FNP nurse program

allnurses Guide · Nov 17, 2014

Cheap fast and online! The trifecta!

There are only a handful of quality online-based NP programs, none of them are overly cheap. Talk to local NPs in your area and find out what the job market is like and what employer preference is.

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~agape~ · Nov 17, 2014

Cheap fast and online! The trifecta!
There are only a handful of quality online-based NP programs, none of them are overly cheap. Talk to local NPs in your area and find out what the job market is like and what employer preference is.
Sent from my iPhone.

Hi Boston. I have read tons of your posts and I value your opinions, specifically which online NP programs do you consider to be of quality? I have researched and researched and Simmons as well as USI seem to be quality online programs. I could be wrong so I would like to know what you recommend. Thanks.

zmansc, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2014

I would question any program that requires no campus visits, but that is just me. My question to said program would be how do they have you prove certain skills that you should have prior to starting clinicals? Assessments, procedures, etc?

Expensive is also very difficult to calculate, remember to include the lost income during the program in your calculations. A shorter program with slightly higher overall tuition costs may actually be cheaper in the long run than a program that takes 6-12 months longer but costs less in tuition as you are able to get into the workforce sooner and start making money sooner.

I know next to nothing about the quality of online programs other than mine. We can all make judgements based on our own select criteria. Things that should be included (not a complete list by any means, nor in any particular order) are: preceptor support/monitoring (both in helping you with obtaining preceptors and in monitoring your clinical practicum), reputation of program, reputation of school (goes without saying that both of these are fairly good indicators of likelihood of quality of a program, but not always 100% accurate as things change over time), proctoring of exams/assessments, alignment of programs interests with yours (my school for example is oriented towards rural practice, it aligns with my needs very well), student support services (from help with technology issues to support when you are struggling with subject matter), quality of the curriculum delivery platform. I'm sure there are many other factors that should be considered.

When I was searching for a program, I talked to several practicing NPs in my area, shadowed many and asked them about their alma maters as well as schools that they precepted for and what they thought about each. This did a couple of things for me:

1) Helped me build a network of providers who knew me as an individual and were willing to help me later on (very important).

2) Helped me build a short list of programs that had decent reputations with the providers in my area, and more importantly remove some schools that had for whatever reason not lived up to their reputations with the providers in my area.

3) Gave me insight into what these NPs and providers thought was important and what questions to ask various schools as I searched.

As I said, I can't give insight into other schools, as I don't believe in giving insight on programs I don't have first hand experience with. My school FNU, provides very strong support for your clinical practicum, from a very structured plan to help you network and identify preceptors with significant assistance and support tools associated with that to extensive monitoring both on site and remotely of your progress in clinical situations. Some students find it overbearing and annoying, but I'd rather have that than be thrown to the wolves. They also have a very good remote proctoring program, which makes cheating on exams very difficult. I would never say cheating is impossible, because someone will always figure out a way to beat any system, and cheating has existed since long before online education, but I would estimate cheating is far more difficult and less prevalent with this setup than it is in the typical B&M setting I've been in during my undergrad. Two visits to campus are required, for just under two weeks total. These are required to make sure you are ready for your clinical experience, and I would be concerned if a program did not require that much hands on time prior to your clinical practicum. The programs focus is very strongly on rural practice, which aligns for me, but may not for many others. I think both the school and the programs reputation speak for themselves.

Negatives would be that costs have risen since I started, that seems to be a trend especially in education these days, and their curriculum delivery platform is less than ideal. I have had several conversations with folks in charge of the school and the program about this last one, and I know they are actively working towards major changes to improve it. I also would say, that I have never seen student feedback embraced so fully as at FNU. They obviously want to utilize the student feedback to improve the program, which is a very positive change from my experiences in the past.

allnurses Guide · Nov 18, 2014

Hi Boston. I have read tons of your posts and I value your opinions, specifically which online NP programs do you consider to be of quality? I have researched and researched and Simmons as well as USI seem to be quality online programs. I could be wrong so I would like to know what you recommend. Thanks.

Zman did a great job, and probably has more experience with online programs than I do.

Georgetown and Simmons are. It's excellent online-based program but I am sure there are many others. In short look for preceptor assistance, skills workshop visits.

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ICURN7 · Nov 20, 2014

Hi Boston. I have read tons of your posts and I value your opinions, specifically which online NP programs do you consider to be of quality? I have researched and researched and Simmons as well as USI seem to be quality online programs. I could be wrong so I would like to know what you recommend. Thanks.

Using your two options, I would say that I don't really know much about Simmons but i have heard a lot about USI. Consider looking into their program. While Georgetown has good reputation and all that, it is expensive, so that might not be an option if you are looking at relatively cheap and affordable program. Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Nov 20, 2014

FYI: Nursing@Simmons (the online program) is new and has yet to graduate a class, however, it uses the same online format as Nursing@Georgetown and is based on a highly-respected brick-and-mortar program in a prestigious medical mecca.

smith-alexanderBSN · Nov 23, 2014

Thank you for the reply