nukkaNP

There is a huge difference between what an NP does and what an RN does. There is also a big difference in responsibility and decision making. I would say if you want to be an NP, do the NP program, and you will find out about the whole RN thing along the way. Also, as an NP you have the option to work as a RN or NP or both. If you don't want to be an NP go into the ABSN program. As for jobs, I would not worry about that. Although there is not a career center or any formal help finding a job at SMU, some of the professors send out job opportunities via email. Many students found jobs thru their clinical experiences and contacts they made in school. I believe the Affordable Care Act will affect primary care dramatically. There is already a high demand for PCPs in this country. In 2014, many more people will be insured and have access to health care; this will further increase demand for NPs in the primary care setting. I think it is an exciting time to be a new NP.

I recently graduated as an FNP from Samuel Merritt University ELMSN program. I have a slightly different perspective than SkiBumNP. In general, I found the program very unprofessional. Most of the teachers are very poor. The lectures were boring and uninspired. Repeatedly, lectures and syllabi were from classes before mine and never updated. I know this because the old dates were carelessly and blatantly left on the PowerPoints and handouts for us to see, as though they had not looked at the materials from the previous year until they opened the PowerPoints the day of the lecture. Tests were very difficult due to numerous grammatical and spelling errors. After outrage from the class, test questions with obvious careless mistakes (it seemed like tests had never been proofread or even spell checked) would be taken off the tests. Lectures were rambling and clearly unprepared. Teachers expected things from students that they themselves were not willing to give, i.e. punctuality, preparation, enthusiasm, professionalism, dedication, etc. Class schedules, grading, course syllabi would be repeatedly changed throughout each semester due to poor time management on the part of the professors. Very recent graduates of the SMU FNP program, with little clinical experience, were hired as professors and lecture at the MSN level. Recent graduates were also brought in to do specific lectures and teach some skills days. All of this made for a very poor academic environment. It was easy to have a high grade point average as long as you were willing to do a lot of busy work thoroughly and attend class and clinicals regularly. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA. It was not a very challenging academic environment. We were required, of course, to back up our assertions with current research, but faculty did not always do the same. Students that sucked up to the teachers and kissed ass got opportunities and information others did not. For a family nurse practitioner program, pediatrics was neglected. I experienced most of these issues during the NP portion of the program. The RN portion was more organized, professional, and academic. I was most interested in the NP portion, so I was very disappointed. You go through 15 grueling, continuous months of the RN portion and you cannot wait to get to the NP part. To find it in such disarray was heartbreaking. There is a lot of group work, so be prepared for that and all the challenges it brings. As we all know, some group members do not always contribute as much as others. When there is a lot of group work, some class members are able to skate by on the hard work of others. The clinical sites are, for the most part, excellent. I learned the most from my clinical rotations. Paradoxically, the clinical preceptors for the NP portion get paid nothing but give and teach more, and are more professional, than the actual faculty. The school had a hard time finding enough clinical sites and hours for all the students. I found 75% of my NP clinical sites myself. As a whole, the RN portion was much better than the NP portion at finding and organizing clinical rotations. The tuition is EXTREMELY expensive for what you get, over $1000 a unit with regular increases. You would think you get more for the extra price but really you get less. The library is pathetic. There is no career center or support finding a job as an RN or NP. Financial aid is a wreck and almost useless. The campus is small and not very accommodating, with very few places to hang out and study. The school is located in a moderately dangerous neighborhood. A couple students were robbed at gunpoint while I was there. And, the classrooms are freezing in the winter. After graduating from a CSU and attending a CA junior college for my prerequisites, I just assumed a private school would have more to offer. I did not experience these same problems with lectures and faculty at the other schools I attended. Once at SMU, I really missed the educational caliber of the state schools, and I missed the campuses and state school resources. A little background from my FNP application process: I wanted to go to UCSF's FNP program and was wait-listed. UCSF told me if I applied the following year I would get in, but I did not want to wait another year. I got into SMU, SFSU, and USF. I did not apply to any schools outside the Bay Area. I was unable to find much information on SMU, and I decided to take the opportunity because it was the only NP program I got into. The others were other entry level MSNs. If I could go back, I would not change my decision to attend SMU. Now that I am working as an FNP, I know, with enough effort and dedication, you can make up for whatever was lacking in your education, and it seems that most mid-level practitioners report they were lacking something.

