Hi everyone, I'm new to this site...need some help...
I've been in practice 12 years as a chiro. I'm seeking a career change for a variety of reason. My ultimate goal would be FNP.
Are there any chiros who have gone the route of Mid America Learning? I've been talking with them lately...have seen mixed reviews in various forums. Some of the posts were 2009-10...and now we're in 2015...so wondering if anything has changed / gotten better?
I'm trying to find a path that would be mostly online...and self paced...so I can keep my practice and continue to treat patients...
Yeah, when I said easy...I don't mean classroom easy. I guess I should have used the word convenient since I have a wife, 2 kids with 1 on the way...a mortgage etc etc...
Not looking for a get rich quick...lol...I do okay as a chiro. Like I said, what stinks is the "business side"...everybody else gets paid 1st and I get whats leftover after rent...staff...taxes...insurance etc etc...
Would you like to let your child to be treated by an NP who never in his life worked as a nurse, who was not employed within "traditional"/allopathic model of care and took all the courses online "at his leisure"? Would you like to hire such an NP if you need a mid-level partner?
If you really want to try this Mid-American Learning (MAL for future) thing, you need at least investigate it in order to make sure they're legitimate. Searching online forums is not the way to do it, companies can hire people to write glowing testimonials.
You need to know: 1) if MAL Nursing program is locally and nationally accredited (in other words, will you be eligible for licensing and employment as an RN and in which state(s); 2) what is the difference between coursework in MAL and other MSN/NP programs and what you're going to miss, because there is absolutely no way to press 2 years of ADN coursework into 10 months. For me, this one fact stinks fishy to high heavens; 3) where and how your clinicals will be arranged (please note that in many states you're not eligible for license unless you did X hours of every specialty clinicals required and your school/program documented it); 4) where are real grads of MAL and what they are doing. Google "alumni of..." and contact these people, if you find any, personally and ask about their experience and how they got jobs.
I'm puzzled. I went to the Mid America Learning website, and they appear to be a company that markets a variety of services, including packaged curricula, marketing, and "leads" on potential students, to schools. It does not appear they provide any direct educational services to any individuals. Looks like something called Wayland Baptist University is the school with which they have partnered to provide an online BSN program, and Herzing U Online is the school that provides the online MSN-FNP program. Their little chart of the steps one goes through to get from DC to FNP has a box for "Step 2: Paramedic to RN (Associate's)" but I can't find anything on the website about what school they are talking about. Since they describe that step as "competency based," "online," "no clinical hours," I'm guessing they may be referring to the Excelsior program. Be aware that, if that is the case, there are states that set limits and additional requirements for RN licensure on graduates of Excelsior. CA outright refuses to license them.
I would keep in mind the old adage that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Once you are an RN, there are lots of online FNP programs, some of which may work better for the OP than the Herzing program. There are also many programs for becoming a paramedic, from which point anyone would be able to apply for the Excelsior ADN program. There are also FNP programs that don't necessarily require one to have a BSN, which would eliminate the BSN step. Mid America Learning is an academic services marketing business, not a school, and I would imagine a big premium is charged for whatever services and "convenience" they do provide.
Correct...they aren't a school. I think they are contracted by the schools...and help find students...so this raises the question of, how good are the schools if they need help finding students?
But yes, what they told me was excelsior to get RN...and then Herzing to go from RN to FNP...
I was told that Wayland Baptist lost their accreditation...
So you said there are ADN to FNP programs out there? I've been searching and it seems all I can find are those that require BSN...
There are some MSN programs that don't require a BSN. Most of them incorporate the BSN-completion content and take a little longer than a standard MSN program. I know that Vanderbilt used to have one. I believe there are some threads here that identify some other programs. It couldn't hurt to ask a program that you're interested in (when you get to that point) if they can accommodate you (without a BSN). There are also the "direct entry" MSN programs for those with a BA/BS in other discipline and no nursing background (that would include you), that incorporate an Accelerated BSN program into the graduate program. That would be your most direct route; is there some reason you're not looking at those programs?
I will definitely do some searching...but yes, looking for the most direct route...
Money isn't an issue...it's convenience...need something online b/c of my current situation...
Well, in that case, you aren't going to find any on-line direct entry MSN programs. MAL is correct that an on-line paramedic program to Excelsior is the closest thing you're going to find to an on-line basic nursing program.
Correct...they aren't a school. I think they are contracted by the schools...and help find students...so this raises the question of, how good are the schools if they need help finding students?
But yes, what they told me was excelsior to get RN...and then Herzing to go from RN to FNP...
