Does what school you go for your FNP matter?

tulips134 · Aug 29, 2008

BTW, I did not choose to go to NYU/Columbia because I thought they would train me a better nurse/practitioner... I went there because the hospitals I worked, had free tuition policy to those schools.

I wasn't happy that I had to pay tax(40%) on my supposedly free tuition.

westcoastgirl · Aug 30, 2008

Ok so my personal opinion is physicians generally came from a group of people who were very academically competitive and name-school conscious at a young age (it makes sense given the preparation needed to apply to med school in the traditional age brackets) and Nursing is genereally not of the same mindset. What I mean is nursing has more people who came into it later in life, through routes that valued life experiences and job experience. I know of very few nurses or NPs who prepped since junior high school to get into nursing school, but I know quite a few MDs who did (to get into the right Honors classes, then AP classes, then the top university, good med school, get my drift?)

I could not move to attend a top tier NP program cross country because of my spouse's job, and do I regret it a little? sure, but I also attended a top tier U for undergrad before getting my RN then NP. Everybody has found a job so I don't think it matters much in the long run, although I do think most of my classmates who landed jobs right away had undergraduate degrees from well-known universities, and a few actually had master's degrees in other fields.

It makes sense the docs would be falling back on the familiar when hiring, given their own educational routes often emphasized prestige in schools and programs.

Jo Dirt · Aug 31, 2008

I'd think having a "pedigree" over a regular degree might help you get your foot in the door, it might get you chosen over someone who went to a less prestegious (sp?) school but in the end I figure you will make your own way.

ANPFNPGNP · Aug 31, 2008

NP grad from top tier school does not mean she/he is a good NP. Trust me I went to NYU and Columbia for undergrad and masters/post masters APN. Most of my clinical preceptors/instructors I had, did not graduate from Columbia or Yale or Duke. The best preceptors I've ever had went to public schools...SUNY Downstate and CUNY Hunter college here in NYC.
I don't get treated better than my non Ivy grad NPs here at work. Most of the staff I work with have degrees from all over country and some even have from international universities.
We have two foreign NPs( one from Australia, and another is from England...god I love their accents!). I don't look down or feel that I'm better than them just because I got my education at NYU and Columbia. MDs and patients DO NOT care where you got your education. I work in a 800+ bed hospital that is nationally well known.

I've lived and worked in NYC and I understand where you're coming from. However, if you lived in other parts of the country your educational preparation would be looked upon differently.

lannisz · Sep 6, 2008

Hi,

I've noticed in my area (west coast) that the school DOES matter. It's not so much the name of the school, but whether it was an ONLINE program or not. I had no problem getting preceptors when I was an FNP student - they were set up by my University. However, now that I am an FNP, the students I know currently who are trying to do online programs can't find FNP's willing to preceptor them. My employer and others in the area are only willing to work with students going through the University that I graduated from. It is a state university/medical school, but has an excellent reputation. So, it's more a matter of employers not thinking well of online programs in my area.

squinky12 · Sep 10, 2008

I started my career as an RN in 1982 with an ADN from the local community college. After 3 years, got married and moved to the "big" city and got a job in the PICU of a nationally known children's hospital. Three years later, went to a ADN to BSN program at a "state" school (in Texas) and while there was personally invited to apply for the master's (PNP) program there and graduated in 1990. They paid my tuition and gave me a monthly stipend to become a PNP.

I trained with some excellent preceptors (docs and PNPs) and by the time I graduated I had 3 job offers. After 18 (gasp:eek:) years as a PNP in Texas I can honestly say that where I went to school has never come up but my varied experience in pediatric health care has helped me land a few jobs.

I worked with a relatively new (1 year) FNP graduate from Vanderbilt (as a young nurse I worshipped Mary Fran Hazinski) a few years back who had never in her life worked a day as an RN and was truly amazed by her inexperience and ineptitude (at least with treating kids)--it was frightening and she lasted only a few months in our clinic.

ANPFNPGNP · Sep 10, 2008

I worked with a relatively new (1 year) FNP graduate from Vanderbilt (as a young nurse I worshipped Mary Fran Hazinski) a few years back who had never in her life worked a day as an RN and was truly amazed by her inexperience and ineptitude (at least with treating kids)--it was frightening and she lasted only a few months in our clinic.

I went to school at Vanderbilt, but I had several years of experience as a RN before doing so. The Vanderbilt name has definitely helped me, but then again, I've got a lot of experience.

I have to admit, I was taken aback when I found out there was such a thing as a "direct entry" option for non-RN's at Vanderbilt. There were several students (long time RN's) there who had a HUGE problem with this. I never said anything, but I always wondered how anyone could possibly be referred to as an Advanced Practice Nurse if they had never even practiced as a nurse before!

I've wondered from time to time how all those direct entry students faired in the job market. Obviously, not very well! As far as I'm concerned, the direct entry "option" should no longer be an option AND every online NP program should be shut down!

Also, I'm certified in 3 different specialties and I can tell you that I can't imagine working with elderly patients without all the extra education/clinical hours I spent in internal medicine. I can't imagine how a new FNP (with or without RN experience) can possibly work with elderly patients, b/c they are SO complicated! I'm all for the "specialty" NP's because we get so much more educational/clinical experience in our areas!

squinky12 · Sep 10, 2008

I never said anything, but I always wondered how anyone could possibly be referred to as an Advanced Practice Nurse if they had never even practiced as a nurse before!

I wondered that EXACT same thing at the time--I had no idea that becoming a FNP could be the FIRST job you could have as a nurse and it really scared me. I precept students most semesters but will only agree to do it if they have at least a few years of pediatric nursing experience. I truly believe there should be a RN practice requirement before entry into an NP program and/or recognition by the state as an APN.