MultipNP

Mary, I had one of my comments on here edited to remove said group name before. So frustrating. Just type in school name and major to see what pops up. It's been a while .... I wanted to continue to encourage those of you in the program who have heard/seen negative comments or references to USU as a "diploma mill" (it is NOT) that those come from a place of ignorance. There *are* diploma mills. By definition, those are institutions that lack accreditation and simply exist to gain a profit off unsuspecting "students". THOSE are to be avoided. I'm well into my program at Purdue University, where I certainly would not have been accepted had I gone to a diploma mill! The goal is to finish, go full-time (working part-time with a state delegate psychiatrist, which is wonderful), then pursue a PhD in nursing education. All the best to you!

I refuse to engage any further because clearly you have a problem in general. They are not a joke - are there to help people who need a way to get into school who may otherwise not be able to for some reason or another. Get over yourself.

Nice to know that at least there is an admission that there's nothing wrong. The last time I checked, I work for a profit, too... I don't know ANY employers who have those interview standards. Interesting...

I graduated from USU a year and a half ago - best decision ever. When I was in my clinical rotations, I'll never forget a couple of the observations made by a couple of my preceptors - who remarked how very impressed they were with USU when they noticed that my professors were checking in on me and extremely picky about HOW I was doing - which was VERY different than the other students from the highly respected brick and mortar schools in our area. It may be a "diploma mill" - but I despise the use of that term because I find it offensive and downright ignorant. USU is accredited. Period. Nobody cares about anything else. I got a solid education and was challenged/pushed HARD. My preceptors had nothing but high praise for my school's rigorous standards. I was offered a job out of my next to last rotation so did not even have to interview/job search after school. I passed my board exam on the first try as well just a month after graduation. I have multiple degrees from other programs (all brick and mortar schools with stellar reputations) - so this is not coming from a place of ignorance or lack of experience, either. I find that people who feel the need to criticize others based on their program has a major chip on their shoulder or has had some bad experience that has painted their own view. Often, it may be from one who failed at one of such programs - I have often found that the loudest critics are the ones whose criticism is least valuable. To be completely aboveboard and fair, this is *not* meant to slight the particular individuals making the comments on this forum, but simply my own observations over the years when such criticisms have been made - to find the the critic is *typically* bitter about a rejection or failure of some sort. Do NOT let such *unkind* words affect any decisions being made. USU is an online, ACCREDITED school (if it loses accreditation in any way, they will certainly let people know - like the post-master's FNP - which should be remedied soon, I expect. Typically if accred. expires, they take care of it fast) - and now that so many schools are going to the online model post-COVID, schools like USU are the ones the other schools are asking for advice. I spoke with an expert from Emory with whom I was working on some psychiatric research - and he had nothing but high praise for the online programs... He said he often is consulted for them and even takes on some teaching as he is able. So there's that as well.... Good luck to you! It's HARD work - but 100% worth it. We need more NPs taking care of folks - so I'm grateful for more of you going for it! I recently re-joined academia as I am working on becoming double-boarded and working toward a doctorate so I can contribute educationally in my area. I'm excited about that.

I didn't get into the January program - my admissions advisor didn't get to my paperwork in time after allllllll the work I put into getting all of it in when I was supposed to. He apologized profusely, yada yada...... <sigh>... Apparently their system is faulty and didn't alert him that I'd sent in my transcripts early, etc. So I'll be starting in March. They are changing systems. SO many people there had COVID during the process (including my admissions guy) - and given the state of things everywhere, I had to consider that was likely the main reason all went crazy. I have lot going on with my kids unexpectedly anyway. Try not to stress. Just take it one day at a time. Maybe start your own study group with trusted peeps who can maintain positivity and get a text chain going with them. It is so helpful.

THIS. This is what has given MANY schools a not-so-great rep lately. It's everyone and everywhere. Herzing is actually very highly regarded here, and often professors who are forthright will admit that it is very much like any other accredited program that can be done online (including all the regular brick and mortar schools - another NP student from a bigger school and I were comparing notes and came to the conclusion that our education was incredibly similar).

I'm starting classes on Monday. After fighting with the system for a while I finally got some help today (yes - the Friday before ??‍♀️) and was assured I could start. But I have no idea which class I am starting since I'm doing the post grad cert and am transferring as many credits from my FNP program that I can. I don't have my student e-mail set up yet, etc. Oh yeah - and I'm still working full-time...... This will be a fun ride! I'll join the group on FB when I am able to provide the necessary details.

I do believe there would be remediation if there is something that is not checked off for some reason. Like MelRN said, you get what you put into it. Make friends with your classmates. When you get into study groups - if you find good partners - stay in touch with them. They will be your lifeline throughout the program. Immersion for me was online due to COVID - I wish it could have been in person. But it was still a LOT of learning in a short period of time - be prepared to drink from a firehose, so to speak! I am glad I chose USU. There were hiccups - but with the way education has been going in the last couple of years, it's one of the best options - it's accredited and completely affordable. Use the resources you're given, make friends with classmates, advocate for yourself, and certainly stay in touch with your academic advisor. If there is ever frustration with a professor, try not to let personal feelings get the better of you, consider reaching out to them for help, saying you are honestly trying and desire to do the best you can do. The biggest downside: do not wait for them to help you get clinical placements -- that won't happen. I did make a list of allllll the docs in our area and sent the list to the field office, and they did make some calls for me when things were crazy, but it's unusual. All of my clinical experiences, however, came from my reaching out personally - physicians and NPs tend to respond to the student reaching out personally, not to the school official. It communicates that you care enough about learning to take charge of your own educational experiences. I graduated with honors in August and was offered a job by one of my preceptors right out of school, so anything is possible. Good luck!

