What are you alls take on the online programs. Reason I ask, is it seems many people who complete online only FNP programs seem to have trouble finding jobs. As i read in a post from one of the moderators here, nurse practitioner programs are not as balanced across the board as medical and PA schools. Does this seem to to you all who have been through online. Have you had trouble finding preceptors and jobs after graduation? For you who have completed the programs at a live campus program with no online component (this is what I did) have you noticed an easier time finding employment. There is a large online FNP program which has its headquarters actually in my area (Frontier school of nursing). My employing physician group had some complaints about a couple graduates from this program being very under par. I have also spoke to a nurse in our ER who is in there program who stated it is mostly simply writing papers. They also have a pass rate of around 60% of the board exams I believe.
How do these programs get accredited? Should our certifying bodies not put more stringent requirements on these programs. I know the CRNA program at the school i graduated from (Lincoln Memorial University) had very strict requirements for the CRNA program to adhere to. This was also true of our program. Why is this not the same for FNP or other NP programs? Should this not be a lever playing field? It just seems that the range of program quality is very lenient, thus decreasing the respect for all APRNs.
I know this is sort of a dual topic, but it makes it difficult on the rest of us, when any no name online university can simply open up a terribly put together online program which does not prepare students for the tasks required of nurse practitioners.
This is my personal observation though, with some input from physicians in my area and other nurse practitioners, so maybe this is a local problem, but I am wondering if this is more of a widespread issue also.
I'm basically repeating what many of the groups that hire around me state. You may be correct. Maybe they did no research the college, but they do the hiring where I live. So sadly, no matter how false their information is, it is what they go by when hiring new employees. I would be doing people a dissatisfaction by not stating what I have heard from them. As I said before I have nothing against the school or the hospital. I actually like the hospital system. What benefit would I gain by making up statistics when I've already finished my program? None. I just want a well informed community regarding what recruiters think of certain programs.
I apologize for for the inconvenience
By repeating something you know to be untrue, you continue to propagate falsehoods. The disservice you are doing is by continuing to act like you are spreading information when in fact you are spreading lies and information that you have been shown to be incorrect. If you truly want an informed community than you should correct those who told you this misinformation in the first place, not continue to spread it.
Specializes in Internal medicine/critical care/FP.
as i said i can only represent the thoughts in my area. it does seem strange for a school to have a not so good rap where it is physically located. i honestly hope for everybody's sake that you are correct, but how many people in this convo have actually been to the schools physical location? has anybody on this website met students from the school and graduates in person? or do they live near the school as i do? it isn't hard to acquire a false online reputation of being a great university. I will let you all figure this out for yourselves. I enjoyed this conversation and hope somebody to find it useful. sometimes its good to look at a university from a physical perspective and not an online only perspective.
it is just hard to combat evidence i have heard in person in relation to content posted on an online forum. I wish the best for the universities graduates and hope, again, that the rumors floating around my area are false.
I've been to the location, I know many current and former students. That is not the point, nor is it relevant. What is relevant is when you continue to make blatantly false statements against someone. You claim to know facts, but those facts turn out to be false time and time again. You have no evidence, no proof, just hearsay and you continue to disparage the university, the alumni and the students with no facts. That is called slander and is not acceptable behavior.
Specializes in Internal medicine/critical care/FP.
i think we have just spoken to different people with different opinions. lets just leave it at that. not worth arguing about. that was def a long trip from new mexico to hindman ky. hope you enjoyed it here while you where here, its a little different, but still a nice place.
Well, at least the online program I attend makes certain their students know how to spell and write with proper English grammar. They also make sure we are able to back up anything we say with data.
I know many graduates of reputable online programs who have had no problem finding jobs and being successful advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
People seem to be debating two different topics: local hiring practices and the quality of the online program.
I would venture to say that the majority of employers have some bias on hiring new grads from particular programs, for better or worse. This may or may not have anything to do with the quality of the program.
My office only precepts students and hires novice NPs from one (and occasionally one other) local programs and our affiliate hospital won't hire or credential novice NPs from a few select programs. Employers have bias and it it not always rooted in fact.
I attend UTEP's online FNP program and can say without a doubt that online education in general is not for everyone. I personally love it, but I also love self directed learning and am extremely disciplined. It was a pretty selective program, and during our admission interviews they specifically addressed whether or not we like this style of learning. Because of this, we have only had two people out of our original class of 40 drop out, and both cases were for family tragedies.
I also had to find my own preceptors, but I personally found this to be a big pro, versus being a negative. I got to choose physicians and NP's that I already know, and learn from people that are great practitioners and educators. If you're relatively new to nursing or don't practice in a setting where you come into contact with a lot of people, finding your own preceptors could be a huge challenge.
As far as finding a job, I personally have received several job offers in writing, and several of my classmates have as well. I also am close with 4 people that graduated last year, and they are all employed with great jobs.
To me employment in the field comes down much more to location than it does which school you attend. Sure, if you go to Georgetown and want to live in the DC area, it's not a bad option. However, if you go to Georgetown then want to move to Austin Texas, you're going to be at a disadvantage to all the students in the area that have been making connections and precepting with local practitioners and physicians throughout school.
Online school isn't for everyone, but I think if you have significant nursing experience, are a disciplined/self directed learner, and the thought of finding your own preceptors doesn't phase you, it can be a wonderful option.
I don't think your comment about online education is entirely accurate. I think it matters what type of program one attends that determines their marketability, whether it be online or b&m. I have a hard time believing that persons with an online education from reputable, highly respected schools such as Ohio State and Duke will encounter the same obstacles attaining employment as someone who attended Chamberlin or Kaplan. Also, in this day and age, online technology is becoming increasingly utilized. My daughter is in a b&m NP program and has had online courses as part of her curriculum. Try focusing on this: The likelihood that the market will become saturated with NPs that attended for-profit, undiscerning, profession-trivializing diploma mills is almost certain if the trend continues and EVERYONE will have a tough time finding a job. This is what should be concerning you...not the manner in which a program is delivered.
Hi does anyone know about UTEP acute care nurse practitioner program. I wanted to know if they still have the designated clinical sites to precept for acute care NP students and if you are required to find rest of preceptors before the program start. What are they are start dates and deadlines for application? Tuition & fees etc.
zmansc, ASN, RN
867 Posts
By repeating something you know to be untrue, you continue to propagate falsehoods. The disservice you are doing is by continuing to act like you are spreading information when in fact you are spreading lies and information that you have been shown to be incorrect. If you truly want an informed community than you should correct those who told you this misinformation in the first place, not continue to spread it.