I was told that Wayland Baptist lost their accreditation...
So you said there are ADN to FNP programs out there? I've been searching and it seems all I can find are those that require BSN...
You could likely test out of any anatomy or physiology courses, maybe others.
Have you considered bringing on a massage therapist, a PT, a naturopath, maybe other practitioners who can share the rent?
As for becoming an NP, a PP said it wasn't good to work as an NP without RN experience. Yet, I think this actually happens a lot. Not sure, it just seems like so many NP's are being produced and so many have little or no RN experience. Not saying I think it's good to be without RN experience.
Have you considered CRNA?
Nosy here - when you say you do OK re: income - will your FNP income exceed your current income?
Could you give seminars to bring in new patients? Link up with an Ortho practice or Pain Management practice?
Maybe you could specialize in treating neuropathy. Give free seminars on it, charge $4000 for 3 - 5 months worth of treatments, sell supplements or diets.
FNP would likely be a little more than my chiro. But again, stability would be nice...with chiro its up and down each month...and I'm sick of trying to figure out where my next new patient is coming from. The marketing and business side of it is getting old...spinal screenings at malls etc...30 chiros within a mile of me...it sucks...
I would probably take the nursing prerequisites online. Then apply to a BSN program. If you already have a bachelors degree, look into an Accelerated BSN- there are some you can complete in 3-4 semesters. Then, there are plenty of reputable online FNP programs that will assist you in finding clinical preceptors in your own geographical area (Georgetown, George Washington, etc.). Good luck!
FNP would likely be a little more than my chiro. But again, stability would be nice...with chiro its up and down each month...and I'm sick of trying to figure out where my next new patient is coming from. The marketing and business side of it is getting old...spinal screenings at malls etc...30 chiros within a mile of me...it sucks...
CRNA? The schooling for that sounds brutal...
The NP market is also well on its way to being saturated in many areas, thanks to NP programs springing up like mushrooms after a Spring rain (esp. the proprietary programs). You may want to look at the threads here about new grad NPs without any nursing experience having difficulty finding jobs in some areas. Herzing U is a non-competitive, proprietary school. You might want to look for a more respected school for an on-line FNP program. There are plenty of them out there. Eventually, once someone has developed some expertise and a "track record," what school the person attended won't make too much of a difference. But starting out, if there are two candidates for a job, and one is a new grad with no nursing experience and went to a questionable school, that candidate is going to be at a disadvantage.
For CRNA one needs at least one solid year of "real" ICU nursing (so-called ICU in community hospital with 2 beds and "we're not keeping vents here" policy won't do) and possibly CCRN (1750 or so hours of bedside nursing practice).
OP, I'm a career changer with somewhat similar story and I'd met quite a few people who did it as well through MSN or PA. Only ones who succeeded are those who did whatever it took to be done instead of searching for something more "convinient" and cushy. The rest ended with lost time, money or both, and usually quite a deal of them. And if you think that as an FNP you are going to know where are your patients are coming from, or not to have any concurrents, or have nothing to do with business, please speak with some practicing FNPs before you do anything else lest you become painfully disillusioned.
I researched PA...again, most programs were 3 years...full-time...that's just not realistic at this point. Also, I like the fact that NP's can function independently...
PA schools in my area are competitive as well. They all have 400-500 applicants...and accept 28-30...so I figure why bother...
Working independently as an NP varies by state. In many states, NPs are still required to work in collaboration with or under the direction of a supervising physician.
KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN
1 Article; 2,675 Posts
Would you like to let your child to be treated by an NP who never in his life worked as a nurse, who was not employed within "traditional"/allopathic model of care and took all the courses online "at his leisure"? Would you like to hire such an NP if you need a mid-level partner?
If you really want to try this Mid-American Learning (MAL for future) thing, you need at least investigate it in order to make sure they're legitimate. Searching online forums is not the way to do it, companies can hire people to write glowing testimonials.
You need to know: 1) if MAL Nursing program is locally and nationally accredited (in other words, will you be eligible for licensing and employment as an RN and in which state(s); 2) what is the difference between coursework in MAL and other MSN/NP programs and what you're going to miss, because there is absolutely no way to press 2 years of ADN coursework into 10 months. For me, this one fact stinks fishy to high heavens; 3) where and how your clinicals will be arranged (please note that in many states you're not eligible for license unless you did X hours of every specialty clinicals required and your school/program documented it); 4) where are real grads of MAL and what they are doing. Google "alumni of..." and contact these people, if you find any, personally and ask about their experience and how they got jobs.