Online NP Programs without a ton of on-campus requirements?

Jessann5 · Jul 20, 2016

I am starting at Maryville for post-masters FNP certificate in January. There is no campus requirement and the program is 100% online, except for clinical, of course. So far, I like the structure of the program. You have the ability to access classes 24/7 and the tuition rate is not bad $781.00 per credit hour. The clinical hours are 745, which is a bit more than some other schools I have checked into.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 20, 2016

If you want to do FNP, Chamberlain only requires one campus visit for you to do your skills check-off when you take your Health Assessment course. It's right before you start clinicals. You do have to locate your own preceptors for your clinicals. I was originally going to go there for my FNP since I'm finishing my BSN with them and my employer offers tuition reimbursement with them for the BSN. However, they will only hire NPs who graduate from state schools, so private colleges are off the table for me.

University of South Alabama has a 3 day on-campus intensive that you attend prior to starting clinicals. However, as I was reading, you may have to go on campus for a final exam, too. The remainder of the exams are done via an online proctor service (with camera/audio enabled).

University of Michigan-Flint (not the Ann Arbor campus) only requires on-campus visits once per year. If you're in the state of Michigan, the tuition is really affordable, too.

I had also looked at University of Arizona, but their tuition was too high for me ($956/credit hour), as was Vanderbilt's tuition ($1,357/credit hour).

Good luck with your search.

eliyazure · Jul 21, 2016

I went to Simmons College's online FNP program out of Boston. They have one time only on campus weekend event they call "immersion weekend" before clinicals start. During the weekend you do your physical exam in front of a professor and practice suturing, as well as the chance to get to meet everyone you know only in person. It was a great experience and I had a lot of fun with my classmates. The program workload is pretty intense though.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 26, 2016

eliyazure

Make sure you nail down the preceptors. What does the school offer to do to help with this extremely crucial part of becoming an NP? Have them put it in writing.

This component of many programs has derailed many nurses.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 26, 2016

If you want to do FNP, Chamberlain only requires one campus visit for you to do your skills check-off when you take your Health Assessment course. It's right before you start clinicals. You do have to locate your own preceptors for your clinicals. I was originally going to go there for my FNP since I'm finishing my BSN with them and my employer offers tuition reimbursement with them for the BSN. However, they will only hire NPs who graduate from state schools, so private colleges are off the table for me.
University of South Alabama has a 3 day on-campus intensive that you attend prior to starting clinicals. However, as I was reading, you may have to go on campus for a final exam, too. The remainder of the exams are done via an online proctor service (with camera/audio enabled).
University of Michigan-Flint (not the Ann Arbor campus) only requires on-campus visits once per year. If you're in the state of Michigan, the tuition is really affordable, too.
I had also looked at University of Arizona, but their tuition was too high for me ($956/credit hour), as was Vanderbilt's tuition ($1,357/credit hour).
Good luck with your search.

Finding your own clinicals? How much does the school pay you to do this for them so they can collect your tuition money. Doesn't it sound a bit overreaching to expect a M.D. or N P to teach you for 700 plus hours out of the kindness of their hearts. Remember, they are running a business as are the schools. I don't see the schools, especially for-profits, cutting anyone a break on this issue.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 26, 2016

I am starting at Maryville for post-masters FNP certificate in January. There is no campus requirement and the program is 100% online, except for clinical, of course. So far, I like the structure of the program. You have the ability to access classes 24/7 and the tuition rate is not bad $781.00 per credit hour. The clinical hours are 745, which is a bit more than some other schools I have checked into.

So the school will provide you with definite contractualized access to all the preceptors you will need to obtain for the school's required 745 hours of clinical time. You should have them put this in writing and have it notarized. I'm sure they will be more than happy to do this. But just make sure you don't hold your breath on that one.

eliyazure · Jul 27, 2016

Buyer beware, that is a good concern.

Personally, I had a great clinical placement team that worked closely with me to find my clinical rotation sites. My assigned placement specialist made calls, emails, letters, and found connections via alumni etc. Her name was Erika and I talked to her all the time. I was also able to recommend places on my own and she would contact them on my behalf. No one in my class was unable to be placed for a clinical. I completed my clinical rotations in pediatrics, 2 family practice rotations, and women's health all within 30-40 minutes from my house. I absolutely loved my preceptors and had a good experience. A Simmons instructor does travel out to your clinical placement, while you are there, to evaluate you at the site to make sure it is an appropriate site and you are meeting the rotation requirements.

Yes, they make you sign a waiver understanding it is a possibility there might not be an available preceptor in your area or you may have to travel up to 2 hours. The farthest I remember a classmate traveling was about an hour and a half. No one in my cohort was unable to find a preceptor. I did hear of one girl in another cohort that was not placed so she doubled up on her second rotation so she could complete the program in time. The extreme workload and difficult coursework was actually the reason most people dropped out, not failure to find clinical placement.

I think there is this risk with all programs, I was at DeSales University, which is not online, and they couldn't find me a placement due to local competition for preceptors. This is why I transferred to Simmons. Thanks to Simmons I graduated within 18 months, passed my boards, and I just got my first job as an FNP.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 27, 2016

@eliyazure,

I am so glag to hear this about the substantive preceptor assistance you received from your school. Unfortunately in many NP schools that relentlessly troll cyberspace this is not the case and the hoards of would-be NPs are not definitively informed of this career and financially destructive issue up-front. This is unconscionable to say the very least.

So my question is : Why is this the best kept secret in post graduate nursing education? I can only conclude that the profit motive has been allowed to rein over doing the right thing by nursing leadership, CCNE, the Department of Education and other authoritative and informational nursing entities.

Please help me get the word out about this. Your good fortune with the ongoing preceptor problem is terrific. But it shouldn't be left up to good fortune or luck in picking the most educationally responsble schools. There needs to be an accreditation requirement with teeth that says:"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BEING ACCREDITED" if the students are going to be forced to go to any preceptor hat-in-hand. As you know this is not done on a level playing field (due to the intense competition for these spots); and often times in an unseemly and unprofessional solicitation. "As in "please sir or madame, teach me for free because it's the right thing to do."

The stories I have heard have been horrendous. And despite this, few in a position to uphold quality standards care or are in a position to fight the power. What a deceptive mess. Nursing students should not be forced to be cold-call salespeople. Especially not at today's tuition prices.

Malenurse1235954 · Jul 28, 2016

There are just so many options nowdays. I used NursingCAS – The Centralized Application for Nursing Programs as a database. University of Arizona has a one week, once a year on campus RISE.

allnurses Guide · Jul 28, 2016

You are making a huge investment both personally and financially in what will likely be your terminal career: balance that with the thought of taking a day off a week for the next two years. The sacrifice for the best perpetration possible may be well worth it in the long run.

alouette66 · Jul 29, 2016

Thank you for posting this... exactly what I was looking for!! :)