Online Study

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Hi everybody! :D

I need your good will and assistance in the following matter. I am interested in earning MSN nurse practioner degree. I already have BSN. I work full time so I need something flexible like online schooling. Can somebody give me a hint(what, where, and how) about the accredited online programs that are available?

Thank you.

Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.
I count as out-of-state for another 6 months. It's around 700-800 for in-state though, so not much better! The good news is that a) it's a great program, and b) I have a previous masters, so I get credit for some courses.

I missed it. What program are you in?

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Specializes in CTICU.

ACNP at Pitt

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I've posted a lot on this topic, so I'm going to copy and paste some previous information. It's all up to date. If you have any detailed questions about online learning I'll be happy to answer them as I'm an Indiana State U student about to graduate in December!

Best of luck!

When it comes to graduate programs you have to be certain they are, at the minimum, regionally accredited. Doesn't hurt if they are NLNAC accredited as well. If they cover the regional bases you should be eligible to take your grad boards anywhere. Their online status should not have an impact on your future.

So far I have found:

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

East Carolina University

Allen College (although it's hard to figure out exactly if all courses are online because they aren't clear on this)

Clarkson College

Graceland University (this was one of my top 3 choices)

Montana State University

Northern Kentucky University

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

University of Missouri

Wright State University

Duquesne University (another one of my top 3 choices, but they require you to visit once a year before Thanksgiving - great school, however)

Vanderbilt University

University of Phoenix

University of Delaware (hard to say if FNP can be done completely online)

University of Southern Indiana (a friend of mine is finishing up her program there and did it all online)

Don't forget to search for programs at Petersons

Search available at US News and World Report

Tennessee Board of Regents Online Degree Program (RODP)

http://www.rodp.org/msn/default.htm

Another poster said this:

You may also want to consider Northern Arizona University. www.nau.edu. They have a distance FNP and I believe it is all online. Plus, they are pretty cheap. They are in Flagstaff and cater to rural northern Arizona, so the distance thing is not a big deal for them. They have locally helped me (I am about a couple hours drive from Flagstaff) find clinical experiences when necessary. I have had a good experience there in my BSN program.

There is also University of Utah. While they do require a campus visit (Salt Lake City) they consider Arizona to be "in state" for tuition and so it's only $3800 per semester, which is pretty good for grad school.

Just a little tid bit about Graceland. It was my first choice but found out it is not structured but go at your own pace and did not accept student loans. So if you need financial aid, Graceland won't be an option.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.

Also, check out University of Southern Indiana. Great program. Strong clinical experienced professors, rigorous cirriculum, and cost is cheapest (Please someone correct me if I'm wrong on the cost @ 42 total units x $228=$9576) in the United States.

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Specializes in ER; CCT.

I forgot to mention, USI doesn't rely on junk science instruments for admission, hence no GRE required. Also, regionally and CCNE accredited.

http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/grad/fnp.php

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Specializes in cardiovascular, EP.

Tammy79,

Just curious. You speak very highly of USI. Is this from personal experience?

I've been accepted there for the ACNP Spring'09. I am wondering about the program. Just how tough? Will they accept clinical hours done on weekends with a preceptor?

Debbie

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Specializes in ER; CCT.
Tammy79,

Just curious. You speak very highly of USI. Is this from personal experience?

I've been accepted there for the ACNP Spring'09. I am wondering about the program. Just how tough? Will they accept clinical hours done on weekends with a preceptor?

Debbie

I'm in the final year in the FNP track. Program is wonderful, but brutal on time. I track my hours pretty closely and I'm now averaging 50 hours per week, including study, clinical, lectures and labs. Lectures are streamed and recorded. You get a real solid idea why they have never had a student fail boards before. Professors are really fair and they all work as NP's. Support staff are great too.

Clinical time is pretty flexible, but you have to stay within certain parameters. There are 4 clinical courses which represent 665 total hours. First is assessment which is 45 hours. In reallity, though, it takes about 70 or so to complete the objectives (specific H & P's for adults, peds, gyn, and ob) but you only get credit for 45.

The second clinical course, which I'm finishing up now, is limited to a max of 16 hours per week. In this term, you can complete a maximum of 144 hours, and a minimum of 120 hours. The third course is a minimum of 180 hours, and a maximum of 216 hours with a weekly maximum of 24 hours per week. The final one, which is held over a ten week period, has a minimum of 240 hours and a max of 300 hours. The final clinical course has no maximum weekly hours.

Again, the ranges provide for maximum flexibility, so long as you obtain the minimum 665 hours. Also, not described above, is 20 hours between radiology and laboratory. You may obtain these hours either with a radiologist, a clinical lab, ce conferences, online labs, or any combination.

Also, within the final 600 hours (not including diagnostics and assessment), you must have at least 150 hours peds (less than age 20); 150 hours of adults (20-65), 150 hours of geriatrics (66+); and 150 hours between OB (60 hours) and GYN (90 hours). OB & GYN can also overlap with regards to the age parameter requirement.

Also, you get clinical hour credit for each hour you are at the clinic at USI--not limited to time you are with the patient. My pal at Fresno State only gets credit for actual patient face time. As you can immagine, time pretty much drags out forever with that type of deal, as there is a solid line between obtaining clinical profieciency and free slave labor.

As far as when you can do hours, you can do hours anytime when the semester is in session so long as it is not on school holidays or over recognized breaks like spring break. Saturdays and Sundays are permitted.

Make sure your preceptor is approved early with an agency contract and have at least one back up preceptor. They have no problem dropping you if you don't have a preceptor ready to go. If this happens, it will put you a year behind.

Also, try and knock out as many courses as you can durring your summer session. This will help lighten the load. USI accepts transfer units from other schools up to 12 units. So try and do pharmacology over the summer and nursing theory. If USI doesn't offer, take through Indiana State or with another school in the Indiana State College Network (not the same as The College Network). Your goal is to only have to deal with the six hour clinical coursework in your final year. Unfortunately, I didn't follow that advice, which is why I'm getting hammered now.

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University of Cincinnati

http://nursingonline.uc.edu/

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Specializes in Emergency, Family Practice, Occ. Health.

You could also check out :

FRONTIER SCHOOL OF MIDWIFERY & FAMILY NURSING

www.frontierschool.edu * (606) 672-2312

Offering Doctor of Nursing Practice

Offering Master of Science in Nursing

* Nurse-Midwifery * Family Nurse Practitioner

* WHCNP * ADN-to-MSN Bridge

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Specializes in OB/GYN.
University of Cincinnati

http://nursingonline.uc.edu/

jp837...hope you don't mind my asking, but have you attended University of Cincinnati? The reason I'm asking is that I am considering their Women's Health NP program. Thanks!

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jp837...hope you don't mind my asking, but have you attended University of Cincinnati? The reason I'm asking is that I am considering their Women's Health NP program. Thanks!

Two co-workers at my place of work have attended the University of Cincinnati.

What are your questions about the program?

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Anyone attended Clarion? I just finished an MSLS online with them. I am thinking I will enroll in their online BSN.

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