cmmg

Hi Blessedx3, I am currently in USA's FNP program and I graduate December 2011. Three more semesters, counting down. However, class is soooo hard. I see that you are a graduate from USA in their FNP, please, what pointers can you give me. I read everything and just am not happy with my grades. Please, can you guide me in some direction? I just don't know what to focus on. I am just teaching myself and it is very fustrating. I don't feel comfortable with a lot of things. Most importantly, I do want to keep my GPA up so I can obtain my doctorate. Please, any help or suggestions are welcomed. You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks.

Thanks blessedx3. I do have several questions. For the class part, did you fing outlining your chapters helped to retain the info? Or whats the best way you found to study? I can't do the group thing because I spend so much time there and I should be reading. Also, what PDA software have you found to be indispensible. I have not purchased anything yet. I was trying to wait and see if epocrates was going to run a sale during the holidays. Another colleague of mine suggested that she used Pepid and epocrates. What are you using? What makes the summer hard? Is it the amount of reading in an 8week period? I have certification review books and they come in handy when I get to look at them. Generally I don't since I am trying to finish the reading. Also, how do you de-stress? I know that sounds like a silly question, but all I think is if I make a C, I am out--Granted, I have not made a C yet, nor do I want to, but I fix in my mind that if I make a C, I am out and therefore, I work much harder to do well. I am a single parent of 3, and so needless to say, I am stressed all the time. Oh well, thanks for your assistance. How is your last semester going? I look forward to when I can say, this is my last semester and offer advice to the upcoming class:) Take care--got to go back to the books:)

jkpowell23, Hi! We are in the same class then. I am a student at USA in their FNP program--class of 2011 and I am stressed to the max. Have you found a clinical site yet? Try going to UAPRN (united advance practice registered nurses). They have an organization in every state and offer a preceptor list--NP's that have offered to be a preceptor. When I begin my practice, I am going to make myself available to precept just to give back. But, I got to take it one step at a time. I am having a difficult time in 568. I read and read but just cannot remember the detailed info that they ask--very picky things. I do feel as it is a weed out tactic but I refused to be a weed. At any rate, maybe I will get to meet you in Nov. at orientation. Keep your head up. Also, for observation sites, look at the clinics that are already affiliates with them. That's what helped me. Look, I still have to get my derm, ortho, and radiology clinicals--but cannot think about that now. Must read as I am way, and I do mean way behind. I am a slow reader and processor so it takes me forever to read. Oh well!! Stay strong.

Hi JDCitizen, if you don't mind me asking, where did you order your amplified stethoscope as I will be needing one for my FNP program and was it reasonable in price? Thanks. CMMG

Thanks for the pointers. Such a big help! Do you have any names of NP certification books and/or NP review CD's that you found helpful? Thanks again! CMMG

Hi 92mxmom, since this is your 5th semester at USA, do you have any helpful advice to upcoming NP students in those classes which dropped you to B's? Don't get me wrong, I think B's are good, however, being the overachiever that I am, I strive for A's. I am not afraid of hard word but you said the reading is insane and test questions are picky. What helped you to still pull off 3 B's and 1 A? Are there any books you would suggest to help along in the programs classes as well as clinicals? Actually, how are the clinicals? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks CMMG

Yes I have received my acceptance letter. In the envelope are 2 forms, one for a criminal background check and one for a urine drug screen. The both cost $80 and you pay that out of pocket. They actually work pretty quick because I have already been awarded money for tuition and I have been approved and even know the disbursement date. Registration is the17th of Dec for newly accepted grads. The in-state tuition is a bonus. Yes, you are right, all the other schools that I have checked out cost much more. You know, I thought about FNP just in case things do not work out with CRNA school due to my parental demands. I will have to wait and see how things go. You know, if you want to teach, there are a lot of grants for nursing educators. South Alabama has some info on their nursing website. Check it out. Well, possibly we may have some classes together, even if you start in the summer. Oh yeah, congrats on being a newly wed.

I am doing the CNS track starting in Spring 08 which is 4 semesters long. I was told by one of my other friends who was enrolled at USA that you can start out fulltime and if you need to switch to parttime, you can. My projected graduation date would be May 2009. I want to finish in the shortest time possible, however I want to do so while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. If I need to rely more on student loans so as to cut my work schedule down in order to finish on time, thats what I will do. But if figure, while my kids are in school from 8-3p, then I will do my school work within this timeframe. I am very excited to start grad school. I will way my options very carefully concerning the 2 school, however I am strongly leaning toward USA.

