Part-Time NP Programs: Opinions?

Published

I just wanted to know what people think about part time NP programs. I've noticed MANY nurses go to NP school part time, taking one class a semester for 3-4 years until they become an NP. Personally, I think this is kind of bizarre. I feel a student needs to really be immersed in their education program, studying it 24/7 to really learn. Since medical/nursing education builds on the foundations, how can someone remember their pharmacology or patho class taken 4 years earlier when they are in the final semester?

No other healthcare professional program allows part-time study. What are everyone's thoughts on how it might hurt NP education?

I went through NP school part-time. It wasn't officially a pt program but lots of us kind of made it that way. I took two classes at a time the first year and then dropped to usually one class per semester. There were a few times when I took two classes together, especially when one was not a clinical class. During the classes requiring clinicals I proceeded through my clinical hours at the SAME rate as those who were attending full time. So for Family 1, I did about 20 hrs worth of clinical time per week the same as everyone else. Trust me, I stayed on my game and reviewed patho and pharm constantly throughout. I don't see why me doing it at that pace was harmful to anyone or to my learning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
To clarify - my post was meant to stimulate discussion. I am allowed to post my opinions so that we can have a lively debate. I asked for your opinion on part time programs, not your opinion on me personally. Try to stick to the topic.

Furthermore, I specifically think the part time 1 class per semester (which DOES exist) is the problem. Part time that turns a 2 year program into 2.5 years is not quite the same thing. I'm sure that's just fine. If you disagree, post your reasons why. Let's try to have debate without attacking each other please. I know many on here become extremely defensive, but it's unproductive. Responding why you think part time programs are fine will be a lot more effective. Who knows, might even change my mind, but not if you put me in the defensive mode by attacking me personally. It's quite rude! :p

Sounds like the words from an authority on rudeness. When you bust onto every thread demonstrating rudeness, you will invite rudeness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
There is a nursing surplus right now. When I graduated 35 years ago I had several job offers while I was still in school with sign on bonuses. As little as 7-8 years ago facilities on the East coast were offering FULL loan forgiveness for a 2 year commitment with a sign on bonus as well. California has an almost 47% unemployment of nurses mostly in the new grad market.

It has been well documented...IF one looks that the average job search is 14-18 months at a minimum. Hospitals are in the position of power as work conditions decline, patient loads incline, quality decreases, and salaries drop. Yes...facilitieds need expereinced nurse preferably in the 30-40 age group, with experience in specialties...ER, ICU, CTPACU, NICU, PICU.

I too am fearful that the proliferation of all the NP programs will saturate this area of nursing as well if it goes unchecked....just like the nursing entry has been allowed to grow unchecked citing inflated need numbers based on mandatory staffing ratios that never happened.

History will repeat itself.

Supply and demand. The more supply one has the demand drops...along with the salaries.

I agree that oversaturation could be an issue. NP programs being forced to move toward DNP will bring the outflow of NPs to a screeching halt. I believe this will happen in just a few more years. This is just the natural way of things. When careers become in high demand, people flock to them and eventually the positions will all fill up. However, there will always be room for talented healthcare providers as our population expands, and fewer MDs go into general/family medicine. As NPs gain more autonomy in the future, more will become independent clinic owners and begin to replace the dwindling family MD ranks. Relocation is the key, if you want a job as an NP you may have to move, for there are plenty of jobs in severely underserved areas.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To clarify - my post was meant to stimulate discussion. I am allowed to post my opinions so that we can have a lively debate. I asked for your opinion on part time programs, not your opinion on me personally. Try to stick to the topic.

Furthermore, I specifically think the part time 1 class per semester (which DOES exist) is the problem. Part time that turns a 2 year program into 2.5 years is not quite the same thing. I'm sure that's just fine. If you disagree, post your reasons why. Let's try to have debate without attacking each other please. I know many on here become extremely defensive, but it's unproductive. Responding why you think part time programs are fine will be a lot more effective. Who knows, might even change my mind, but not if you put me in the defensive mode by attacking me personally. It's quite rude! :p

Why are you getting so defensive now? People are calling you out because we are tired of all the attacks you are making about schools we attend. Since January 2014, you have made a full-time job bashing programs that you feel are subpar. I'm actually dumbfounded the amount of time and energy you have put into being so negative about different schools. About a decade ago when I was a novice nurse such as yourself, I was busy learning my new role. I didn't have time to spend bashing people and different schools. To be honest with you, it really sounds like you hate nursing and the subpar education we get. Why not go to med school or the PA route? School is what you make out of it, period. Take high school for example, many who graduate go on to be very successful and others are not successful. It's the individual and not the school that makes a person successful. Also, don't assume just because you go to a certain school you will always have an advantage over other NPs. It will come down to what you are bringing to the table such as experience, personality, appearance, etc. So, let's stimulate a post on how we can work together to make our profession better regardless of where we received our education. Let's debate ways we can make the biggest impact on patients. Let's debate ways we can stand united in our profession. Let's debate ways we can help each other find preceptors for clinicals. Let's debate ways we can save on textbooks. Are you starting to get my point? The issues you have with nursing should be taking up with your BON and the other agencies. Not us! Not on this board! What good will it do? You are whining to the wrong people. Can we all just...... Get along?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I really don't get why there is an discussion/debate about full time vs part time. Take classes. Pass tests. Get job. Schools have criteria for how long they will allow sciences and may even have limits in how long you can take to complete a program. No one has ever asked me in an interview if I went to graduate school full time or part time.

The saturation issue is probably the economy and nursing and health care is seen as a stable bet for jobs.