I decided to take the ANCC exam not really understanding the difference. Now, I have paid, so I am stuck with it. I am hoping I will pass and studying. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated. Could you give some examples of the "weird" questions? Thanks All

How can I study for the theory, legal, ethical, and research areas of the ANCC FNP exam? A lot of folks have recommended going through theory and legal books from school, but I would like some more specific recommendations. Could someone give some examples of the kind of questions I will see or know any resources where I could find some of these questions? Also, does anyone know how soon you can schedule your exam once you are deemed eligible to test? I have the latest Fitzgerald review book. However, I have her CDs from 2009, and I have Barkley's CDs and review book from 2008. I am planning on taking the ANCC FNP exam early February. Thanks

How can I study for the theory, legal, ethical, and research areas of the ANCC FNP exam? A lot of folks have recommended going through theory and legal books from school, but I would like some more specific recommendations. Could someone give some examples of the kind of questions I will see or know any resources where I could find some of these questions? Also, does anyone know how soon you can schedule your exam once you are deemed eligible to test? I have the latest Fitzgerald review book. However, I have her CDs from 2009, and I have Barkley's CDs and review book from 2008. I am planning on taking the ANCC FNP exam early February. Thanks

How can I study for the theory, legal, ethical, and research areas of the ANCC FNP exam? A lot of folks have recommended going through theory and legal books from school, but I would like some more specific recommendations. Could someone give some examples of the kind of questions I will see or know any resources where I could find some of these questions? Also, does anyone know how soon you can schedule your exam once you are deemed eligible to test? I have the latest Fitzgerald review book. However, I have her CDs from 2009, and I have Barkley's CDs and review book from 2008. I am planning on taking the ANCC FNP exam early February. Thanks :)

HI I am starting an entry-level MSN-FNP program at the end of August! I am so overjoyed! All the suggestions in this thread have been wonderful! I have been thinking about a voice recorder for recording lectures. I never used one in all the prerequisites I took, but I know nursing school is harder. To people who use them: How often do you actually go back and listen to the recorded lecture? To people who don't use them: Do lectures move so fast that notetaking can't keep up? Advise please:)

Hi I was admitted to the SFSU Generic Masters, but I just got in at another school. I will be withdrawing my acceptance today. That should open up a spot for someone on the wait-list. GOOD LUCK!

Hi I just got the big envelope in the mail yesterday from SMC. I'M IN!!!! So that's one down off the wait-list. GOOD LUCK to everyone! Keep us posted.

I have been accepted to SFSU Generic Masters Program, CNS emphasis! I am so excited. However, I am #1 on the waitlist for Samuel Merritt College. If I get in there I will not go to SFSU, so someone can have my spot. I will let you know.

HI ALL Yesterday, I spoke to the ELMSN-FNP Admission Counselor on the phone. She assured me that they do not over admit. She said that since they have so many applicants and only 24 spots, they cannot risk overfilling the program. She also mentioned that this was not the first time someone had mentioned this over admit thing to her, and she wonders where all these rumors are coming from. Anyway, she said when one person drops out the first person on the wait-list will be in and so on. I already know someone personally who has declined their spot. Just a couple more to go! She said they would be running a "deposit report" today, and there should be answers next week! Good Luck!!!

University of California--San Francisco, University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University all have entry level masters programs. Be prepared . . . these programs are highly competitive.

BerkeleyMom- I was at the Tuesday, March 13th interview. Have you been admitted to both the ABSN and the ELMSN-FNP programs? I saw a post from you in a different forum. If so, how does that work?

The other question: I applied to UCSF's MEPN FNP and got waitlisted at #6. I have been accepted to USF Master's Entry Option Program, which starts May 22. I applied to SFSU and have heard absolutely nothing.

I applied for the ELMSN-FNP. I am #1 on the wait-list. The waiting and berkeleymom's post is driving me batty. I thought I had a great chance of getting in, but now, I'm not so sure. I haven't read any other comments on how this whole process works. Does anyone have any info. or feedback?