Disappointment in NP Program

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Hello everyone. I am finishing up my first semester in an FNP masters program at a brick and mortar school. This semester I took Advanced Health Assessment/lab and Advanced Pharmacology. I am doing well in the program (grades over 90% on every exam taken) but, I just feel so disappointed. The program is fairly disorganized. The content is to be expected as in it is definitely not fluff in the classes I am taking, but with health assessment, it is surely teach yourself. I am okay with and expect self-study to an extent, but I can't help to question why I am spending 1k per credit hour for this. They do not provide clinical placements and when I have asked for guidance, I am simply told to keep trying or receive no response from the clinical liason (not sure what her job actually is since she offers little to no help). I start clinical next spring and have contacted over 50 pediatric/family practices (up to 3 hours away) and have nothing. Most places simply say they do not take NP students and the ones that do said "we are booked with students for 2 years." When I discussed this with my adviser, he said it is becoming near impossible to find a pediatric site (and women's health). It irritates me to no end that they are accepting so many students (anyone with a BSN and a pulse) and are aware of the lack of clinical sites. Not only that, but there is no quality control with sites so even if you do secure a site, you could end up simply just shadowing for the entire time (yes, students have told me this is what their experience was like). It's crazy to think that this is the education in place for NPs, and I know it is not just my school. I have done a lot of research on this and have found that some schools are wonderful and truly prepare students (and supply clinical sites!), but it is mind boggling that there is such an inconsistency in the education in place.

At this point, I am not sure I want to continue. I am discouraged by the program itself and the hundreds of NPs being pumped out just in my area and across the nation. I know that if I do continue, I risk not finding clinical sites and having to sit out and waste more money. I also fear not being prepared when I come out of this due to the lack of a formal clinical experience and then trying to find a job that offers good mentoring when jobs are hard to come by at all in many areas. I am finding myself very envious of the PA students and regretting not going that route a long time ago(right now, it's not going to happen in my life).

I am blabbering on, but is anyone else in the same boat? Is anyone else questioning your continuation in your program or becoming an NP in general? Thank you for listening/reading.

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Hey Naptime,

I feel your pain and trust me many other students do as well. I am at a brick and mortar school as well and the semester before I started clinicals we were informed that they no longer place students. It is becoming crazy impossible to find peds/OBGYN rotations and I work on that area...providers are booked at least 2yrs in advance. My school offered students clinical placement agencies where we have to pay $$$ for hours. I am just glad I made at the end but my only suggestion is to keep trying ...I have called over 100 places before I got a yes and my commutes were no joke. If your are interested in clinical placement companies but that’s an option. And yes I was very jealous of the PA students because they seemed more well rounded but it was too late to switch and you can’t work in PA school.

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I'm so sorry for your frustration. I went to a CA state school for grad school (I'm not a NP). NP was one of the options in the grad school, and students in all paths took the basic courses together, like pathophys & health assessment. I know that some students in the NP path changed their concentration because of the problems you describe with finding preceptorships.

If you do choose to not continue the program, hopefully there is another concentration, like nurse administrator, nurse educator or something like that so you can at least finish your degree.

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Oh I feel your pain, I am currently in an online university Spring Arbor University and I have learned- NOTHING. I cant even believe that this university is allowed to offer this program. I only stayed in it because I have invested way too much money. The FNP program is GARBAGE.

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7 hours ago, ERRN1224 said:

Oh I feel your pain, I am currently in an online university Spring Arbor University and I have learned- NOTHING. I cant even believe that this university is allowed to offer this program. I only stayed in it because I have invested way too much money. The FNP program is GARBAGE.

It's so sad to hear this. Sad and embarrassing and scary for future patients that this is the schooling in place for future providers. I could somewhat handle the less than quality didactic portion (due to self supplementing on my own time), but to not have a formal clinical program in place is absolutely inexcusable. In class, they say over and over that this is all for the clinical portion, to "prepare you for clinical." What clinical??

I'm in one semester deep in terms of financial loss... I'm not sure I'm going to continue at this point and spend like 35k more?

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

So... your brick -and-mortar school requires you to come up with your own internship?? BOO.

I'm sorry you feel this way; sadly this is apparently what the market will bear in terms of training. I am glad I read this, though...I am struggling with what to do when I grow up. I've thought about psych ARNP but all the primary care programs in town require me to find my own practicum. Is it too late for you to divert to another masters' specialty?

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No program is perfect but don't continue to invest money and time into a program that you feel is not meeting your needs as a student. Is there anyway to speak with past graduates? Maybe they can give you a better insight into the program. Also, you are still early into the program, you can transfer your credits to a another program.

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2 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

So... your brick -and-mortar school requires you to come up with your own internship?? BOO.

I'm sorry you feel this way; sadly this is apparently what the market will bear in terms of training. I am glad I read this, though...I am struggling with what to do when I grow up. I've thought about psych ARNP but all the primary care programs in town require me to find my own practicum. Is it too late for you to divert to another masters' specialty?

That's right, no clinicals provided. I was told they help find clinicals. Little did I know that basically meant they will send out emails to students on what office not to call after certain offices complain of too many calls. That's about it.

I can't believe this is how it works, and either can other providers. In my opinion after dealing with this, I would definitely hold off on going for any NP until/if you are able to find and attend one that places you in clinical sites.

I'm only one semester in, so I could transfer or go a different route completely. Unfortunately all the NP programs in my area do not provide clinical placements and I'm not in a position to move elsewhere right now (husband's job). I kind of wish everyone would boycott these schools until they change this whole thing. Obviously wishful thinking...

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Look up the Sawyer Initiative. As of January 2019, it's basically a law that NP programs have to provide you with preceptors/clinical sites. If they fail to comply, you report them continuously and eventually enough people will cause CCNE to remove their accreditation and shut them down. Advocate, advocate, advocate for our profession and futures!

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Schools aren't taking the initiative seriously. I have called over 6 which all said students need to find their own preceptors. Both brick and mortar and online. When I mentioned the initiative they weren't phased at all. The entire class needs to write this to the accreditation body for this to do anything.

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Specializes in ED, OR, Oncology.

NP education is going to kill the profession. I'm sure there are some good programs out there, and I also think even the bad programs are graduating some NPs who go on to be great providers. I'm two semesters in, with a 4.0 and quitting. I'll finish a CNL masters just to get something out of what I have invested, but I have lost all interest in the APN role. I'm too old to go to med school, so the provider role is out of reach for me. I decided that what I was spending on NP school (tuition, but more so the time spent in clinical when I wont have time to work due to extensive travel) is a bad investment for me. It's very frustrating, but I think its going to get far worse before it gets better. NP education (and apparently undergraduate nursing as well) is a smoldering dumpster fire.

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6 hours ago, wyosamRN said:

NP education is going to kill the profession. I'm sure there are some good programs out there, and I also think even the bad programs are graduating some NPs who go on to be great providers. I'm two semesters in, with a 4.0 and quitting. I'll finish a CNL masters just to get something out of what I have invested, but I have lost all interest in the APN role. I'm too old to go to med school, so the provider role is out of reach for me. I decided that what I was spending on NP school (tuition, but more so the time spent in clinical when I wont have time to work due to extensive travel) is a bad investment for me. It's very frustrating, but I think its going to get far worse before it gets better. NP education (and apparently undergraduate nursing as well) is a smoldering dumpster fire.

How absolutely sad that it is like this. Here we are A students and likely not returning. I am having so much trouble deciding on whether to continue or not. This whole experience has really turned me off to this career choice.

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