Online program recommendations

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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 ER; CCT.
I started participating in this thread because I saw a statement from Duke's website being misinterpreted and I wanted to correct it, and because I am a predominantly online student there I felt I should try to engage and educate those detractors of online education.

Don't feel bad, there are many misrepresentations on this thread as to the quality and integrity of distance education. The fact that Duke is now, and in the past, and will remain a top nursing school in the world speaks volumes as to their wisdom to offer distance education. I doubt very seriously that Duke or Johns Hopkins would risk their reputation in providing a flawed mechanism for education delivery.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
anpfnpgnp,

www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/sum/hb1041.htm

the bon said that it decided to stop certifying excelsior graduates because of a new law, act 527 (house bill 1041), which took effect on july 1, 2008. the act required criminal background checks for nurse license applicants, but also required applicants to have graduated “from a nursing education program approved by the board or which meets criteria similar to, and not less stringent than, those established by the board.

true to form just cause, you are leaving out a significant chunk of the story, which again, tends to mislead and misrepresent the issue. in response to the boards decision, and after removing a few board members, rightfully so, from their position, governor purdue released this statement:

"this administration is fully supportive of bona fide nontraditional education methods as a means of solving georgia's nursing shortage. in addition, a school's tax status alone should not be the determinant in whether or not it can offer a nursing program. this administration has not seen any evidence to suggest that graduates of the schools seeking approval yesterday have posed a threat to public health or safety. further, i do not agree that recent legislation dictated the conclusion reached by the board yesterday. in response, we look forward to working with the general assembly to make it clear that bona fide nontraditional and for-profit education institutions can have a place in georgia.

i hope the board's decision will not discourage emerging graduates and future students in these programs from continuing their studies and join the dedicated group of nurses in the this state working every day to create a healthier georgia."

https://www.excelsior.edu/excelsior_..._statement.pdf

keep up the good work. four more misrepresentations and you win a free set of steak knives.

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MD, PA and law schools may have online components for some things but they are not online schools.

The bottom line, is that regardless of how stellar you think your online program is (and I don't know many who would think their education wasn't tops. Not only that, but what else do they have to compare it too?) the online NP arena has been given a wide open highway for seedy fly-by-night schools and schools who rake in millions by basically selling degrees. This is because the standards for operating online NP programs are rather loose.

No, I don't think all online NP programs have to be crappy, but until there are some verifiable standards in place "online" will have a reputation.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
the online NP arena has been given a wide open highway for seedy fly-by-night schools and schools who rake in millions by basically selling degrees. This is because the standards for operating online NP programs are rather loose.

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:

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I don't know much about distance NP programs (I am in a CNM program), but I was just wondering how they handle the teaching of "hand" skills? I am a new student at Frontier and although it is mostly distance (as it always has been), we still spend rather substantial periods of time in Kentucky (staying in dorms in the mountains) during our program. It is during those visits where we learn our advanced assessment and physical exam skills and are graded on them, and also learn some of the more intricate hand skills that are required (like suturing). Although it is distance, the personal contact hours are close to the same as the brick-and-mortar where I was planning to go originally (where the classes met for just one or two hours per week) due to our trips to Kentucky.

Do the other online programs require trips to the school to learn all of these new skills? If not, how are they learned?

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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.

."

Really, and you work with people? I always thought our role as NPs was to "care" about people, especially the misinformed. Guess things are really changing.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
I don't know much about distance NP programs (I am in a CNM program), but I was just wondering how they handle the teaching of "hand" skills? I am a new student at Frontier and although it is mostly distance (as it always has been), we still spend rather substantial periods of time in Kentucky (staying in dorms in the mountains) during our program. It is during those visits where we learn our advanced assessment and physical exam skills and are graded on them, and also learn some of the more intricate hand skills that are required (like suturing). Although it is distance, the personal contact hours are close to the same as the brick-and-mortar where I was planning to go originally (where the classes met for just one or two hours per week) due to our trips to Kentucky.

Do the other online programs require trips to the school to learn all of these new skills? If not, how are they learned?

