Anyone enrolled or graduated from Spring Arbor's MSN FNP program?

Nursing Students NP Students

Published

I am looking for some feedback on Spring Arbor's Online MSN Family nurse practitioner program. Has anyone attended or graduated from there? I have had some good conversations with the admission team and it seems like a great program. They are accredited and it is part time, taking almost 3 years to complete. I can't find many reviews from students online. Would appreciate any information!

Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Just graduated from Spring Arbor AGNP. The clinical portion is by far the most problematic. You have your clinicals which require the practice hours in addition to online assignments/modules plus you will likely have another class so that makes basically 3 things to keep track of during the last part of the program. The clinical documentation in Typhon is a true pain and if you get behind, you will be sorry! You are supposed to chart on every patient you see in clinicals and that was not made clear at the beginning for our cohort.

The coursework is not bad but the time management piece of the puzzle during clinicals can really trip you up. I had to stop working for a couple months then do part time at the end.

Whomever asked about the range on completion time: AGNP has 500 clinical hours and you can get the program done in 2.5 yrs. FNP has 750 and unless you double up on clinical hours at some point, you're most likely looking at 3 years. If you aren't working and can get through the clinical hours faster, that's the only thing that's variable time wise.

I have only gone here for my Master's so have nothing to compare it to since I went to an on campus state school for my BSN but all-in-all I think it's a good program. If I could go somewhere else for free, I would be tempted to get something to compare it to but that ain't gonna happen! I think any online program has a lot of self-teaching and if you can't do that, don't do online. There's a ton of reading and the classes go fast. The instructors are responsive but, let's face it, getting an answer to your questions within 48 hours in a 7 week class sometimes doesn't help.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 4/1/2018 at 10:30 PM, Sweetbeth said:

I didn't like it at first but now am halfway through and I think I am learning a lot and I think it's a good program, make sure you line up your preceptors. Just like most distance learning you need to find your own preceptor. Also another good thing about the program is the life model for their history and physical assessment during the immersion week, you get to practice on the life model and it's kinda give you a feel of reality and your role as an NP.

I'm also considering SAU because of their flexibility. How many practicum days per week do you do if it's a 3 year track. From what I calculated it is about one, maybe I'm wrong. Also, do you know the workload of the practicum classes. Are there a lot of papers to write during practicum. Students at other school are complaining that during their practicum they are writing papers as well along with other assignments which leaves them less time to study.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 3/6/2019 at 7:21 PM, time2go said:

Just graduated from Spring Arbor AGNP. The clinical portion is by far the most problematic. You have your clinicals which require the practice hours in addition to online assignments/modules plus you will likely have another class so that makes basically 3 things to keep track of during the last part of the program. The clinical documentation in Typhon is a true pain and if you get behind, you will be sorry! You are supposed to chart on every patient you see in clinicals and that was not made clear at the beginning for our cohort.

The coursework is not bad but the time management piece of the puzzle during clinicals can really trip you up. I had to stop working for a couple months then do part time at the end.

Whomever asked about the range on completion time: AGNP has 500 clinical hours and you can get the program done in 2.5 yrs. FNP has 750 and unless you double up on clinical hours at some point, you're most likely looking at 3 years. If you aren't working and can get through the clinical hours faster, that's the only thing that's variable time wise.

I have only gone here for my Master's so have nothing to compare it to since I went to an on campus state school for my BSN but all-in-all I think it's a good program. If I could go somewhere else for free, I would be tempted to get something to compare it to but that ain't gonna happen! I think any online program has a lot of self-teaching and if you can't do that, don't do online. There's a ton of reading and the classes go fast. The instructors are responsive but, let's face it, getting an answer to your questions within 48 hours in a 7 week class sometimes doesn't help.

Do you feel that the school prepared you enough for the boards? Were you prepared enough to go into practicum? I'm afraid that preceptors will expect something more in our first practicum than what the school prepares us. Otherwise I am excited about the program. Did you have papers to write in your practicum classes or the papers are kind of done once the core classes are over?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Clinicals were a whirlwind. There were papers and assignments and clinicals and charting on the patients you see in clinicals.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 4/7/2019 at 9:07 PM, midwstrn said:

Do you feel that the school prepared you enough for the boards? Were you prepared enough to go into practicum? I'm afraid that preceptors will expect something more in our first practicum than what the school prepares us. Otherwise I am excited about the program. Did you have papers to write in your practicum classes or the papers are kind of done once the core classes are over?

I graduated with my FNP this month and just passed my AANP boards. I chose SAU for the schedule and the cost. I work full time and have 3 kids under 3 and I did it. All my professors were amazing, easy to get ahold of. My clinical faculty was truly there for me when I needed them, I could text them with issues or questions.

The difficult part is finding your own preceptors for clinical, but I’m pretty sure that’s standard with online programs now.

Our exam questions were similar to the boards, and our classes forced us to think as NP rather than RNs, so that really helped change my mind for practice and for boards.

good luck!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 4/17/2019 at 11:59 PM, Samantha2326 said:

I graduated with my FNP this month and just passed my AANP boards. I chose SAU for the schedule and the cost. I work full time and have 3 kids under 3 and I did it. All my professors were amazing, easy to get ahold of. My clinical faculty was truly there for me when I needed them, I could text them with issues or questions.

The difficult part is finding your own preceptors for clinical, but I’m pretty sure that’s standard with online programs now.

Our exam questions were similar to the boards, and our classes forced us to think as NP rather than RNs, so that really helped change my mind for practice and for boards.

good luck!

