Are online ANP degrees destroying our credibility?

[jilljw]

I was talking to a private practice doctor about an opening in his practice. Currently, I am employed by the hospital. He told me that they will only consider PA's due to having more of a hard science based training and longer residency. I have heard this before and brushed it off. Especially, considering that would only be of factor for new grads possibly. I brought this up and he gave me a second rejection with a whole new excuse. His practice as a whole were considering hiring NPs until a PA brought up you can get your degree online. He stated they can not take our education seriously with such low standards. UUUURRRGGGHH. I didn't really know what to say. Mostly due to not expecting that response. Either way he is not someone I would want to work for with that attitude. I want to know what other people's thoughts are regarding the online programs? Will it hurt our profession and the quality of our reputation?

[nursetim, NP]

How many PA programs are online? How many MD programs? We do the same type work don't we? What makes us so special? Why is good for us, but not them? Maybe for a PhD, but not one for a doctorate so closely linked to Pt'sWould you rather the lab tech who runs your CBC to have completed a correspondence course?

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

Because we have always done it this way. Really? You do know that there are the same clinical requirement?

You do there is a national certification exam?

Do you really think NPs from either program are different from each other?

There are actually some physician programs going to partly online learning. Many, many classes in all subjects are offered online?

I'm not sure I get your reasoning. Do you think the distance Ed NPs do not get the same clinical background as you?

Or do you think the pharm or pathophys they took online is inferior to yours and this makes them a worse NP?

It just does not make sense. Do you really think all 50 states would allow NPs graduating from non-traditional programs to sit for the boards if it were inferior? Don't you think we would have heard something about low test score, failures etc if it were happening?

No matter the degree, MD, DO, NP, PA. No matter the school attended. It all comes down to the person behind the letters.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

The question is simply too broad. Distance APN education through Duke or Georgetown is clearly not comparable to Phoenix or that ilk, any more than Duke or Georgetown Medical schools are comparable to St. George's University School of Medicine.

Correct ignorance where you find it, ignore it when you can't correct it, and let your own excellence speak for you.

[nursetim, NP]

So a surgeon with only online only didactic and standard clinical rotations wouldn't make you sweat like a Christian Scientist with an appendicitis? Of course when was the last time anyone checked educational creds? Never, at least the type of training they recieved, I have never been asked the type of education I recieved from where I went to NP school.

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

Tim,

Get real. We are not talking about surgeons. Surgeons learn during residency, which is hands on. I'm having a hard time following your reasoning and communication.

"Never, at least the type of training they recieved, I have never been asked the type of education I recieved from where I went to NP school.

Do you have any evidence, other than your OPINION that non traditional NPs are inferior as compared to traditional brick schools? I've heard the same about MDA vs CRNA and physician vs NP. What I've discovered is there are good and bad in all professions.

The bottom line is the NPs pass the boards. I've seen no complaints about those NPs in general.

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

Tim,

Get real. We are not talking about surgeons. Surgeons learn during residency, which is hands on. I'm having a hard time following your reasoning and communication.

"Never, at least the type of training they recieved, I have never been

asked the type of education I recieved from where I went to NP school.

Do you have any evidence, other than your OPINION that non traditional NPs are inferior as compared to traditional brick schools? I've heard the same about MDA vs CRNA and physician vs NP (OMG, the MD must be better, right). What I've discovered is there are good and bad in all professions.

The bottom line is the NPs pass the boards. I've seen no complaints about those NPs in general.

[nursetim, NP]

Now you know why I am so against online education, I do not do well online. Nor am I well versed in rhetoric, nor effective.

[nomadcrna, DNP, CRNA, NP]

Just because you may have issues with online learning, self learning or self motivation does not mean others have the same difficulty.

You could look at your brick and mortor education and ask yourself the question, If I have these issues communicating, maybe my education was not all that it could be? I'm not being an ass or castigating for your choice of words. I truly would like you to see that it is more the person then the school. If you want to learn, you will learn, no matter the delivery method.

[nursetim, NP]

So why go to school at all? I mean if you are motivated, you can buy all the text books you need, read them and be good to go.This is basically what you just said, is it not?Yes, you are infact being an ass, mores an intellectual bully. You are smarter than me, big deal, so are millions of people. I am smarter than millions, which I guess makes me average, big deal. By saying your not being an ass or you are not trying to be an ass does not change the fact that you are being an ass. Bless your heart.I know for a fact that I am not the only person that has problems learning online. I am obviously not in the majority. The only place that has a brick and mortor only DNP program in the country is Seattle.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

That is why it is good to have learning choices: so that everyone has the chance to learn.

[TerryBSN]

From reading the comments, I would like to say that even if the individual does complete an online program they are still required to sit for national certification. If these places you speak of are just diploma mills how can you expect them to pass the national certification? Personally I believe if anyone applies their education be it from online or on ground campus and can pass the national certification they are equally competent.

[Patti_RN]

There are many, many reasons a student might choose or need to take courses online instead of in a traditional classroom setting. Access is one of those reasons. I completed an online program where students signed in from Alaska, Montana and even countries in Africa. Without the internet, they would have been eliminated from this educational opportunity. Personal and family obligations also make education inconvenient or impossible for some students. And, while most nurses are not physically handicapped, the physical barriers to brick and mortar classrooms make classroom education out of the realm of possibility for many. Beyond these obvious reasons, there are other legitimate reasons a person might choose distance learning.

We have accrediting bodies who determine the merits, quality, and value of secondary schools, colleges and universities. They are qualified to determine if a school or program meets its criteria for accreditation. I very much doubt that I, or anyone else on this board, is qualified to make different determination than CCNE or CAHME.

And, as many others have pointed out, a student is not a practitioner until they pass their boards. There are schools that have lower than average pass rates, but I see no correlation between schools with low (or high) pass rates and their delivery system (whether online or traditional classroom).