Is NP School as Bad as Undergrad NS?

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

When I say bad, I mean are the teachers still trying to weed you out all the way through the program. Are you still treated like children and stressed to the point of mental illness throughout the entire program.

I felt like there was so much unnecessary drama in nursing school. The instructors made things more difficult than they had to be.. and when they were angry at the behavior of some students, the entire cohort was punished. As an older, non-traditional student, I hated being treated like a child.

I'm considering UTMB's Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner program but I don't think I can handle 2 more years of catty instructors eating their young.

In short, are you treated with a little more respect, and as an adult in NP school?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Grad school (in all tracts) is usually better in relation to the undergrad problems you describe.

1. There is less need to "weed out" as most students have already shown themselves to be capable nurses. But there is still a little needed as not every nurse is cut out for graduate level work. Some courses may still be very challenging, will require hard work, and some people will not perform up to the standard.

2. The faculty is usually more invested in their academic careers and in the success of their students

3. The students usually have a more positive attitude about their work ... WANT to be in school ... and there is more cooperation between students and less competition.

Of course, there are always exceptions ... but that is what most people find.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I wasn't overly stressed out by my undergrad program and the grad program was harder by comparison. But some additional stresses were attending school that was 1:20 hours away from home as opposed to one that was a mile away. The proximity of the school was a big factor in my choice of undergrad programs (besides being one of the few public accelerated BSNs). For grad school I was looking for a higher quality program. In the masters program there was a lot more reading, a lot more writing assignments. Clinical placements are 1:1 rather than a group so there are more opportunities to take control of your own learning experience. I didn't feel "babied" in the program, except that there was excessive attention paid to test scores and gpa when we know in the real world nobody cares. Your work experience matters a lot more than your academic performance.

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

I know what you mean with the way you portrayed undergraduate nursing education in your post. There is a tendency to use scare tactics, enforce irrational stringent rules, and run students through the wringer in an attempt to make it look like the coveted nursing degree is only attainable by a select few. Not all schools operate like that.

I can tell you based on my experience that graduate school (specifically the NP program I attended) wasn't like that. The school certainly has admission criteria in terms of GPA and relevant nursing experience and not everyone gets an invitation to enroll. However, once admitted the goal is to facilitate the students success through the program.

There are requirements in terms of succession through the program in terms of grades (I.e., only grades with B and above can advance, majority of courses should be taken in the nursing school, there is a set time frame for degree completion). These are standard requirements in many graduate programs.

The things that made me feel that there is a more supportive environment is the fact that our classes are in the evening hours. It did allow for some people who worked during the day to attend after work (though not as convenient for those with young kids). There were individual projects as well as group projects in most of the courses.

I didn't care too much about group projects because the likelihood of getting a good grade relies on the dependability of your group mates. Learning can be self-directed. There is very little time for lectures in terms of the breadth and depth of the content being taught. You must, in order to understand the concepts fully and pass tests, do a lot of reading on your own.

The school arranged our clinical rotations and I lived in the immediate area where the school was located so the facilities I rotated in are all within easy driving distance. The NP preceptorship were mostly graduates of the program and are familiar with what I needed to learn. The physicians we worked with we're personable and willing to teach.

Unlike undergrad, you are the only student in the clinical setting and the preceptor is with you one on one. My ACNP class was maybe 8 students (this was in 2002-2003, a time when the program wasn't as popular). All the students in my class graduated and are all practicing.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone for replying. It makes me feel like I have something to go on now as I consider grad school in the future! :)

[2015]

I just started an MSN program. The schools is so supportive. They even call to check how am doing if they haven't heard from me for a while. I owe my admission to them because they kept calling and checking on the status of my application which made me work on it faster to meet a November deadline. If it weren't for them, I would possibly be starting in March instead of January.

OP, my two sisters in-law go to the NS you just described. If the instructor doesn't like you, you fail. Very childish I have to say.

[uronurse1]

Grad school (in all tracts) is usually better in relation to the undergrad problems you describe.1. There is less need to "weed out" as most students have already shown themselves to be capable nurses. But there is still a little needed as not every nurse is cut out for graduate level work. Some courses may still be very challenging, will require hard work, and some people will not perform up to the standard.2. The faculty is usually more invested in their academic careers and in the success of their students3. The students usually have a more positive attitude about their work ... WANT to be in school ... and there is more cooperation between students and less competition.Of course, there are always exceptions ... but that is what most people find.

Wholeheartedly agree with this. This describes my msn/fnp program. It was a great experience. ADN program years ago was awful. Totally different experiences. Thankfully!

[Anonymous1369]

I'm in an AE MSN program and as one of my professors put it "you've already proven you deserve to be here, at this point we are going to do everything we can to make sure that you succeed." The graduate level course work is definitely challenging but I have always felt a lot of support and respect from the faculty, with 1 or 2 minor exceptions.

[NJprisonrn]

I feel that NP school is much harder, but more enjoyable than undergrad RN school. I find clinical to be more mentally taxing, yet I look forward to going. This is a direct contrast to dreading my shifts in NS. As stated above, the teachers seem to me to be very invested in our success. There is a level of weeding out, but not everyone can pass a rigorous program. The level of respect is much better. I tolerated some aspects of NS but I am enjoying the learning and level of intrigue that NP school brings. I understand topics SO much more this second time around. I feel like my teachers are working hard to prepare us to be clinicians. I think you find it to be a great decision, as I have.

[carachel2]

I found NP school to demand a much much higher level of critical thinking and working but overall less stupid nit picking. I agree with the comments that the faculty NEEDS you to do well and as such they are more vested in you over all. The faculty all actually work as NPs and therefore they have a foot in the real world..i always felt undergrad faculty did not. Most of the students are older and you will be more of the norm. UT Arlington has a fantastic program if you are still looking.

[avon123]

Hello, carachel2, does ut arlington fnp brick and mortar program arrange clinical sites for students?