Totally online FNP program: no campus orientation

ANPFNPGNP · Jun 1, 2008

I graduated from the Vanderbilt program 3 years ago and it does NOT meet the "totally online" criteria. We sat in class for a week out of every month for HOURS. I already had a BSN (with experience), so I attended the accelerated 1 year BSN to MSN/NP program. Vanderbilt requires more clinical hours than any other program that I know of (I completed close to 800 clinical hours in 7 months). We had to perform prostate exams, pelvic exams, etc. on surrogates before we were even allowed to start clinicals. There are very few programs that offer that type of experience.

Last year I went back to school at the Univ of TX to get a post-Master's certification as a FNP and their program is not online. We submitted papers online just like we did at Vanderbilt and it was very similar, except for the concentrated time on campus. Also, unless something has changed, the FNP certification at Vanderbilt is NOT available in a modified distance format.

Also, if you think Vanderbilt is such a piece of cake, why don't you try taking the 'Advanced Pathophysiology' course and let me know how you do. Furthermore, let's see you meet the GRE requirements to even get into the Vanderbilt.

Furthermore, I've precepted students from a local 100% online program and they are definitely of poor quality. Their program is ranked 389th out of 395 NP programs in the nation and it's obvious. Both Vanderbilt and UT are ranked in the top 20 NP programs in the nation, so they are far from inferior. What scares me is an ADN who doesn't know what she's talking about!

ANPFNPGNP · Jun 6, 2008

I understand. I got my RN online but I was an LPN with 23 years prior experience.
These Vandy students scare me. I have been to one such NP. The doctor she worked for fired her after just a couple of months stating that she did not have the knowledge to do the job. I asked him "why did you hire her in the first place"? You guessed it, she was asking for less money.
My dh has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and yet he could go to Vandy for 6 semesters and graduate as a ANP. Sorry, that's just down right scary!

You are wrong about the Vanderbilt program and I know b/c I went there for the ANP/GNP certification. It is NOT 100% online by ANY stretch! The program is set up in a "blocked" format and we had to attend class in person! The time on campus is concentrated and you have to be "live" in Nashville for at least one week out of every month, so forget about it being ONLINE! The FNP program is set up differently and you have to actually attend classes weekly.

Also, I got a post-Master's FNP certification at UT-Houston and they have the traditional format. I definitely felt like I got a better education at Vanderbilt - HANDS DOWN! We had DOCTORS from Vanderbilt Medical School teach a lot of our classes and that's not something that's available in the average NP program.

I had already been a BSN for 8 years before attending Vanderbilt and I WAS surprised that they allowed students into the program who weren't nurses. I had never heard of that before and that was a shock. However, it's not easy getting accepted into Vanderbilt, so those students were exceptionally smart. In fact, I recall them doing much BETTER than the majority of nurses with years of experience. Just because someone has a lot of experience at something doesn't mean it was the RIGHT experience. I know a NP who worked for years in ICU/ER/Med Surg, etc and he has come very close to getting his license pulled because of mistakes he has made as a NP.

ivanh3 · Jun 7, 2008

it's funny about many of these masters programs now. even the brick and mortar programs are requiring less and less campus time. some are only for introductions and taking test. another interesting point about the brick and mortar programs (at least in my area) are that they are requiring you to find your own clinical sites. it really seems like these hybrid programs are going to be the norm.

i attend graceland, and i really like it. i am in the graduate phase of the adn to msn/fnp program. for the bsn level i had to attend a 4 day focus session, and for the msn level there are two. some things you just can't do online e.g. for our last focus session we did prostate and pelvic exams on live models.

i work with a couple of university of south alabama grads. they liked it for the most part. what is going to make or break the experience are your preceptors.

tamuccnurse · Jun 26, 2008

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi has an online program that does not require any on site visitation.

http://www.tamucc.edu

ANPFNPGNP · Jun 26, 2008

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)
I'm currently a student at Indiana State University. If you want to hear about it I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

You can take Vanderbilt off your list b/c it is definitely not online. I spent over $20,000 just in travel expenses alone to attend their program. You will have to spend extended lengths of time there monthly (usually 7 days per month at the beginning). I had to pay for my flight, rental car and hotel, so it was very expensive...not to mention the almost $900/hr tuition! It's a "modified distance" program, and it's not even close to being online! If they are advertising their program as online, then somebody needs to question this, because they require a lot of time on campus.

