FNP program at University of southern indiana

Trauma Columnist · Jan 29, 2009

I did look into the program, but was told they were full till 2012!

PRIMESTAR1 · Jan 29, 2009

Thank you .Do u know anything about getting preceptors for an online program?Is it difficult?Do you know of any ANP online program that does not require campus visits.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 29, 2009

Preceptors for online programs is similar to preceptors for brick and mortar programs. Some hints I've used:

1. Exploit everyone you meet.

2. Network with other APNs via your state's APN organization.

3. Ask your instructors.

4. Ask classmates that are ahead of you in school - see who they used.

I know of no ANP online program that wouldn't require some kind of campus visits due to the skills check-offs that are needed at most schools prior to you starting clinicals.

PRIMESTAR1 · Jan 29, 2009

are you saying that even if it not an online program,we have to get our own preceptors?

PRIMESTAR1 · Jan 29, 2009

usi does not require any campus visits.That's why I wanted to know more about the clinical aspect

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Feb 8, 2009

Is anyone doing the FNP program online at USI?I wanted to know how the program is,and do we have any difficulty in finding our own preceptors.

I posted this on another thread. Hope it helps.

USI is a great school and would strongly recommend. Be prepared, however, to be buried with work for the entire time you are there. Students are quickly introduced to why no NP student has ever failed boards before--ever. Time intensive is quite the understatement, especially in the final year, and the final semester which I'm in now. I've always been a straight 'A' student, but have never worked harder in keeping my 4.00 than I have at USI. The reading load between texts, standards, articles and lit review is often unbearable and can easily take 20-40 hours per week just to keep up not including lectures, seminars and clinicals.
I live in CA and am doing clinicals in the Central Valley. Geting the right clinical site and preceptor is the most important element (at least for me) in the process. Finding clinical sites are reported as a common challenge among distance ed NP students, yet were never a problem for me. I feel obtaining a preceptor is more of a task of networking and selecting the best candidate than anything else. It's important not to "settle" for any place or site, or taking the first preceptor that comes along. I advise setting your goals high and selectively targeting qualities of an ideal preceptor and ultimately who you want as your preceptor. My first preceptor, as an example, is chief of medicine at our local trauma center. With 35K patients, my back-half preceptor owns the largest NP-based clinic in the state of California and was just named NP of the year in CA. He's a great clinician and very biz minded. Consequently, I get an expanded education. Of course, neither one of these chaps came looking for me, nor did they send me an invitation.
I hope this helps and if you would like more info about USI, check out their website:
http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/msn/fnp.asp
Thanks for asking and good luck.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Feb 8, 2009

I did look into the program, but was told they were full till 2012!

That was me and I'm sorry but I got some bad information. They are still taking students and are not full.

WitnessRN · Mar 4, 2009

Tammy, I was just accepted to USI. I love Jalane. So far everyone is very nice. I would love to hear more about USI I have to return my acceptance letter by March 26. I also applied to ISU and they said their letters of acceptance will come out next week. Do you know anything about that program there. I have applied for the FNP program at both schools. I would love any info you can give on one or both schools. I thought I read a post by you somewhere that you started at ISU. Why did you leave? :)

Thank you!

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Mar 5, 2009

Tammy, I was just accepted to USI. I love Jalane. So far everyone is very nice. I would love to hear more about USI I have to return my acceptance letter by March 26. I also applied to ISU and they said their letters of acceptance will come out next week. Do you know anything about that program there. I have applied for the FNP program at both schools. I would love any info you can give on one or both schools. I thought I read a post by you somewhere that you started at ISU. Why did you leave? :)
Thank you!

Congrats. You are going to really enjoy USI.

ISU? Well, the RN-BSN program is great, but in retrospect I am very happy with my transfer to USI. The freindly nature of faculty in the MSN program at ISU just wasn't there for me like in the BSN program and over at USI in the MSN program.

If you do choose ISU, however, I would recommend taking advanced pathophysiology somewhere else. The professor has completely unrealistic expectations and you really get a sence that you are being screwed from day one.

You defintely do not want to take adv statistics at ISU. The professor is well known for setting students up for failure. I'm far from being any psych major, but I get a feeling that she really enjoys tormenting students. This really is a phenomenon I have not seen since basic nursing school many years ago.

Also, find another place to take pharmacology. It is by far the worst course that I took as far as learning. I got a 99% and learned nothing. The professor is weak as she has only been a NP for a year or two.

At USI, there are no faculty in the MSN-FNP track withless 20 years FNP exp; you are treated like a human being; intimitation is substituted with open dialogue--all of which enhance learning.

WitnessRN · Mar 5, 2009

Thanks so much Tammy. Well, it looks like USI is the place I want and should be based on your experience. What a terrible experience you had with ISU MSN program. How disappointing that the ISU professors still have that attitude of torment and making one miserable. SAD!

Are there any learning points you would suggest at USI? So far everyone seems super nice and I spoke to Dean White as well. Wonderful lady. How do you work out the text book buying long distance. What did you spend on text books per year? ARe you allowed to use PA's for preceptors????

Thanks you so much for your time sharing this infomation. I will pay it forward while I am in the program as well. :)

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Mar 6, 2009

Thanks so much Tammy. Well, it looks like USI is the place I want and should be based on your experience. What a terrible experience you had with ISU MSN program. How disappointing that the ISU professors still have that attitude of torment and making one miserable. SAD!

And I'm on faculty with them too! No, but the RN-BSN faculty are top of the line people in all regards and most people have not had the same problems I had there.

Are there any learning points you would suggest at USI?

Hook up early with Dr. Hall and ask her for a list of texts for the back half of the program including the ones that I suggested to her to add. Start getting a sense of the material to be covered.

So far everyone seems super nice and I spoke to Dean White as well. Wonderful lady. How do you work out the text book buying long distance. What did you spend on text books per year? ARe you allowed to use PA's for preceptors????

She is first rate. As far as the books, I'm not sure. I'm a president of a local college and I have the publisher reps send copies of what I need. There were a few bizzare titles that i did have to order, and i really liked amazon.

Thanks you so much for your time sharing this infomation. I will pay it forward while I am in the program as well. :)

No worries. Make sure you get at least two preceptors. One primary and one in case of emergency. Never put yourself in a position where you have to stay in a bad place or with a bad preceptor.