Thank you for your input. That helps me get an idea. Congratulations on your success!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a little more than half way through the APRN-Adult Geriatric program and in my first semester of clinical rotations. This has been a great experience, the instructors are there to help you. I have not had one instructor that was bad, some are more involved than others. I have heard the FNP program is a bear but I hear that with every university.

Our discussion boards have 7-14 people in the group and the group changes a little every semester. DB's are very do-able and are required weekly for most classes, they get better once you get into the clinical part of the program. The first part of the program is ethics, leadership, philosophy, etc. I was really dreading them but they were better than I expected.

The residency weekend is scheduled after you complete the first year and it is a great experience, it is mandatory to begin clinicals. You are in classes from 0800-1600 on on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with your cohort. We had about 63 people, I had no idea our class was that big. You eat in the cafeteria on campus, the food is good, a variety and has healthy options. The Residency Weekend is when you will be checked off for your assessment skills, do a gyno and male exam, lectures, learn about Typhon (the charting software), clinical expectations and more. It is a fun weekend.

The learning platform is Blackboard. You are required to buy access to a few other software programs that are throughout the program, they are about $100 each. Complio is a great software that tracks your immunizations, license, etc. There is a standardized patient software, its helpful at learning to assess the patient but not 'wow'.

Keep in mind I am 52, I am old school and came from very rigid academic environments. This is a very good program, some flexibility and grace, the staff is friendly and helpful but they will not spoon-feed the students. They have high expectations, deadlines, quizzes in some classes, hard tests in others. I have appreciated that most of the instructors provide devotional, scriptures, and other supportive words of wisdom. You are free to express your faith in your papers, very different than government support universities.

I recommend getting involved in an academic Facebook group to discuss professional information and leave the negativity outside. Best wishes in your studies wherever you go.

Juls

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
19 hours ago, Julhanselman said:

I am a little more than half way through the APRN-Adult Geriatric program and in my first semester of clinical rotations. This has been a great experience, the instructors are there to help you. I have not had one instructor that was bad, some are more involved than others. I have heard the FNP program is a bear but I hear that with every university.

Our discussion boards have 7-14 people in the group and the group changes a little every semester. DB's are very do-able and are required weekly for most classes, they get better once you get into the clinical part of the program. The first part of the program is ethics, leadership, philosophy, etc. I was really dreading them but they were better than I expected.

The residency weekend is scheduled after you complete the first year and it is a great experience, it is mandatory to begin clinicals. You are in classes from 0800-1600 on on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with your cohort. We had about 63 people, I had no idea our class was that big. You eat in the cafeteria on campus, the food is good, a variety and has healthy options. The Residency Weekend is when you will be checked off for your assessment skills, do a gyno and male exam, lectures, learn about Typhon (the charting software), clinical expectations and more. It is a fun weekend.

The learning platform is Blackboard. You are required to buy access to a few other software programs that are throughout the program, they are about $100 each. Complio is a great software that tracks your immunizations, license, etc. There is a standardized patient software, its helpful at learning to assess the patient but not 'wow'.

Keep in mind I am 52, I am old school and came from very rigid academic environments. This is a very good program, some flexibility and grace, the staff is friendly and helpful but they will not spoon-feed the students. They have high expectations, deadlines, quizzes in some classes, hard tests in others. I have appreciated that most of the instructors provide devotional, scriptures, and other supportive words of wisdom. You are free to express your faith in your papers, very different than government support universities.

I recommend getting involved in an academic Facebook group to discuss professional information and leave the negativity outside. Best wishes in your studies wherever you go.

Juls

Thank you for all of the information. That certainly helps me gain perspective in what it is like. It sounds like a good program to go to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 4/22/2019 at 9:33 PM, Julhanselman said:

I am a little more than half way through the APRN-Adult Geriatric program and in my first semester of clinical rotations. This has been a great experience, the instructors are there to help you. I have not had one instructor that was bad, some are more involved than others. I have heard the FNP program is a bear but I hear that with every university.

Our discussion boards have 7-14 people in the group and the group changes a little every semester. DB's are very do-able and are required weekly for most classes, they get better once you get into the clinical part of the program. The first part of the program is ethics, leadership, philosophy, etc. I was really dreading them but they were better than I expected.

The residency weekend is scheduled after you complete the first year and it is a great experience, it is mandatory to begin clinicals. You are in classes from 0800-1600 on on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with your cohort. We had about 63 people, I had no idea our class was that big. You eat in the cafeteria on campus, the food is good, a variety and has healthy options. The Residency Weekend is when you will be checked off for your assessment skills, do a gyno and male exam, lectures, learn about Typhon (the charting software), clinical expectations and more. It is a fun weekend.

The learning platform is Blackboard. You are required to buy access to a few other software programs that are throughout the program, they are about $100 each. Complio is a great software that tracks your immunizations, license, etc. There is a standardized patient software, its helpful at learning to assess the patient but not 'wow'.

Keep in mind I am 52, I am old school and came from very rigid academic environments. This is a very good program, some flexibility and grace, the staff is friendly and helpful but they will not spoon-feed the students. They have high expectations, deadlines, quizzes in some classes, hard tests in others. I have appreciated that most of the instructors provide devotional, scriptures, and other supportive words of wisdom. You are free to express your faith in your papers, very different than government support universities.

I recommend getting involved in an academic facebook group to discuss professional information and leave the negativity outside. Best wishes in your studies wherever you go.

Juls

Thank you for this awesome post.  I start 1/25 and having a hard time finding people who have attended SAU.  This was very informative.  ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment