Online program recommendations

Specialties NP

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I am thinking of doing my FNP at Rutgers I live in NJ. Any recommendations for programs in my state or online programs?

TY

Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
Man, there's no way in HELL I would attend a program that required the students to practice pelvic exams on each other!!!

Kind of a rude statement to make, but you certainly can have your opinion. I chose Frontier because it is highly ranked and highly respected by nurse-midwives and physicians who hire nurse-midwives.

I personally prefer this to exploiting poor town folks or college students who need the money so badly they'll do anything. I think that is kind of cruel and not at all following the nursing (or midwifery) model of care---after all, we are nurses first and foremost, not mini-doctors.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Frontier is an amazing program, and has such a rich history. I would recommend their CNM program to anyone. Kudos to you, CNM2B- you're in a fantastic program. :up:

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
I completed the ANP/GNP program at Vandy and the only thing "distance" about it at that time were the clinicals (we submitted papers over the internet). We were only allowed to do our clinicals in our home town if we were experienced BSN's. Some of the programs, like the FNP program, aren't offered in the "block" format though. Our preceptors had to be approved by the faculty and they verified their qualifications. We were also checked off on H&P's and basic skills before we were allowed to start clinicals with a preceptor. We were told, "We don't want you to be embarrassed and we certainly don't want you to embarrass our school." I can't even imagine having to rely on a preceptor to teach basic assessment skills. I spent a lot of money traveling back and forth to Vandy every month, but it was worth it.

I can see why your friend dropped out of the ANP program at Vandy, b/c it's not possible to work fulltime and take those classes. I only worked 2 weekends per month and that was close to impossible.

Yeah, I heard about that program. Isn't that the same NP program where you don't have to be a RN to get accepted?

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Specializes in ER; CCT.

Also, just because your alma mater has a crappy reputation, don't you think it is wrong to generalize that every graduate from Vanderbilt is crappy?

Here's some curious things I found after a few minutes of digging. Let me know if you need more, because I'm here to help.

I had to choose between Vanderbilt, Columbia and Yale. I was able to quickly disregard Vanderbilt because they lacked organization, which I just could not accept.

I am finishing up the Vandy pediatric primary care np which also happens to be a distance program. The first year was difficult, cramming years of a BSN into one year. I took an NCLEX review course and felt that I learned more in those three days than I did in my pathophysiology class. As of right now, not many people in the pediatric program recommend the program because of the cost, we feel like we are teaching ourselves sometimes

I graduated from the combined ANP/GNP program in 2005. I didn't think the program was difficult at all. In fact, my BSN was FAR more difficult to get - this really surprised me. The ANP/GNP program required close to 800 clinical hours. I had to set them up myself and my professors filled out evaluations - I think the instructor called my preceptor twice.

Too bad. You should have chosen a better program with more oversight, perhaps a distance education program. Now I understand where the bitterness comes from.

I paid a little over $30,000 in 2004/2005, but I'm sure the cost is much higher now. However, this did NOT cover any of my travel expenses, which were considerable. Also, I don't know how anyone could possibly do the one year program and work fulltime. It's not possible. I had to complete almost 800 clinical hours in a 7 month period PLUS I had to be in Nashville several times during that year.

Too bad. I think I paid a little under $10K for everything, but after my adjunct faculty pay credit adjustment from ISU, I came out about $1,500 a head.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/vanderbilt-np-program-help-221591-2.html

I graduated from the combined ANP/GNP program a few years ago. I went to another school to get my post-Master's certification as a FNP. However, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they've got the $$$ to pay for it without taking out a loan. I was a distance student, so I had to pay for airfare, hotels, restaurants, etc (this was very expensive). Also, they are misleading people when they say you can work fulltime and attend their accelerated program...it is NOT possible! I thought it was really weird when we were all starting our clinical rotations and some of them hadn't even taken the NCLEX yet! In fact, before going to Vanderbilt, I had never even heard of a NP program that accepted non-nurses. If someone is truly an Advanced Practice Nurse, then the general public is going to assume they actually have experience as a nurse first! Also, I remember the non-nurses complaining that they were treated very poorly by the staff where they did clinicals, specifically b/c they hadn't put their time in as nurses.

