advantage and disadvantage of out of state online NP programs

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Mar 25, 2013

I live in Florida and am starting my FNP program online through South University out of Savannah, Ga. Your degree only needs to be from a recognized/approved school. Florida has a couple of online programs, but the state colleges do not offer this option and when you live a far piece from school, is it worth it for the dollars. When I compared different schools from all over, some are extremely expensive (around 800/hr) and some are not (around 350-400/hr). Compared to going to a state school and driving....I am actually spending about the same amount of money but have the comfort of studying when I can and being able to do the clinicals locally. Since I am going into the FNP program, the school does not want any acute settings, so I did my research on local physicians and contacted the offices. I then followed up with a cover letter, a copy of the requirement I would be needing for that preceptorship as well as what was expected during my rotation to the offices and gave them to the front desk girl. Each office I contacted gave me a resounding approval to come and do my rotations.

GoodKick01 · Apr 8, 2013

Thanks for the information. Do you think local physicians usually care about graduates from local schools since they have better reputation in the area?

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Apr 9, 2013

Around here they don't. Many of the NPs have online degrees or come from schools all over the country (Florida gets a lot of transplants). What they do look for is how you present yourself and your profession as well as your interaction with patients and other health care providers.

GoodKick01 · Apr 13, 2013

Thanks!