chamberlain college of nursing MSN-NP

emilyewrn · Sep 13, 2014

Be sure that you are really okay with having everything be completely online. That's my only real advice. I took three 8 week graduate classes at Chamberlain before decided to transfer elsewhere. Otherwise it seems to be an organized program, the online classes are very manageable with working FT.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Sep 13, 2014

I moved your thread to the Chamberlain forum, where there are many discussions about the FNP program. I also did my RN-to-BSN through Chamberlain, and I start the MSN-FNP on October 27th. Just waiting to see if my MSN transfer credits cover the entire core so I will know where I am starting! :-)

blessedNhopeful · Sep 24, 2014

ImcollierRN, I know this is off topic, but being someone that got their BSN from there, how was the education experience? How was finding employment afterwards? Sorry, I'm thinking of applying there for my BSN and it's hard finding people that graduated from there.

athomas2244 · Sep 25, 2014

I am a current FNP student at Chamberlain and I also work with a nurse that graduated with her BSN from Chamberlain. We work for a nationally ranked, world renowned hospital.

lmcollierRN · Dec 2, 2014

what class are you presently taking?

athomas2244 · Dec 9, 2014

I am finishing 505 and 506, will be taking 503 and 510 for the january session

charlottegirl · Jul 11, 2017

How many credits did the take?

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 11, 2017

How many credits did the take?

The entire MSN-FNP program is 45 credits, which is 15 classes. The first five are the same courses every MSN, regardless of track (e.g. leadership, theory, research, etc.). The next 5 courses are FNP-specific (e.g. epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced assessment, etc.). The final 5 courses are the clinical courses with didactic. You do 125 clinical hours per 8 week session. If you take one course at time, it takes 2 and a half years. You can double up on the MSN core courses (except for the very first class), which cuts 6 to 8 months of time. I'm doubling up everything until I get to Pathophysiology. Then I want to go back to one course at a time, so I can thoroughly absorb the material. Clinicals cannot be doubled.

The final course is the Capstone and it includes the Hollier review to prep for boards.

friendlylark · Jul 12, 2017

I am going to start the Chamberlain FNP program in November. Currently I have a Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5pm Case Manager position. I am seriously considering going back to the floor. What are your thoughts on this?

It would help me to go back to 3x12s in many ways. I think it may be really good for me to have an opposite schedule than my hubby - because he and I love to spend as much time together as we can .. and when we are on the same schedule ... I just don't get any "alone" time. That probably sounds terrible, but I need some Quiet House time when he isn't home to dive in to my studies.

So I guess what I am saying is ... I need to keep a different schedule than my sweet hubs. LOL!

The schedule is a consideration as well as the clinical component. I REALLY LOVE Case Management ... but I don't get as much of the clinical component as I think I may need as a nurse practitioner.

What do you all think? Would it be taking a step back to go from Case Management back to the floor?

Thx for any input.

emetts · Sep 29, 2017

I am finishing 505 and 506, will be taking 503 and 510 for the january session

Hi there... I've seen your contributions on several CCN FNP threads. Were you working full time when you doubled up on the early classes? Any family commitments? Just trying to get a heads-up on what I'm getting into, as I will start 500-level courses in March. Thanks in advance!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 30, 2017

Hi there... I've seen your contributions on several CCN FNP threads. Were you working full time when you doubled up on the early classes? Any family commitments? Just trying to get a heads-up on what I'm getting into, as I will start 500-level courses in March. Thanks in advance!

Yes, I work full time night shift in the ICU (three 12-hour shifts per week). My kids are grown and out of the house now, so I have lots of time to devote to school. I am only doubling up the non-science courses (theory, informatics, policy, research, etc.). Once I get to Patho, I will go back to one course per 8 week session (2 courses per semester). Some people do double-up on Patho & Pharmacology, but I personally feel those are too important as foundation to race through by doubling up. Doubling up on the didactic portion shaves off 6 months of time, which takes the program from 2.5 years to 2 years. Not too bad. Once you finish Pham (508), you can no longer double-up, starting with 509 (Advanced Health Assessment).

I have heard that they changed NR 505 (Advanced Research) and it is a killer of a class, with 6 page papers due every week, 3-part DB posts (including instructor/peer responses in each part, so you're posting 6 to 9 times per week, with scholarly references). I'm a bit anxious about the amount of work I'll have taking 505 & 506 at the same time. But, I've been doing fine with 501 & 512 together, so I think it will be manageable, just a much larger volume of work.

I am able to self-schedule, so I purposely schedule myself Fri, Sat & Sun so I have Mon through Thur off to focus on school. It works out great and will give me ample time off for clinicals during the week. I may drop down to part-time or per diem at work if I feel that it's just too much to continue my full-time schedule when clinicals start. We'll see. So far, so good. I am able to participate in rounds with the med students voluntarily and I learn so much from shadowing on rounds in the ICU. While I can't use my ICU rounding hours for my clinical time (has to be family practice oriented), I like having the extra hours and I learn so much from the attending physician during rounds.