Herzing PMHNP Program Jan 2021 start

Ashley B · Jun 1, 2021

Hello! I’m looking to maybe start this fall or Spring semester but worried it might be too much. I have two kids and work full time. What are your thoughts? Also worried because I’ve been a Med surge nurse in a hospital for 6 years but looking to move to psyche. Do you think I need psyche experience first? How is it finding preceptors?

Denise Durham, ASN, MSN · Jun 1, 2021

Hi Ashley,

My first question would be where do you live and what resources do you have access to? I work 32 hours a week, 8 hour days but, I have been a nurse for 30 years, have my MSN, and work in a dual diagnosis facility for addiction and mental health.

The school work is a lot! How disciplined are you? A lot of my peers are having to pay for preceptors. The school does not help you with finding preceptors.

I don't mean to be discouraging. I am a straight shooter so I just want you to have a real understanding of what you would be getting into.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Best of Luck,

Denise

Ashley B · Jun 1, 2021

No I appreciate your honestly! I am in NJ so have access to all kinds of facility. I’m thinking about maybe taking a per diem position somewhere. I’d love to do addiction specialty too but not sure as I have experience only in the hospital as an acute care/med surge nurse. Your posts are making me lean to FNP and then post masters PMHNP perhaps.

I currently work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week but have a far commute so total I work between 42-45 hours a week and have 2 kids, ages 10 and 4.

Denise Durham, ASN, MSN · Jun 1, 2021

I would go ahead and try to get a job in psych/mental health. The resources you will have will be invaluable! Herzing as a school is great, it's just the program just started last September so it is experiencing growing pains and we are all feeling it!

Let me know if you need anything.

Denise

Ashley B · Jun 1, 2021

Thanks for all the info!! How much time would you say you spent per week on the program? I am a very self motivated learned but just don’t want to go through what I went through with my undergrad. I have a Bachelor’s in History and so I did the accelerated program for my BSN and I literally gave up everything for 15 months. I don’t mind making sacrifices, but I just don’t want school to consume my life like it did with my BSN.

Denise Durham, ASN, MSN · Jun 1, 2021

That varies depending on what the school week looks like. I have spent up to 24 hours a week. Some weeks you have two discussion posts which both require two responses and in some weeks you also have a paper assignment. For some courses, you have a timed test on Sundays, too!

Ashley B · Jun 1, 2021

That’s not terrible. Are all classes, even like pharmacology and patho, 8 weeks long ?

Denise Durham, ASN, MSN · Jun 1, 2021

No some are 16 weeks. It is manageable if you do one class per term. We have term A, term B, and term C. Term A is the first 8 weeks of the semester, term B is the second 8 weeks of the semester and term C is the full 16 weeks. It depends on the class as to which term and how long it is.

Ashley B · Jun 1, 2021

Ahh gotcha OK ! Thank you for all of the info !! I’m pretty sure I’ll be going to Herzing, I’m just between FNP and PMHNP.

Denise Durham, ASN, MSN · Jun 2, 2021

Sure thing Ashley. Let me know if you need anything else.

Denise

Torri Taylor-Spencer, MSN, RN · Jul 7, 2021

I’m starting the post masters pmhnp program on the 12th of this month! I have 4 yrs snf/rehab exp and I’ve currently been working in NICU for 4yrs. I just recently started a per diem treatment facility doing inpatient detox. I just finished my MSN (general-no specialty) in dec 2020. Any advice? Thanks in advance!!