Yes - I couldn't survive without it. I use it in practice daily.

That is unfortunate. Which books are required? I have been reading as much as I can by Stephen Stahl and am wondering if any of his psychopharmacology books are required.

Update 2: I have had patients asking for referrals to pediatricians during appointments. Finding it a bit odd that they were seeking advice from the NP at a psychiatric appointment, of course I asked why. One mom said, "The NP we see there just rubs me the wrong way - she seemed nice at first, but, she is not. She really is a mean person at heart." Guess who these patients want to get away from? You guessed it - the person described above who treated me so badly. Of course one has to act professionally, saying nothing other than giving requested referrals ... but on the inside? Oh, so deliciously vindicated.

That makes me sad. It has a good rep in my area. I just went to a seminar featuring a psychiatrist from Emory (I'm already practicing in psychiatry - just really need to get the PMHNP so I can better serve my patients) who said he works very closely with Herzing, and that if I do end up taking courses there, we'll probably end up being in touch.

I haven't applied yet - but am planning to apply to Herzing for Spring. I'm already working as a psych NP but want the board certification so I can better serve my patients (my boss hired me out of my FNP program after I interned with him during the Summer I graduated). I'm interested to hear how the program is. I have spoken some with admissions about starting the application process. Just need to get settled into my routine a bit more. Are you applying for the full program or the post grad certificate like I am?

I am just now seeing this post - I had my nose to the grindstone back in January! I graduated from USU in August, as well. As with any online program, whether for profit or not, students have to work hard to learn. I did very well and graduated with honors, then passed the ANCC FNP boards the first time. I DO recommend finding other students who care deeply about succeeding. I was one of many students with far more experience than most with multiple children and a busy life, and it was nice to have that in common with them. Like someone else mentioned, it's accredited. I even looked into a degree at Johns Hopkins (guess what - they have online degrees like so many others!) - one of my first choices. My husband said he would be supportive - but the cost was just too high. I looked for a while before deciding. I asked several respected medical professionals for unbiased opinions and they all said the same thing: the only thing that matters is accreditation. Work ethic/character/skill/knowledge are the most valuable part of the person graduating. I was offered my first job by one of my preceptors - I didn't have to search. Many of my classmates experienced the same. All of my colleagues (from my connections within our class, at least) have passed their boards, and most already have jobs.

I graduated from USU in August, and can say it is NOT an easy program as some may assume (oh - and by the way, it *is* also a brick and mortar school in San Diego, its online presence is just extremely well advertised). The first year is a LOT of writing and research, then it kicks into high gear the second year and you just kiss your loved ones goodbye for a bit while you buckle down for crazy town. By the way, since the OP brought up both US Univ. and Univ. of SA, one of my professors was actually also working as faculty at both USU and USA. If anything, USU actually makes things harder because they have to prove themselves to be legit in comparison with some of the other schools out there. My preceptors commented that they were impressed with how rigorous my program was in comparison with the better known programs in their experience. One in particular was shocked at how involved my professor was, asking about my development on a regular basis unlike what she is used to with the other, better-known schools. By the end of my clinicals just before graduation, my preceptors were sending me into patient rooms, asking me what my thoughts were, what my diagnosis and recommendations were, then essentially going with what I said because they agreed with my judgment. Every school has to start somewhere. My husband graduated with his Pharm. D. from one of the nation's most respected pharmacy schools and is considered an expert in his field. He has done a great deal of research on education in the medical/pharmaceutical/nursing fields, especially with the way the pandemic has affected education. He has reassured me that my work is not in vain because education has become dynamic, much like scientific research, due to the vast changes that have taken place over the past year and a half. In discussions with well respected physicians and nurses in my area, the consensus has been the same: if the program is accredited, that is the only thing that truly matters to them about the degree itself. The work ethic and character of the individual is what stands out most. All that said, the bottom line about any online school is this: it is what the student makes it for him or herself, truthfully. If the student is willing to work hard, there will be success. If not, he or she will feel like the program is a failure, which is not the case. The material is there to be studied. Online learning is not for everyone. I do far better as an online student than as one in a classroom. I know this because I have done both - my first three degrees are from well established, well respected schools that attended in person (I have two bachelor's degrees and two master's degrees). Some do better the other way around. Every person is different. My new employer doesn't care that USU was my school. All he cares about is that it is accredited and that I am a hard worker who cares about learning and doing well. He doesn't "frown upon" it at all because he knows who I am and what I am about. I graduated with honors and passed the ANCC FNP boards on the first attempt. I am now applying to PMHNP programs so that I can take classes part-time while working my new job (I'm joining a psychiatric practice after finding myself drawn to all the psych patients and requesting a psych rotation for a specialty during a semester - my psych preceptor is now my employer).