Brick & Mortar NP Programs- are they no longer a thing?

[EKTheRN]

Hi all-

I'm looking for the names of some in-person, brick and mortar MSN programs. I'm interested in either FNP or PNP (I'm currently a pediatric RN). For the longest time I've highly considered going back to school but to be a PA instead of an NP because it seems as if all of the NP programs are now online! I'm not meaning to offend anyone that is an online NP student, but I just finished my BSN online and that type of learning is not my style. I know I want to be a "midlevel" practitioner (for lack of a better term), but I would seriously prefer an in-person learning environment. Thanks!

[ATX77]

UT Austin has full-time in person FNP, AG-CNS, PMHNP and PNP MSN programs.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

Look for big names. John Hopkins and University of Michigan/Ann Arbor are still mostly in-class, for one example.

Just keep in mind that such programs cost accordingly and that many of them still do not provide preceptors (although they might offer more help in finding them). Where they do it, NP students often placed in locations which medical schools refuse, such as inner city community clinics and even prisons, which severely limits the value of expirience.

I fail to see how inner city clinics and prisons are not valuable experience. Where do you think schools like Hopkins and Yale have clinicals? The Johns Hopkins Hospital is in a very bad and dangerous area and so is Yale, although New Haven has really worked to clean up their downtown. IMHO, the BEST experience is working for underserved populations, as the student will see a wide variety of problems. Medical professionals have enormous respect for providers who have such experience.

[Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM]

I fail to see how inner city clinics and prisons are not valuable experience. Where do you think schools like Hopkins and Yale have clinicals? The Johns Hopkins Hospital is in a very bad and dangerous area and so is Yale, although New Haven has really worked to clean up their downtown. IMHO, the BEST experience is working for underserved populations, as the student will see a wide variety of problems. Medical professionals have enormous respect for providers who have such experience.

Totally agree with what @FullGlass has said above. I volunteer at a Level 1 Trauma and Teaching Hospital that has historically not been in the best part of town. I am not a nurse yet just a student to be, but just by being there and listening to the nurses and medical professional talk about the plan of care has been enormously enlightening. So just image if you work there what types of things and knowledge you could gain? Experience and knowledge are what YOU make of it and whether you are willing to put yourself out there to ask questions and to learn to gain that valuable experience.

Some of the the nurses that I have spoken to have told me that working at private hospitals are not very interesting as most people are in decent health since they can afford private health insurance. This is not to say we want people to be sick just so we can treat them but underserved populations across the board do present with a broader range of illnesses just because of their lack of access to healthcare which in turn provides healthcare providers with a broader range of experiences in treated said illnesses.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

University of Connecticut has full and part time in person MSN programs for all APRN specialties. Some didactic classes are online but most are in person, especially classes like patho and stats. Plus they find all your clinicals for you. It's an excellent program and a wonderful campus.

[MarylandRN319]

I felt the same way about wanting to attend a brick and mortar... I loved all of the support I had in my ADN program, and I felt my online-BSN program was a JOKE! I chose to attend GWU's hybrid FNP program and am now in my third semester. It's not quite the same as being in a classroom, but I love the flexibility and the fact that I'm able to work full-time. Most of my classes have offered pre-recorded lectures (sometimes 6 hours worth a week!), which I like. Every class has at least one or two collaborative sessions (where we can video chat with classmates and our instructor). The discussion boards are much more rich and in-depth than anything I experienced during undergrad. Next semester I'll visit the campus for the first time for skills labs and what not. I am expected to visit the campus on three different occasions during the program, four if you count graduation. GWU also has a FNP student facebook page where students share information and help each other study, so that's been a huge plus. Overall, it is what it is... find a program that has the right balance for you. GWU isn't perfect, but I'm happy with my choice so far. Good luck!

[Brenae6]

May I ask what school you attend in Wisconsin?

[db2xs]

There are plenty of brick and mortar programs in California. Not a ton that will find your preceptors for you, but there are some. I think ultimately that is the most important. Finding preceptors has been the bain of my existence ...