The APRN consensus model has done a lot to modernize nursing and there is still a ways to go for its full implementation. I would like to see more energy go into this than criticizing people who went to school part time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.
I agree that oversaturation could be an issue. NP programs being forced to move toward DNP will bring the outflow of NPs to a screeching halt. I believe this will happen in just a few more years. This is just the natural way of things. When careers become in high demand, people flock to them and eventually the positions will all fill up. However, there will always be room for talented healthcare providers as our population expands, and fewer MDs go into general/family medicine. As NPs gain more autonomy in the future, more will become independent clinic owners and begin to replace the dwindling family MD ranks. Relocation is the key, if you want a job as an NP you may have to move, for there are plenty of jobs in severely underserved areas.

NPs programs are not being forced to go DNP. Plenty of MSN programs will still exist due to their demand. No state will bar MSN NPs from gaining licensure. But even if that does happen, why would an extra year of school prevent oversaturation?

As for being the natural way of things, it doesn't have to be that way. Right now lawyers and psychologists are a dime a dozen. I don't want NPs to turn into the same oversaturated profession. As is the case for physicians, the nursing accreditation agencies have the power to limit how many NPs enter the workforce. It's in everybody's best interest that NP programs become more regulated instead of simply allowing nature to take its course.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
NPs programs are not being forced to go DNP. Plenty of MSN programs will still exist due to their demand. No state will bar MSN NPs from gaining licensure. But even if that does happen, why would an extra year of school prevent oversaturation?

As for being the natural way of things, it doesn't have to be that way. Right now lawyers and psychologists are a dime a dozen. I don't want NPs to turn into the same oversaturated profession. As is the case for physicians, the nursing accreditation agencies have the power to limit how many NPs enter the workforce. It's in everybody's best interest that NP programs become more regulated instead of simply allowing nature to take its course.

I never claimed that they would be forced, I stated that I "believe" it will happen, similar to pharmacist. Becoming a DNP takes more than a year in most cases, and the dissertation is enough to discourage many by itself. There is no doubt that mandatory progression to DNP will significantly slow the outflow of NPs, and may well be the reason the requirements change.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
Why are you getting so defensive now? People are calling you out because we are tired of all the attacks you are making about schools we attend. Since January 2014, you have made a full-time job bashing programs that you feel are subpar. I'm actually dumbfounded the amount of time and energy you have put into being so negative about different schools. About a decade ago when I was a novice nurse such as yourself, I was busy learning my new role. I didn't have time to spend bashing people and different schools. To be honest with you, it really sounds like you hate nursing and the subpar education we get. Why not go to med school or the PA route? School is what you make out of it, period. Take high school for example, many who graduate go on to be very successful and others are not successful. It's the individual and not the school that makes a person successful. Also, don't assume just because you go to a certain school you will always have an advantage over other NPs. It will come down to what you are bringing to the table such as experience, personality, appearance, etc. So, let's stimulate a post on how we can work together to make our profession better regardless of where we received our education. Let's debate ways we can make the biggest impact on patients. Let's debate ways we can stand united in our profession. Let's debate ways we can help each other find preceptors for clinicals. Let's debate ways we can save on textbooks. Are you starting to get my point? The issues you have with nursing should be taking up with your BON and the other agencies. Not us! Not on this board! What good will it do? You are whining to the wrong people. Can we all just...... Get along?

Can the church say Amen???? Praise!!!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

I'm in a part time program that is just under 3 years. I had the choice of a full time program but opted for part time. I was working when I started the program and I have a large (and needy) family. I needed a balance. I'm not sure why part time is an issue. My program had excellent board passing rates. I couldn't do this if it was full time. I don't even plan to work full time when I'm done.

There's no reason to worry about part time students. I've always been part time (RN, BSN, NP and working)...always.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Question for those who choose to, and went part time -

Did you feel that the additional time in the program was helpful, a hindrance, or didn't affect your education? And of course, why you feel this way....

The reason I asked, is I have often thought that having extra time would be helpful in that it would give you more time to really memorize the details and learn the concepts. Sometimes I feel like the format of a particular class is so fast that I don't have the necessary time to really learn it in depth, instead I have to spend too much time focusing on pumping and dumping for each test and if it was slowed down just a bit, then it would be easier to gain a deeper understanding.

However, the opposite of this is true as well, if my program was longer, I'd probably fill it up with more time at work, or doing things on the honey-do list or gasp doing fun things with my family!!! lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The reason I asked, is I have often thought that having extra time would be helpful in that it would give you more time to really memorize the details and learn the concepts. Sometimes I feel like the format of a particular class is so fast that I don't have the necessary time to really learn it in depth, instead I have to spend too much time focusing on pumping and dumping for each test and if it was slowed down just a bit, then it would be easier to gain a deeper understanding.

I start my program in the fall so can't speak from NP perspective but I felt this way about my undergraduate. There was often a very large amount of good info that has helped me tremendously in practice as an RN now but at the time I had to glaze over because it wasn't going to be on the exam. Could see where this could be more of an issue when that knowledge really has to stick because I will be the one making diagnostic and prescriptive deisions.

And to answer the broader question I am going full time because I am a little impatient, BUT I do have two children and a wife finishing grad school so if the first semester or two is awful I will drop to part time no problem with no regrets.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Personally, I feel part time programs are wonderful. I have done a ton of research to determine the school that would be the best fit for me. Not only am I looking at the time requirements, but also cost and quality of the education.

If all those factors are considered when choosing an education I don't see how part time/full time status matters. Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to put my life on hold while I pursue my career so it's part time or nothing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion