Does anyone attend/know about USC (S.Carolina) NP programs? and other questions.

zenman · Dec 5, 2008

I am planning on applying to the University of South Carolina NP program and hope to start next fall. I am wondering if anyone here attends USC or knows how good the program is? I'm not so stuck on going to the "best" school as I do believe you get what you put in, but I do want to know that I am going to a decent school.
I noticed that their website states that all classes are available online. Does this mean there are no "on campus" classes. I do much better when I have to "go" to class and be accountable to someone else rather than attending class "online".
How much experience do most people have/recommend going into NP school?
Does anyone know how the job market is for NPs in SC?
Thanks for your input.

Some schools with a distance education component require you to come to campus for a day or two for some courses. At one school I'm at for ex. I have to show up for one day for one course and two days for another. Some will require you to find your own preceptor (but may provide some assistance or list of preceptors) while others do it for you.

If you do better when you have to "go" to class then distance education might not be the best for you. On the other hand, some learning styles might be more suited to the role of health care practitioner, ie, someone who is an "independent" learner. Do you understand what I mean? (I'm partaking of some Bailey's Irish Cream at the moment!)

It is always good to have some experience if you use your experience wisely. For example, as a floor nurse I read the charts, progress notes, etc, and thought about what I'd do if I was the physician. I'd question the ones who were friendly towards teaching. I'd learn my meds forwards and backwards and see what effect they had on patients. I'm really motivated and even studied Oriental Medicine and shamanism and even lived in other countries where I learned that things do not always present as the textbooks say. Keep learning, this week I learned that Cipro is useless in Bangladesh for E. Coli (27.7% effective) but more effective in the USA. So basically it depends on how motivated you are.

One of our teachers kids burned her hand with hot honey the other day in the microwave and the local doc wanted to place the kid on two antibiotics and a local British doctor recommended the same. I told the mother to use none of the antibiotics and let's see what happens. The kid is healing fine. Knowledge plus experience is a wonderful thing...so is this Bailey's, lol!.

tracelane, DNP, NP · Dec 16, 2008

Hello,

I went to Clemson so I'm biased but haven't heard anything negative about USC. I know someone who's starting there soon and she mentioned going to some classes so I'd check that out. If you can't get an answer, well there's a red flag!

Clemson's classes meet once a week in Greenville (University Ctr) so it's convient but one long day!

We have openings in the hospital where I work. There seem to be lots of jobs out there.

Good luck!

T

81FSUseminole · Dec 16, 2008

Tango,

i'm also considering applying there for the ACNP. i just called the USC SON and the lady i needed to speak w/ is out of the office. how convenient. anyways, she should be calling me back tomorrow and hopefully i'll have an answer. the lady i did speak w/ said the DNP is all online. i hate that a lot of schools are moving towards internet based didactic instruction. i am much more successful when i have to attend classes, so i can definitely relate to you.

81FSUseminole · Dec 18, 2008

tango,

i spoke to cheryl at SON and she told me that their program is all online and satellite TV, web streaming based. apparently they have gotten away from the traditional classroom instruction. i think its ashame more colleges are relying on less traditional methods for teaching.