Hi! 92mxmom and congratulations to you as well. I am also kinda considering South University since they have recently recieved their CCNE accreditation. I called CCNE myself and they told me. Anyway, what do you mean are there alternate curriculum plans for nurse anesthesia?

Hi. Just recently accepted to University of South Alabama MSN program online. Just curious if anyone is currently in this program and how do you feel about being a full time student( 9 semester grad hours) and working 36 hrs. ( 12 hour days) a week vs 24 hrs. (12 hour days) a week. Adv. Pharm, Nurs Theor and Adv Nursing Leadership,Roles are the first three classes in my sequence. Is this too much to take? I am very disciplined to do the work but I do have 3 kids, single parent. I am on a very tight schedule because I want to graduate in 4 semesters as projected, however I want to be successful. I don't want to set myself up for a hard time. Is this too much? Or should I take more loan money for housing? I currently work pool at my hospital, but was considering on switching to full time to get the tuition reinbursement from my hospital. Is this crazy? I am currently taking a chem course part 1 and want to take chem part 2 online at my current college to complete my refresher courses for nurse anesthesia school and I thought the chem will help me with my adv. pharmocology? Help all suggestions :idea:welcomed. ThankYou.

Well good luck, I hope you and I both get in this up coming Spring. Lets keep out fingers crossed.

92MXMOM, From what I understand and from talking to the school at Univ of South Ala. for the FNP program, the first semester of school, you are required to come to campus for 2-3 days for orientation and quite possible one time at the end of each semester you could be asked to come and take your finals at the school. Now that is for the NP programs. Now the CNS and EDUCATION tracks are completely online, no campus attendance is required. I was considering the FNP, but I think I will change to a track that I can complete in the least amount of time. See, my ultimate goal is nurse anesthesia, I just need a MSN to help boost my GPA, show I can do graduate level work, and possible exempt myself from having to take the GRE or MAT for CRNA school. However, I have heard more and more nurses talking of South Ala and just recently came across to grad students that just started South Ala. this Fall in their FNP program. Piece of advice, if you are considering them, apply very early as I have heard they take only a certain # of students, as with any program, however the ones they don't take just roll their application to the next semester and tend to get priority as long as they meet the admission requirements. Maybe we will have some classes in the future together since right now, they are my first choice.*****CMMG

Thank you. I think I will just stick with my first choice, University of South Alabama MSN program.

Hi SirI, CMMG here. Just a question since you said you are a mentor for post grad NP's. Do you know anything about or any of your post grads obtain their MSN from South University in Savannah GA online program? And two, should I be concerned with accreditations? South University is SACS regionally accredited but the MSN program has no accreditations, I find that extremely odd. ( no ccne, nln) I this possible? Help

Well, I was told by a UoP representative as well as a South University Rep. that you do lots of papers and research, but actual test are not administered. The reason being is that most people cram for an exam and then forget the info later. They feel if you do research and present a paper on a specific topic, you tend to retain the info in the long run. This is kinda okay with me, however, my untimate goal is to become a CRNA and so I am obtaining a master's to prove that I can do masters level work and have good grades. I have been out of school about 9 years and my undergraduate GPA was 2.96 which is not good enough, in my opinion to get into nurse anesthesia school. The school I want to go to requires the MAT and said if I had my Masters in Nursing, I would be exempt from the MAT and not have to take the core classes. However, if I go to UoP, I think I will because I do not see a nursing theory and research, stats grad class, adv pharm or patho. Like you said, you had to go 2 additional semesters and take that. I need a Masters in Nursing that I can potentially finish in about 12-15 months. I want to apply next summer. If you don't mind me asking, do you know anything at all about South University in Savannah, GA? Would you recommend UoP and 2 classes each. I have 3 kids 10. 9, 6 and single parent. Thats why I want a MSN prior to nurse anesthesia school to reduce my class load. I know its already going to be a challenge and hard, but I am up for it. I have seen you post alot. Does this seem like a smart move or is this too much pressure on myself. CMMG