I was going to attend a local program that was online, but didn't after hearing it trashed over and over again. However, even though Vandy was expensive, I know that I received an excellent education and that degree has gotten me every job I've applied for - the doc's know it's a top school.

I've heard that University of South Alabama is pretty decent for an online program. Before signing up for any of these online programs, it's imperative to check with your state board b/c some states will not accept a NP program that's done online.

amberfnp · Jun 28, 2008

I have just started my first of 8 semesters for the FNP program at the University of South Alabama. It was one of the most affordable programs I have found and I have heard good things about the school. I live in VA and have a friend who lives near the school and she checked it out for me with some nurses at one of the local hospitals.

For the FNP program you can choose 6,7 or 8 semesters. I am told there will be a 3 day orientation at prior to or early in the first clinical semester (for me will be semester #4). In addition to that, they CAN bring you back every clinical semester, but they told me on the phone they have not had to do that yet (sounds like it depends on how the class is doing kind of thing).

You do coordinate your own clinical sites~I have no experience with this yet.

So far, I have found the first class to be somewhat challenging~partially because of the content, and partially because of my lack of time right now and my lack of interest in the particular class (healthcare policy...)

ANPFNPGNP · Jun 28, 2008

Something else I needed to add. At Vanderbilt, the FNP program can't be done through the "modified distance" option, so you will need to relocate to Nashville for that one. Check their website and the specialties that are available through the "modified distance" option have an * by them.

Another thing, they mention that you don't have to give up your fulltime job in order to attend their program. I had to complete over 700 clinical hours in a 7 month period PLUS be in Nasville for a week out of those months, so unless you're Superman/Superwoman, it will be virtually impossible to work at all, much less fulltime. I was the only one in the ANP/GNP program who worked and I worked 1-2 weekends per month. Everyone was amazed that I could even do that!

Faith213 · Jul 3, 2008

i'm not interested in becoming a np. i just wanted to know how safe it is for a np to get 100% of their education online. just curious and got an answer. as far as vandy, i don't believe there's a bsn required, there is no nursing degree required at all if i am understanding it correctly. i'll see if i can verifiy that info or provide a link.

this is from their website:

if you have no background in nursing but you are interested in pursuing a career in advanced practice nursing without sacrificing excellence in education, entry into the vanderbilt master of science in nursing program through the pre-specialty master's program offers you this opportunity. students who have completed at least 78 semester hours of transferable college credit or have earned a bachelor's degree can "bridge" into vanderbilt's master of science in nursing (msn) program via a three-semester sequence of accelerated generalist nursing courses. this pre-specialty year provides the foundation equivalent to the bachelor's degree in nursing for course work in the selected nursing specialty. the three-semester pre-specialty year will prepare you for taking the national council for licensure exam (nclex) to become a registered nurse (rn).

upon completion of three semesters of pre-specialty courses, you will enter an additional sequence of courses in your declared specialty in order to earn the msn degree. many vanderbilt school of nursing advanced practice specialties require completion of an additional three semesters; several programs - including dual-focus areas - are slightly longer, requiring completion of 4 or 5 additional semesters. just visit the specialty program websites that interest you to review the sample curriculum plans.

Faith213 · Jul 3, 2008

From what I've read so far, I will not be using Vanderbilt to get my masters/fnp. I guess I will comply to the 2 year experience as an RN requirement at a local college's program. I was looking for a program w/o that long of a wait, but I can see why it would be necessary.

kwalrn · Aug 14, 2008

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)
I'm currently a student at Indiana State University. If you want to hear about it I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Just tried to PM you about info on ISU. I am planning on applying for Spring 09. Any insights on the program welcome. Would you recommend it to anyone. Is it completely online or is there any on campus instruction?

kwalrn

WitnessRN · Jan 24, 2009

Yellow Finch, I would love to talk to you about ISU.

I have applied to ISU. I would love to talk to you regarding this school

I also have applied to University of Colorado ~ Colorado Springs.

How can we chat about this????

MERCEDES674, MSN, RN · Jan 25, 2009

Yellow Finch, I would love to talk to you about ISU.
I have applied to ISU. I would love to talk to you regarding this school
I also have applied to University of Colorado ~ Colorado Springs.
How can we chat about this????

Just send me a PM or email--see profile NRSKarenRN