FNP School

[future_FNP21]

I was recently admitted to University of Delaware and Drexel University's FNP program. I have a few questions if anyone is able to help out!

UD assists, and essentially, coordinates clinical placements whereas Drexel ultimately leaves it to you but has resources to help. Did anyone who attended Drexel's program have any difficulty securing clinical sites?

Also, any feedback on either programs? 

Thank you all for the help!

[JKL33]

On 8/4/2022 at 12:22 PM, future_FNP21 said:

UD assists, and essentially, coordinates clinical placements whereas Drexel ultimately leaves it to you but has resources to help.

Basically saying the same thing at the end of the day.

This is no longer just diploma mills but even state universities and otherwise well-respected entities that are riding the nursing-as-cash-cow trains in a race to the bottom. When a place says they assist and coordinate that very often means you give them the name of someone you have found and they "coordinate" by sending out a contract. Nearly everything else that matters is also up to you. If they are "really good" they may allow you get on a list, 6-9 months in advance, to have someone at the school actually try to help find a placement if you really, really need help...and they still may tell you that they couldn't find one either.

Try to get a VERY good idea who, specifically, is able and willing to accept you as a student, for each semester that you will need a preceptor, before you sign on.

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

On 8/7/2022 at 11:34 AM, JKL33 said:

Try to get a VERY good idea who, specifically, is able and willing to accept you as a student, for each semester that you will need a preceptor, before you sign on.

This. Clinical placement is very competitive due to multiple schools (brick & mortar as well as on-line) competing. Wait lists for clinical are often 2+ years! In addition, less people are willing to precept for clinicals due to the plethora of extremely poor FNP students (mostly on-line programs) thereby exacerbating the problem. 

This is why you're seeing a proliferation of companies that you pay to find clinical sites. These companies offer to pay preceptors to precept. Even that isn't enough incentive, however, to place your license on the line to precept a student that is blatantly unprepared and dangerous. 

[future_FNP21]

On 8/7/2022 at 11:34 AM, JKL33 said:

Basically saying the same thing at the end of the day.

This is no longer just diploma mills but even state universities and otherwise well-respected entities that are riding the nursing-as-cash-cow trains in a race to the bottom. When a place says they assist and coordinate that very often means you give them the name of someone you have found and they "coordinate" by sending out a contract. Nearly everything else that matters is also up to you. If they are "really good" they may allow you get on a list, 6-9 months in advance, to have someone at the school actually try to help find a placement if you really, really need help...and they still may tell you that they couldn't find one either.

Try to get a VERY good idea who, specifically, is able and willing to accept you as a student, for each semester that you will need a preceptor, before you sign on.

Hi! Thank you for your response - it was helpful! I've talked to a few people who went through the program at Delaware who said the school finds all of your clinical sites and preceptors, but do say you may have to travel up to 60 miles. However, I am definitely going to try and secure sites myself in the event things change. Thank you again!