Snarf

Yes, I did. Kinda expensive for so few questions but it let me know which areas I knew very little about. Thank heavens there was only 1 easy OB question...birthin' babies ain't my thing:)

I passed the ANCC FNP exam today. I really hadn't expected to pass since the only studying I did was about 4 hours the weekend before and I've been out of the NP program for almost 5 months. I did buy the ANCC 150 question practice tests and spent my studying time on what I missed...not specific areas but what I could tell I was generally weak on. On the 2 practice exams I scored a 76% and a 58% so I think going over the areas I missed really helped. The test had lots of non-clinical questions and since I did my master's degree 6 years ago, I had to really stop and think about the terms that relate ethics and statistics. It's true that the first half of the test is really hard and the second half is much easier. I took a break half way through and I think that helped me to focus.

The admission process wasn't a big deal for me since I already had an MSN and my assigned advisor was the same advisor I'd had for my BSN program. Because I had done my BSN at FHSU, I automatically had all of their pre-req courses completed. I've heard that GPA makes all the difference on getting admitted into their Master's program. Good Luck in whatever route you decide to go:)

I'm doing the post-Masters FNP program at Fort Hays...just finished my first class today. Even though I live in Colorado, I chose this program because the cost is so much less than the other programs I looked at. Also, I completed my BSN at Fort Hays so I know how the school, the teachers, and the online systems work. I will have to go to Kansas to do my clinicals but they said they would try to get me near the Colorado border so as to minimize my travel time. I'm going to take a full load this summer so we'll see how the clinicals work out.

I understand your frustration and I feel your pain. As a CCD nursing faculty member for the past 5 years, I am heart-broken over the loss of CCD's ADN program. A large part of the problem that led to the closure comes from the Colorado Board of Nursing's recent requirement that all Colorado nursing schools must be NLNAC or CCNE accredited to stay open. A lack of clinical sites, compounded by a shortage of qualified faculty who will work for such incredibly low salaries (a new grad LPN floor nurse can make more than a nursing instructor with an MSN) doomed the program. While it may sound like a good idea to have all nursing schools attain accreditation, it is not a realistic goal. Accreditation requires, among other things, better than average NCLEX pass rates. Every school cannot be better than average. I urge people to contact the their state representatives and the board of nursing to tell them this mandatory accreditation requirement must be removed. Until the accreditation entities change their accreditation requirements or the board drops this ridiculous requirement, you will likely see more nursing programs close in Colorado.

Not necessarily...now diploma programs are typically affiliated with local colleges so those credits will transfer. Diploma RN credits can often count for college credit via articulation agreements with colleges or by testing out (such as with Excelsior College exams). Being NLN accredited is likely to be a plus as you look for schools that will award credit.

I graduated from Fort Hays State University's online RN to BSN program. They accepted all of my original Kent State credits. Because I already had a bachelor's degree, I was not required to complete their general education requirements. The only non-nursing classes I had to take were a speech class and an algebra class. (I took Intro to College Math at Kent State but that did not count as a true algebra class.) I completed the BSN requirements in 18 months by taking classes primarily part time. Although I found the program frustrating at times due to communication and technology issues, the whole BSN program cost less than $5000. For that price I was willing to put up with some amount of aggravation.

I graduated from Kent State East Liverpool almost 25 years ago. I just got my BSN in 2008 and I had no trouble transferring in the Bio Structure and Function class from 1984. I looked at several different BSN programs and all were fine with the A&P requirements. Once you have an RN license, schools are often very lenient about what transfers in for an RN to BSN program, as long as the basic nursing program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the NLN.

In the past nursing schools in Colorado were never required to be accredited by the NLN or CCNE but all of that is now changing. The BON is mandating that all Colorado nursing programs be accredited...any program that fails to achieve NLN or CCNE will be closed. Accreditation is a costly and time consuming process but it is necessary to ensure quality nursing education. When looking for a nursing school, be sure the school is also regionally accredited by an agency approved by the Higher Learning Commission, otherwise the credits are essentially worthless. These proprietary schools like Concorde and Denver School of Nursing charge megabucks and you come out with credits that cannot be transferred to quality graduate (or BSN) programs. I know so many nurses who graduated from these schools with hopes of going on to be nurse practitioners only to find out no decent school would take them.

I graduated from Fort Hays last year. The program was a bit disorganized but overall it was satisfactory...just get everything in writing when you have your previous coursework evaluated. I applied for the MSN program at the University of Wyoming and was totally disgusted by the way I was treated. After accepting my application fees, they lost transcripts and references, didn't respond to phone calls or emails and failed to follow up with me as stated they would do in written correspondence. The online MSN program director is possibly the nastiest person I've ever spoken to in my life. If she is any indication of what nursing at the University of Wyoming is like, I want nothing to do with them. At least they refunded my application fee when I filed a grievance with the dean. I'm now in the graduate program at Regis where I am treated fairly and with respect. My advice is to stay away from the University of Wyoming.