yet? And did you take Advanced Pharmacology with American Sentinel/Post?

were you required to take additional stuff for CA requirements? Thanks!

 

Hi @ChristineS2004 I graduated in 2022- yes I did take Advanced Pharm with Post University. But I do not live in California.

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