Online program recommendations

Specialties NP

Published

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

TY

Yeah, let's get someone to post on the SDN forum and see what they think about online NP programs. They will be our employers in the near future. I wonder if they are even aware there are online programs for NP's.

I for one do not care about what people on SDN think, nor what the public thinks. There are ill-advised and misinformed people walking around everywhere. We have research which shows the effectiveness and disadvantages of both distance and traditional education. That should be enough for the folks over at SDN since they operate by the EBM bible.

However it might be fun to look into the effectiveness of our current medical educational system. That might be fun.

What we do have is both excellent and not-so-good schools in both distance and traditional format. Last year I worked with the worst product of a medical school (North Texas and who did a residency in CC) I have ever run into. Many times, as a native Texan, I threatened to write a letter to her school and residency program asking them how in God's name could they release such a graduate onto an unsuspecting public. Thank God I was able to keep her from killing anyone.

I'm really afraid of zealots for any one position. In our field, we really need to have an open mind for our patients sake. Some doctors laugh at me (except for the ones training along side me) for being a shaman, while others take a wait and see attitude. I care not as my favorite patients are those who are "medical failures."

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Boy this thread has been a real bummer! I am an ADN-BSN student graduating this May. With plans to apply to a FNP program, can you guess? ONLINE!!! In my situation I have no choice as there are no programs offered nearby. I have lived in my City for over 20 years and do not plan to move. 800 clinical hours are to be completed, arranged by the university and close to where I live. I am actually quite confident that I will get an excellent experience and will make a great clinician. After all I have been a great nurse for 20+ years. Who is to dispute that, just because I am going to take online lecture format classes?

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I for one do not care about what people on SDN think, nor what the public thinks. There are ill-advised and misinformed people walking around everywhere. We have research which shows the effectiveness and disadvantages of both distance and traditional education. That should be enough for the folks over at SDN since they operate by the EBM bible.

Online NP programs haven't been around long enough, so it's impossible to get any valid studies on this topic.

I have asked every single doctor I've worked with this past week what they think about online NP programs. Guess what, every single one of them are AGAINST them! They aren't just against them, they are VERY concerned they even exist! Doctors need to become aware that future NP's are being educated in this manner and so does the public.

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yeah, make sure you let them know about the online medical schools too.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443292

"the association of american medical colleges, which represents u.s. medical schools, supports the use of technology to offer such education, according to m. bownell anderson, senior associate vice president for medical education. however, she warned, it cannot substitute for a face-to-face physician-patient interaction or relationship."

i can't open the link you posted. what's the name of the medical school that's online?

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Who is to dispute that, just because I am going to take online lecture format classes?

Only those who suffer from a lack of knowledge.:D

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Given that I did not want to move away from my three young children and husband, nor did I have the ability to support us if he quit his job to move us all to a brick/mortar institution town, I did not have any choice if I wanted to advance my education but to use a distance-learning format. I worked my a** off to get the most from the program plus really dug in to find high-quality local preceptors who included NPs, DOs, MDs--and even a couple of PAs although these were more for consult as they were not able to officially precept me. I went beyond the bare requirements both in terms of hours and in terms of types of clinical encounters. What you put into your personal education is more important than checking off boxes on a program's to-do list. If you see someone who is working a job where you want to be, ask them what they found most important in their training and make sure you get that.

For instance: no requirement for "urgent care" type experience, but I knew from family practice that I might need this. I think I was one of the few in my program who had sutured wounds and reduced dislocated shoulders. I also got to see tons of acutely sick children who did NOT want to have their ears or any other part examined but got checked anyway (many useful tricks not discussed in my program). Do I do these every day in the FP setting? No, but when I need the skills they are there. I don't know that this would have been any different in a physical class setting.

Just as with brick/mortar there are many variations in online programs. Ask other NPs or other providers what programs they would recommend or NOT recommend, find graduates and do your research. Just don't expect it to be easy. If it is, be very suspicious.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg, Pedi.
Boy this thread has been a real bummer! I am an ADN-BSN student graduating this May. With plans to apply to a FNP program, can you guess? ONLINE!!! In my situation I have no choice as there are no programs offered nearby. I have lived in my City for over 20 years and do not plan to move. 800 clinical hours are to be completed, arranged by the university and close to where I live. I am actually quite confident that I will get an excellent experience and will make a great clinician. After all I have been a great nurse for 20+ years. Who is to dispute that, just because I am going to take online lecture format classes?

There will always be a negative vibe for a few years for online education remember in the early 1990's and the late 1980's when online dating was so new. Well any marriage that came about from online dating was looked upon as bad. Now it is the common standard to meet a date and get married. The have special blogs, websites, and even TV shows for people who met, married, and are together from meeting online. This nursing/medical training will be the same in 10-15 years. Every RN, LVN, or medically trained person will be from an online enviroment. Keep living. You'll see.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I don't know why this is such a big problem for debate. Go to the program that suits your life and career aspirations. Let others do the same. There's no need to try to argue incessantly to have others validate your choices. Only you know what caliber of clinician you are.

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I can see how someone who truly cared about the direction the NP profession is going would be concerned about others taking online courses to become a NP. I don't think these concerns are unwarranted.

Of course, the pro-onliners jump in with gnashing teeth and get on the defense.

I don't hold it against anyone for wanting to take the only opportunity that may be available to them. At the same time, I'm concerned this is not good for the profession. I know online schools aren't going anywhere, though, they bring in way too much money.

I'm so bummed I'm actually thinking about abandoning nursing altogether and going to law school with my BSN. And we all know the last thing the world needs is another lawyer.

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Golytely, thank you for the post... I feel this concern as well. However, instead of gaining confidence in the programs the aggressiveness of some to defend their program and eliminate any doubters is a turn-off for young students such as myself. I think the GA state BONs recent decision with a particular online school is interesting and look forward to understanding what data supported this move - as it is rather bold move to go against the standard certifying agency. If they have this data I applaud them for having the fortitude to do so. Online schools will ultimately continue to flourish - regardless of success / non-success as it can be done economically to a larger audience - and without any sort of feedback mechanism it's always possible to produce graduates with inadequate skill sets. Therefore it is upon the organization and profession to police among themselves.

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Also, there are no online law schools accredited by the American Bar Association...you'd think there would be plenty of money in that.

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I can't open the link you posted. What's the name of the medical school that's online?

ANPFNPGNP,

I don't have access to medscape either.. but I found this as a googled summary.. I make the assumption that it is not accredited in USA. I view online continuing ed among established professionals as very accepted.. but this seems a bit outlandish IMHO.

Medical Schools Team Up to Form Online Medical School

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443292

Students who leave their home countries to receive their medical school degree often do not return to practice medicine in that country. In order to slow down this type of "brain drain", over 50 medical schools in 16 countries have teamed up to form the first online medical school. Free registration is required to access this October 30, 2002
Medscape
article.

v/r

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