campfirekitten

Hello! Hard for me to remember exactly but I do remember it was approximately 3 months and long enough that I was wondering how close to the start date they planned to bother to tell us so we could get ready. Their inaction and complete disorganization and lack of answers to my questions once I got into the program made me go with GCU instead- which I have been very happy with.

Hello! I believe the program runs near 40,000 once all is said and done. I do work full time- but I’m finding it doable. Barely. But doable. The first 4 classes are mainly just writing. Once the advanced classes start- there is a year of what they call the 3 Ps (advanced patho, advanced pharm, and advanced physical assessment). After that- there are 3 clinical courses- each 16 weeks long that cover information on clinical reasoning while you complete 225 hours of clinical time in each course (for a total of 675. I just started the 1st of the 3 P classes- so I don’t have any information for you as to the clinical portion other than the hour requirements. The first few clases are 8 weeks, then the classes become 16 weeks long starting with the 3ps. You get breaks of a week or two on a few occasions- but not often. Hope this helps! Mary

Hello! The program for FNP at GCU had 3 start times per year. You just be online a minimum of 3 days per week- of your choosing. Although I would warn that the advanced classes take a lot of time, regardless of the minimum 3 days required.

Absolutely!!

Hello! So far so good with GCU for their FNP! As far as first day goes- as long as you can post your short personal bio on the class wall, which takes about 5 minutes, you should be fine to hit the rest starting day two- in my opinion. Yay for you!!!!

In just my experience with both- NAU was extremely disorganized and late with any information they stated they would get to me. And then when I received information- it was typically incorrect or was not at all the information I had been promised. I would write emails with detailed questions I even labeled 1, 2 and so on and after a week, I would get a “yes” or “no” response.... only one answer... and even when NONE of the questions I asked were yes/no questions. So honestly, I didn’t look into it any further there at NAU. As for GCU- the only issue I have had was an advisor that went MIA as soon as he could not answer a financial aide/scholarship allocation question and left me hanging. However, I got hold of the manager of student services and he changed my advisor and was absolutely wonderfully helpful in getting me the answers I needed while my new advisor was being assigned. Both of course required an app- with NAUs being more detailed and time intensive. Of note- NAU has traditional semesters whereas the FNP at GCU is done one class at a time. NAU has one particular semester in which the two hardest classes are in the same one... advanced patho and advanced pharm. This would not be too horrid if the teachers and content matched... but my friend who did the NAU program said one teacher people be teaching cardiac patho and the pharm teacher would be teaching nephro meds. So for whatever it is worth- that’s why I chose GCU

Hello!!! I’m in the process of applying to both banner south campus (north did not have med surg positions available for day shift right now) and at TMC. Do you have any comparisons between banner south and TMC you could share? Are you at the south campus of banner or the newer one? I’m interested in how many low census call offs there are, particularly in the summer.... and about which medical benefits start. Any information you have would be appreciated greatly!

Hello! So far so good at GCU for their FNP! Granted- I had an advisor that was not responsive and some financial aide and scholarship funding use issues that I had to go past my cricket noises advisor to their bosses.... but it got straightened out. I’ve only been with my new advisor for a short time so I cannot really speak on how that will go, but my BSN advisor rocked- so I’m having faith! Instructor wise and course wise- I’m enjoying it! Lots of work, but relevant topics that I feel will help me going forward!

Good morning! I actually decided on GCU. I used them for my BSN and loved them. My main issue for the FNP was finding my own clinical placements- which NAU does for you, however, the ones I know that did NAU said the placements from Tucson were pretty far away. As far as GCU goes, I’ve had only one incident that was similar and could not be resolved through the professor, so I took it to the next level to my advisor and it was straightened out the same day. I think any school you go to can and will have professors and students that are a bit crooked. That being said though, there are good points about each too. Let me know how you decide to proceed! Have a great day!

Hello! I'm enrolled in GCU's May start date for Masters FNP and hoping to find others that are as well! Anyone?

I have not made my final decision yet between GCU and NAU. I’m not sure why this decision is so hard for me... I suppose it’s because of the time length commitment. Either school will be awesome, so it’s hard to decide.

Mountainmamameg- there were several reasons I am leaning towards GCU- even beyond the good experience I had with them. I like that they do classes one at a time rather than traditional semesters with the length and multiple classes thing going on. The other thing is that I’ve tslked to many that have done the FNP- some from GCU and some from NAU- and it seems that both agree that the course work is heavy regardless that NAU calls their program part time and GCU calls it full time. For me, that matters significantly because my scholarship pays out 3,500 per year for anything a school terms as part time but doubles to 7000 a year for full time... so I stand to lose 10,500 dollars out of the deal by the time I am done if I choose NAU. The other turn off to NAU is that I heard the two roughest classes of any FNP program seem to be advanced patho and advanced pharm... and in any of the 3 schedule plans that NAU presented me with- they schedule both of those classes in the same semester. Yikes! I haven’t been in Tucson very long- but thankfully have made a few contacts. Setting up my clinicals will be a bit of a chore- but a small price to pay over all. I do understand your situation though- and it seems NAU may sure enough be the best bet for you. I haven’t made up my mind for 100 percent certain- so I’m giving it some more thought before turning one school down.

AZNurse- yes, please let us know what you decide. So many good schools out there! I’m thankful to have a choice and do not think there is necessarily a wrong choice at all.

Well ladies.... the more I look at the situation- the more I’m sure I’m going with GCU after all! It seems that clinical set up is the only advantage NAU has over GCU and the clinical sites may be far away.... that, and I loved my BSN at GCU. Still don’t know for sure... but leaning heavily towards GCU.

Good morning! GCU wants you to get your own sites/preceptors for all classes "womb to tomb" and will not assist in finding the sites at all- however, they DO help put a contract into place if you find somewhere you want to do a rotation in and that facility does not have a contract. NAU does allow clinicals in other places outside of Flagstaff. Granted, they consider themselves a program geared towards rural communities....so there may be a bit of travel if you live in a city. However, it sounds minimal. And for me, just knowing that they set it all up is well worth any travel. Are you on a nice vacation? I go on a cruise in 9 more days. Not that I'm counting....ha!