Yikes, that would be a bit concerning--that is to be sitting side by side with fellow students in an advance nurse practice program with those who have not established themselves as basic RN's yet by even passing NCLEX. That must have been difficult for you...but then again, you may have fit in well.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/vanderbilt-np-bridge-program-65523.html

ANPFNPGNP-Say it isn't so. You actually are a product of a distance ed program?!?!? Even as a graduate of program that misrepresents facts, is not challenging, admits non nurses to the NP program, has poor organization, and charges outrageous fees, all of which are indicated from the posts, I actually have a bit more respect for you--not much, but a bit. Congrats on being a product of distance education.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Btw, what kind of programs have you been involved with?

quote]

I precept online NP students!

I would advise you to check out the comments regarding online NP programs over at "Student Doctor Network." They will be our future employers, so go read their opinions regarding online NP programs. I tried to post several excerpts from their posts, but they were deleted by the staff.

Good luck getting a job from one of those doctors!

Why worry about getting a job? You got a job and your a distance ed graduate.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Man, there's no way in HELL I would attend a program that required the students to practice pelvic exams on each other!!!

Yeah, that's a bit weird, but the way the other poster stated, they give you a chance to opt out of it, and I don't think they do it in the class environment--they have private areas. I still would opt out, though, as I would (in my small mind) having lunch the next hour with the same folks I just did a bimanual on.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Kind of a rude statement to make, but you certainly can have your opinion. I chose Frontier because it is highly ranked and highly respected by nurse-midwives and physicians who hire nurse-midwives.

I personally prefer this to exploiting poor town folks or college students who need the money so badly they'll do anything. I think that is kind of cruel and not at all following the nursing (or midwifery) model of care---after all, we are nurses first and foremost, not mini-doctors.

The human models we had for our pelvic exam lab were actually not college students and didn't seem like poor town folks. They were actually part of a company that provides human models to medical schools in the area. Aside from acting as patients, they gave us invaluable information on how most women feel about pelvic exams and provided us tips on how to help put our patients at ease when we are doing the procedure from knowing which instrument to use to learning to say the right words during the exam. I attended an urban university, understandably, companies like that may not be available in rural Kentucky where Frontier is located in. And yes, Frontier is a great school and a pioneer in Midwifery training.

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Specializes in CTICU.
Kind of a rude statement to make, but you certainly can have your opinion. I chose Frontier because it is highly ranked and highly respected by nurse-midwives and physicians who hire nurse-midwives.

I personally prefer this to exploiting poor town folks or college students who need the money so badly they'll do anything. I think that is kind of cruel and not at all following the nursing (or midwifery) model of care---after all, we are nurses first and foremost, not mini-doctors.

Excuse me, but did you notice that I said there's no way *I* would choose to attend a program that did that?

I made no "rude" statement, and certainly made no comment about programs that do that, nor the people who choose to attend them.

I merely stated that *I* would not choose to do so, which is certainly my prerogative. Chill out.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Frontier is an amazing program, and has such a rich history. I would recommend their CNM program to anyone. Kudos to you, CNM2B- you're in a fantastic program. :up:

Frontier was the birthplace (pardon the pun) of the US midwifery education program.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Please be respectful of each other. In the end, when we are personalizing everything said, we lose our professionalism.

Too true. It's challenging though when such unfounded, unsupported and factually inaccurate statements are made that tend to generalize all distance education program--even coming from some who would not even be a NP without distance ed.

It makes me think of Senator Larry Craig's conservative views on gay rights, or lack thereof, all the while he is trying to play footsies with a cop in the crapper sitting in the next stall. The hipocrisy by some is curious indeed.

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You mean those loose standards devleoped by such seedy organizations like CCNE and NLAN and other fly by night outfits who disgrace everyone by saying they are United States Department of Education recognized accrediting authorities? The same ones, in fact, that provide accreditation for traditional programs. Are those the ones you mean?:yeah:

I'm glad you are applauding yourself.

But don't gloat just yet.

The standards are in place, oh yes, but do you think this ensures they are followed?

Huh?

These "standards" are not even verifiable with these schools. It can be in writing all day long, who's going to follow up on it?

For that matter, all these schools are (supposedly) held to the strictest standards (and unfortunately, allnurses doesn't have the kind of smiley I would like to insert here.)

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I was not "overgeneralizing", I was stating my experience. Furthermore, I said that "often" online programs do not use the richer technology that is available. That is also not a generalization. A generalization would be if I said "All online programs don't use the technology well" or something like that.

Please be more respectful, everyone, in your postings. I have found this thread to be rather disturbing in its lack of critical thinking. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but I am just seeing this getting personal.

Oldiebutgoodie

Yes, it's too bad some people think they have to make sarcastic and arrogant remarks to get their point across.

It does nothing to further their argument and is a real turn off.

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