Anyone out there Vanderbilt?

catch33er · Jun 7, 2006

I graduated from Vandy in 2004 as an FNP from their bridge program. My background had been in many different areas of women's health - infertility to family planning to gynecologic oncology, from front desk to rooming patients/assisting with procedures, etc. I have mixed feelings about the program, although I do feel I was fairly well prepared and am now working at a job with a loan repayment program. I live in Washington state, and not many people know about Vandy's program, but the name sure carries some respect!

While I was in Nashville, I did hear many negative opinions about Vandy's program. There seems to be several problems, from resistance to the "direct entry" idea, to feelings that the program moved too quickly to possibly cover everything. Nashville has so many different NP programs, as well as PA programs, that opinions abound.

I was shocked when I started the program at how little "real world" experience my classmates had. I am an older student, and there were students who were not even finished with college (Vandy accepts their own undergrads after three years in a special program), as well as several who were straight out of college with no background in human services. Also, the classes for the "direct entry" program are getting larger and larger every year, and it begins to have an almost "puppy mill" feel - they're accepting more and more people so they can say they're one of the largest programs. Not always the best thing.

I graduated, and moved back to Oregon, where I was required to work as an RN for 364 hours before I could sit for the certification exam, so before working as an NP I did have experience as an RN. This did help, but I do not feel it was absolutely invaluable for me.

The program is fast, and the work is hard, and just like everything, it is what you make out of it.

And don't worry about the loans. It is expensive, but the potential is so good that it's totally worth it.

ERNP · Jun 8, 2006

Since I offered a negative comment earlier I am back with some more positive words. I had the opportunity to orient a new grad from Vandy's ACNP program just the other day. He was well prepared, thoughtful, and very competent. His level of practice was right where it should be as a new NP. His questions were appropriate and his decisions were sound. He asked for help when he needed it and we consulted when we needed to consult.

Overall he seemed to have received a good education at Vandy.

Plus he told me he paid very little for his education. It seems if you are considering going to Vandy for school it pays off BIG TIME to work there while you are going.