Right now I am detox nurse, working 3 shifts x8 hours in a detox unit in a psychiatric hospital in MA. I graduated in 2019 May and I am considering going to PMHNP program in this fall or next Spring.
I am debating between the online program and on-campus program.
1 The on -campus program in MGH IHP, Northeastern, BC costs 100,000 dollars. I am a little bit scared by the student loan. For online programs like Regis, Walden, it costs about 50,000 dollars and it looks like more manageable.
2 I have a kid in elementary school and I still wanna work when I do my NP program. On line programs can save tons of commute time. However, I will need find preceptors on my own for these online programs which I have no clue how hard it will be or if it is doable.
I will appreciate any input/ information/ advice. Any info will be very helpful and meaningful to me.
Thank you all so much. This forum gave me a lot of support and let me felt so warm all the way on my journey from a pre-nurse student to RN. Thanks and wish everyone stay in good health in these tough days.
I attended a reputable school's online option and only had to travel once a year to the campus. Keep in mind that it's more often the norm that schools do not find clinical preceptors for you, whether that's on-campus or online school.
Allowing schools to get away with this, and calling it "the norm" does not make it an acceptable option. The school simply cannot guarantee the quality of your education as a provider without managing who is precepting their students.
Allowing schools to get away with this, and calling it "the norm" does not make it an acceptable option. The school simply cannot guarantee the quality of your education as a provider without managing who is precepting their students.
I agree with you that this norm is not acceptable but it is what a lot of us have to face. I ask you this in all earnestness: if you have any good ideas on how to sway the schools otherwise, what would they be? I have no qualms with getting in touch with my alma mater and arguing a good case.
And keep in mind that this isn't just an issue with distance programs--even brick and mortar schools can't and don't guarantee preceptor placement.
I cannot tell you how many people I know who regretted doing online programs, because they were required to find their own preceptors. They were enormously stressed, and some had to take a semester off because they could not find a preceptor. If you do an online program, question them carefully about preceptors. There are some schools that have a good network already in place. But most don't, in my experience.
I can't remember which school it was, but I recently heard of an on-campus program that was requiring students to find their own preceptors. I hope that is not a trend! At this time, it is not the norm. But definitely ask questions.
I'm unsure of where you live but it is the norm in California. While I opted to do an out-of-state distance program, I have many colleagues who went to school locally and still had to find their own preceptors. There are some local healthcare organizations that have precepting programs, so I was saved by that.
My DNP program is brick and mortar, but mostly distance. We have class 1 day a week before covid on the campus.
Most of your time should be clinic anyway, which make sure you ask about wherever you go. Having to find your own place instead of having the school already set you up with one is a HUGE problem.
I agree with you that this norm is not acceptable but it is what a lot of us have to face. I ask you this in all earnestness: if you have any good ideas on how to sway the schools otherwise, what would they be? I have no qualms with getting in touch with my alma mater and arguing a good case.
And keep in mind that this isn't just an issue with distance programs--even brick and mortar schools can't and don't guarantee preceptor placement.
Okay so if this the and norm, one should question NP education across the board. There is absolutely no quality and control with this system. Schools were continue to pull this crap until the accreditation bodies get their act together. Problem is, every RN out there feels entitled to not only go to NP school but also on the cheap with convenient delivery. You can't have your cake and eat it too. I am all for online education but the nursing world has taken it too far and with too much haphazard gusto. NO OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSION DOES THIS. Not PT, not PA, not MD, hell not even RN programs do this.
My buddy found his freaking preceptor off of Tinder for goodness sake. But also lucky him hahah...
This depends on how you learn. Some people love seeing a teacher and lapping up what they say. I could never stand sitting in a class for three hours listening to a large lady rambling on forever. I can pick up info quickly and do not need ppt or ramblings forever, I read the book and maintain a 4.o. Classes are for the lower 70 percent
I can pick up info quickly and do not need ppt or ramblings forever, I read the book and maintain a 4.o. Classes are for the lower 70 percent
We actually had a formal class debate (not on this topic of course) and because of that process I can see that you're using personal attacks by calling professors "large ladies" and that "classes are for the lower 70 percent," both are false and irrelevant to the discussion (also it's quite mean).
If my NP program only requires me to read books, take tests, and write papers, it wouldn't be a challenge for me, at all. Your generalization that professors do none more than lecture is just that, a gross generalization.
Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
6 hours ago, umbdude said:
We actually had a formal class debate (not on this topic of course) and because of that process I can see that you're using personal attacks by calling professors "large ladies" and that "classes are for the lower 70 percent," both are false and irrelevant to the discussion (also it's quite mean).
If my NP program only requires me to read books, take tests, and write papers, it wouldn't be a challenge for me, at all. Your generalization that professors do none more than lecture is just that, a gross generalization.
Agree. It's as if to say s/he would never have questions or need for chevron, further explanation, etc. That simply isn't true. And guess where you'd get that sort of thing? In a class! PAs and physicians don't disparage classroom learning and there are bright folks in those disciplines as well. Only Nursing wants it the easy way. I'm also a fan of abolishing online learning (I think some hybrid activity is OK) so that the barrier to entry is higher. It's basic economics. If you restrict entry to a profession it raises the value of its members, leading to better compensation.
ghillbert, MSN, NP
3,796 Posts
Allowing schools to get away with this, and calling it "the norm" does not make it an acceptable option. The school simply cannot guarantee the quality of your education as a provider without managing who is precepting their students.