Brick and Mortar AGACNP Programs

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Specializes in Cardiology, ICU.

Hello everyone! I am researching AGACNP programs and am finding it hard to decode from different University's websites whether their programs are hybrid, completely online or full time brick and mortar. Personally, I would prefer a completely in-person program (my preferred learning style). I have my BSN and have been practicing for 5 years. It seems a lot of programs, especially BSN entry, have hybrid courses as the main didactic component, or even completely online. For those of you who have taken AGACNP courses online, did you feel well prepared? How did you like your programs?

For those of you who attended brick and mortar intuitions, where did you go? I'd love to look into those programs! Vanderbilt is already on my radar :)

Thank you everyone for your time!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP forum

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I went to Johns Hopkins, which is a brick and mortar for the MSN NP programs. Some of their post master's cert programs are hybrid or online. Some of our didactic classes were offered in both an in person and an online format, so students had a choice. Personally, I prefer online for a straight lecture class. JHUSON does find all your preceptors.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ICU.

shibaowner - I have been interested in their program as well! How did you like it? I can only imagine the stress of having to find your own preceptor, so the fact that they find them for you was probably a huge plus.

Were your "online" classes streamed lectures from the live class? That would be a good trade-off. I am just afraid of learning via power point slides :/

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Specializes in CTICU.

I did brick and mortar and found a lot of it redundant - lectures particularly that were available by PPT prior to class - I didn't see the need to go to a class to have a teacher read out slides I could read in the quiet of my own house. I did find the small group classes, assessment labs, simulations etc very helpful in person. I went to Pitt.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ICU.

Thank you for your input ghillbert! I wonder if I too would tire of lectures eventually, at least for classes that were more dry. That's why programs that have a policy of "come if you want" for prior RNs appeal to me as well.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I attended an ACNP program and graduated over 10 years ago at a state university in Michigan. There were some online component (i.e., Graduate Statistics was completely online, some courses had an online component). I found the program good with a wealth resources from outstanding rotations that the school arranged some with well known acute care practices in the area. I have no contact with the school anymore but I know that the AGACNP program is offered only as a DNP now so that might not be what you're looking for.

I'm in California and the local AGACNP program is UCSF and we have their students rotating with us in our ICU group. It is still a Master's degree. It is local but they do have students who live from farther away in California. UCSF Medical Center nurses get a 75% tuition discount. The program is similar to most other programs in that the in person classes have online components. Not only do they have the medical center as the home base but they are well connected to practices around the Bay Area so you will never run out of preceptors which they do arrange. I know their AGACNP program requires a Hospital Medicine rotation for all students which I think is a great idea as a foundation for all the other rotations you will do afterwards. I also know that only students with ICU experience get to rotate in the ICU's. There is also a 1-year post-AGACNP Critical Care and Surgery fellowship that admits 2 fellows each year.

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shibaowner - I have been interested in their program as well! How did you like it? I can only imagine the stress of having to find your own preceptor, so the fact that they find them for you was probably a huge plus.

Were your "online" classes streamed lectures from the live class? That would be a good trade-off. I am just afraid of learning via power point slides :/

I am very happy with my Hopkins education. Hopkins is committed to everyone graduating, so the faculty really, really helps students who experience challenges. Some classes were completely online, like Statistics, which consisted of readings and assignments. (An in class option is also available). In other classes, the lectures were videotaped, which was nice because you could also listen to them repeatedly. These classes also had a weekly live session so you could ask the instructor questions via a system like Skype (I forgot the name of the system they use). We had a good variety of clinical rotations and preceptors. There are also optional certificates you can complete during your MSN in Education and another in HIV/AIDS. I was in the AGNP primary care track and 90% of our class already had jobs when they graduated. I needed to return to California and was hired 2 months after graduating.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Your core np classes are the most important, so a school that offers a mix of online and in person is desirable. I personally think research classes can be taken online. On site clinical classes starting at advanced health assessments and onward will help you tremendously and you will feel better about the quality of the education. However, if you are able to go to a brick and mortar only, go for it. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I am in the final year of the AGACNP program at UCONN and it's excellent. It is a brick and mortar program with excellent faculty and they find all your preceptors for you. Some of the didactic classes are offered online. They have contracts with all the best hospitals in the state and that's where they find your clinical placements.

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