ONLINE NP students....

Annaiya, NP · Jul 27, 2013

20-30. Just depends on what is going on that week.

sugarsweet21612 · Jul 27, 2013

8-16 hours a week at clinical, 5.5 hours a week in class, about 5-10 hours watching prerecorded lectures, plus studying, reading, writing papers, whatever's due for the week. So id say a good minimum of 30 hours. I'd say it's not necessarily less time consuming, just more flexible

Cessna172 · Jul 27, 2013

I spent probably 30 to 40 hours per week, at least, but often more.

TheDude77 · Jul 27, 2013

How many classes do each of you take at one time? My school is considered part time, one class every 8 wks year round. The admissions person told me working 40 he's a week was very doable, but of course she is going to say that.

sugarsweet21612 · Jul 28, 2013

I'm full time. I have two or three classes each semester. The part time people in my program have one or two classes, however have to spend the same number of hours in clinical each week as I do.

I would never be able to work 40 hours a week while doing this. I know some people on the site do, but I am far from "lazy" and generally able to balance a fair number of things, and I think it would near impossible for me to be working full time.

Many of the part time people in my program were originally working full time, but many have quit with the increased clinical hours as we near the end of the program.

Hope this helps.

mschelee, MSN, RN · Jul 29, 2013

Hi today was my last day of the online Rn-BSN program at GCU. I have an interview in August for their online acute-care nurse practitioner program, but the program is a three-year program as opposed to two-year programs that a lot of the other schools have. I'm still weighing my options what what is your reason for leaving GCU for your graduate degree? One thing that I like about their program, is that you take one class at a time, as opposed to having to take multiple classes. I'm hoping that even though this is a three-year program that it will make it less stressful.

fuzzy911 · Jul 29, 2013

Most schools are at least two and a half years now. Many just havnt updated their information... If u like it and are comfortable with it, id say stick with it

TheDude77 · Jul 30, 2013

Hi today was my last day of the online Rn-BSN program at GCU. I have an interview in August for their online acute-care nurse practitioner program but the program is a three-year program as opposed to two-year programs that a lot of the other schools have. I'm still weighing my options what what is your reason for leaving GCU for your graduate degree? One thing that I like about their program, is that you take one class at a time, as opposed to having to take multiple classes. I'm hoping that even though this is a three-year program that it will make it less stressful.[/quote']
I'm leaving bc I didn't enjoy the majority of my gcu experiences. Also, I'm going for psych NP which they do not have and their tuition is ridiculous.

just keep swimming · Jul 30, 2013

How many hours a week do you spend studying? I know each school is different, but they have to be set up the same to a certain degree. I'm thinking of applying to the PMHNP program at EKU. While I am 4 wks away of completing my online RN-BSN online through GCU, I feel working towards an NP degree will be completely different online.

I finished my online BSN immediately before starting an online FNP program. I started in January, so I am well into it now. Much of it is similar to the BSN; however, I had been a nurse for 6 years before going back for my BSN, so there wasn't much new material. What I have found in this program is that there is a lot of self teaching. There is only so much new material that can be taught in an online setting...you are responsible for knowing the rest. There is a lot of writing...TONS!!!

I work full time+, so about 50hrs a week, and do about 12 hrs each week at clinical. On top of that, I spend maybe 10-15 hrs a week on just homework, then 5-6 on online recorded lectures, and then many more (it all depends on how much time my kids give me) studying and going over board review materials.

The way my program goes is that you have three classes each semester. One class is 16 weeks and the other two are 8 weeks each. There is a 5 day break between semesters and 2 two week breaks each year. It is an accelerated program and goes for 20 months. If I didn't have a job waiting for me, I would have stretched it out quite a bit more....it is pretty hard to dive deep into anything when you only have a couple days to focus on it. I have saved up enough time off that I will be able to work less than one full shift a week for the three months before I graduate and still be paid full time to give me time to study for the boards.

Like I said, the main difference is the amount of self teaching that you have to do. If you are motivated, you can do it! I created an online study/support group that has worked really well for those of us in classes together since we lack the in class interaction.

If you have any other questions, let me know.

One thing I would stress is to check your program out thoroughly before deciding to go there. I didn't and am paying for it now with instructors that are not very helpful. I've been able to maintain a 4.0 so far, but I feel like I spend more time than I should trying to get them to do their jobs!

No matter which way you look at it, it sucks! Hopefully it will pay off in the end! Good luck!

Cessna172 · Jul 30, 2013

I just wanted to clarify, included in my time spent studying was time spent on assignments as well. There were several semesters where I had 12 to 18 hours a day doing assignments and studying for tests. My university is literally a block away from my house, but the program was based online primarily. I was able to work very little, fortunately. I had 2 to 3 classes per semester.

TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2013

@keepswimming...what program are you in/school are you in?