I'm not sure how other programs operate, but in mine skills are demonstrated and then students practice with their preceptor in the clinic setting. As with any skill there are many ways of doing a procedure, and as such I tend to do my skills like my preceptor does.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
I'm not sure how other programs operate, but in mine skills are demonstrated and then students practice with their preceptor in the clinic setting. As with any skill there are many ways of doing a procedure, and as such I tend to do my skills like my preceptor does.

So, what did you suture the first time for clinical? We learn on beef tongue and foam and then do it over and over and over again while our instructors watch. That way, when we get to a clinical situation, we have the basic mechanism down and a little bit of practice. Our preceptors can guilde us and give lots of advice, but we will have the basics in place (I heard that knitting helps with suturing skill!) Also, when you are learning to do pelvic or prostate exams, do you have models (either plastic or real, or both) to practice on before getting to a real live patient?

I'm not trying to start an argument, just trying to figure out how all of the different programs work. For me, I am not comfortable doing those skills for the very first time on a real patient.

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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:

Tammy79,

I've been posting here to inquire about the online community and its effectiveness .... frankly you portray your online learning community negatively with your aggressive defense status rather then providing mentorship as a senior standing forum contributor and 'dnp candidate'. It creates a hostile environment that prevents any real discussion but rather perpetuates online attacks.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
So, what did you suture the first time for clinical? We learn on beef tongue and foam and then do it over and over and over again while our instructors watch. That way, when we get to a clinical situation, we have the basic mechanism down and a little bit of practice. Our preceptors can guilde us and give lots of advice, but we will have the basics in place (I heard that knitting helps with suturing skill!) Also, when you are learning to do pelvic or prostate exams, do you have models (either plastic or real, or both) to practice on before getting to a real live patient?

I'm not trying to start an argument, just trying to figure out how all of the different programs work. For me, I am not comfortable doing those skills for the very first time on a real patient.

We used pigs feet for suturing. Suturing is not very challenging, but then again, I have not had too many challenging repairs. I often think about the wild lacs I've seen in the ER and wonder when I'm going to get one.

For the pelvics, if you went to the class session, they had paid and volunteer people come in. I did it by watching my preceptor twice and the next 10-20 he watched me. Now its an independent skill. I almost went to Fronteir, but was pretty aprehensive about doing the pelvic thing on one another. Was that as creepy as it sounds, or is it no big deal?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
No, I don't think all online NP programs have to be crappy, but until there are some verifiable standards in place "online" will have a reputation.

You did open up a valid point although this does not apply to the online NP program format alone. CCNE and NLN both accredit nursing programs that grant Bachelor's, Master's, and DNP degrees. The accreditation process does not involve enforcing standards specific to NP training and NP-related competencies.

There are no formal accreditation process specific to any NP program track at the current time except for the one sponsored by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health Council on Accreditation. But even that group only listed Emory as an accredited program so obviously the participation of other WHNP programs in the accreditation process seems to be lacking.

The other APN's groups particularly the ones that represent CNM's and CRNA's definitely have a formal process of accreditation for the respective educational institutions offering training in these fields.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Tammy79,

I've been posting here to inquire about the online community and its effectiveness

Actually, I thought your intent was to spread non factual material related to the distance education process.

The navy has recently stopped accepting those with an online BSN from applying to becoming a commissioned officer in the navy nurse course.

By the way, after I proved this statement completely false with references, I noticed that you subsequently placed the following on another post to backtrack and go fishing for something by which to support your false statement:

Does anyone know if this will affect the ability for an Exclesor BSN grad from joining the Navy as a nurse?

I hope not - it sounds isolated to GA.

Please, give me a break.

.... frankly you portray your online learning community negatively with your aggressive defense status rather then providing mentorship as a senior standing forum contributor and 'dnp candidate'.

So what would you suggest? Sitting back and having those who have no clue about the process, make factual misrepresentations about the very process I know much about? I do agree, however, as I am a bit aggressive with deceit, fraud, and other forms of manipulation. Perhaps you may wish to get your facts in order before providing factually inaccurate claims or otherwise defaming a process in which you know nothing about under the guise of

I've been posting here to inquire about the online community and its effectiveness

PS: Still standing by for that US Navy reference that distance ed BSN may not become officers.

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