NP schools now required to find clinical sites?

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Sep 14, 2018

You have to remember that for most nurses pursuing NP, convenience is their ultimate concern. They aren't looking for a challenge. They aren't concerned with actually learning or mastering medicine. They expect a lot for very little. They aren't interested in making sacrifices. So they'd rather sit out or drop out if they were expected to do clinical full time or drive a distance to clinical. Very different mind set to medical students and even PA students.

Yes! And when my coworkers ask about schools, I try to steer them to mine or another school in our city (mainly mine but both provide preceptors; the other is a fairly FNP program even though they've had undergraduate and anesthesia for a long time). My coworkers squawk at having to actually sit in class sometimes.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 15, 2018

You have to remember that for most nurses pursuing NP, convenience is their ultimate concern. They aren't looking for a challenge. They aren't concerned with actually learning or mastering medicine. They expect a lot for very little. They aren't interested in making sacrifices. So they'd rather sit out or drop out if they were expected to do clinical full time or drive a distance to clinical. Very different mind set to medical students and even PA students.

No wonder why NPs are losing respect when being on the Mommy-track seems to be the biggest concern for many.

Dodongo, APRN, NP · Sep 15, 2018

No wonder why NPs are losing respect when being on the Mommy-track seems to be the biggest concern for many.

Seriously. I just had this happen on Facebook yesterday. Woman complaining that she had to sit out a semester from WALDEN because she couldn't find a preceptor. I said, maybe don't go to Walden or other schools like it. She goes on a diatribe about having to work steady nights to support her kids that play 3 sports each, etc. Guess what - IDGAF. You don't deserve anything. If you cant devote a certain majority of your time to learning medicine, then you shouldn't be a NP.

Spadeforce · Sep 15, 2018

Walden lol. I doubt I'd ever hire anybody from there. Probably some good people graduate from there but back when I was working as an np three years ago everybody was in Walden part time complaining about having to write papers and obtaining clinical placement. Sadly it was usually the nurses that would page me at 3 am bc a patient hadn't pooped for 5 hours that went to Walden..... you know the ones with no sense to what was going on at the RN level.

It was then I knew I had to leave the profession when the averwge became that subpar

not that all docs are perfect but at least med school takes effort.

*puts on gown before flames come in"

Dodongo, APRN, NP · Sep 15, 2018

Walden lol. I doubt I'd ever hire anybody from there. Probably some good people graduate from there but back when I was working as an np three years ago everybody was in Walden part time complaining about having to write papers and obtaining clinical placement. Sadly it was usually the nurses that would page me at 3 am bc a patient hadn't pooped for 5 hours that went to Walden..... you know the ones with no sense to what was going on at the RN level.
It was then I knew I had to leave the profession when the averwge became that subpar
not that all docs are perfect but at least med school takes effort.
*puts on gown before flames come in"

I always ask other NPs where they attended school and where they worked as a nurse and prior NP experience. You should at least do that before painting with such a broad brush. Now, if a NP tells me they went to Walden, or did a direct entry program, it takes a whole hell of a lot for them to prove themselves to me. And, anecdotally, and unfortunately, the Walden NPs I've met have never impressed me. Rather worse, they frighten me.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Sep 15, 2018

Walden lol. I doubt I'd ever hire anybody from there. Probably some good people graduate from there but back when I was working as an np three years ago everybody was in Walden part time complaining about having to write papers and obtaining clinical placement. Sadly it was usually the nurses that would page me at 3 am bc a patient hadn't pooped for 5 hours that went to Walden..... you know the ones with no sense to what was going on at the RN level.
It was then I knew I had to leave the profession when the averwge became that subpar
not that all docs are perfect but at least med school takes effort.
*puts on gown before flames come in"

No flames here. Want some gum?

bryanleo9 · Sep 16, 2018

I think the wording is a little more specific than that, but I foresee angry students when a national online school says "you can look for your own OR use this preceptor we've already set up that's 2 hours away."

The way things are now, an NP school providing a preceptor 2 hours away would be so much better than begging for one locally.

Spadeforce · Sep 16, 2018

I should have said "at least all med schools require effort"

I'm sure some np schools do but what the outside world sees is equivalent to the weakest link

Dodongo, APRN, NP · Sep 16, 2018

I should have said "at least all med schools require effort"
I'm sure some np schools do but what the outside world sees is equivalent to the weakest link

Absolutely agree. Each profession is judged by their weakest members and their weakest programs. Unfortunately, out of the 3 provider level professions, NPs have the lowest average... But is it any surprise? Again I point you to the average matriculant. These schools are catering to the lowest common denominators that should never have a chance in hell of gaining admittance to any program. They want to work full-time and never have to go to campus. With a "actual lectures and tests are for suckers" mindset. Asking them to do 500 clinical hours is just too much, let alone suggesting this is a pitiful amount to practice medicine. But, but, but my family & kids/free-time/literally anything else is more important than being responsible for people's lives when I graduate. Don't ask me to take this seriously or anything. I don't know. I have half a mind to start to show up to lobby days and advocate against NP independent practice. Nothing will change with the current duds in leadership. Gotta hit 'em where it hurts I suppose.

Telenurse1990 · Sep 18, 2018

Seriously. I just had this happen on Facebook yesterday. Woman complaining that she had to sit out a semester from WALDEN because she couldn't find a preceptor. I said, maybe don't go to Walden or other schools like it. She goes on a diatribe about having to work steady nights to support her kids that play 3 sports each, etc. Guess what - IDGAF. You don't deserve anything. If you cant devote a certain majority of your time to learning medicine, then you shouldn't be a NP.

I get so much crap sometimes because I absolutely can not stand this new culture that has exploded on social media with nurses with less than a year of experience giving advice of getting into a school of advanced practice. People who literally know next to nothing are becoming providers and it's a joke. It's an insult to people who actually have dedicated a good portion of their life becoming skilled RNs to take orders from someone who has no business medically directing anyone. Of all the NPs I've worked with, i'd trust less than a handful with my care or a family members care. I guess CRNA school is different, but I still don't believe a year of ICU experience is sufficient to become an anesthesia provider. But, anyways, maybe these schools will up their experience requirements to weed out the candidates.

And your point is completely valid. If you can't dedicate the appropriate time, then too bad.

allnurses Guide · Sep 18, 2018

I get so much crap sometimes because I absolutely can not stand this new culture that has exploded on social media with nurses with less than a year of experience giving advice of getting into a school of advanced practice.

What about it bothers you so much? Regardless of how much experience they have, if they are current APN students aren't they qualified to give advice on how to get into APN school?

Telenurse1990 · Sep 18, 2018

What about it bothers you so much? Regardless of how much experience they have, if they are current APN students aren't they qualified to give advice on how to get into APN school?

Its because its becoming a fad and sets an unrealistic expectation for students. Also because their lack of experience and willingness to go to any school that will get them licensed is ultimately destroying the profession. I would never trust a nurse practitioner that went to Walden or Chamberlain (Although i'm sure some great NPs have been produced) with directing my family member's treatment or my own. Especially when they have little to no experience. Because I know from my own research from applying to NP schools that they have absolutely no standards.