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I disliked my first online NP program. It was quality program, but I did not feel that I was learning the drugs and labs like you would in a classroom environment. Also, lining up your preceptors can be a challenge. I transferred to a school with classes every other weekend, and they help you set up clinicals and preceptors. That is just what worked best for me. I enjoyed online classes for my generic portion of my masters, but not my classes for my NP.

It is a very difficult school to get into. One of the top 10 in FNP according to is it US News? Anyway, It is a school that you will not likely be able to work full time or much at all. They tell you that straight out. I got in, and attended a few classes, but I need to work. So I am going to Regis with the every other weekend classes which works for me. Why don't you send me a private message or email as to why you are wanting to get into another program rather than stay in Regis? Best of luck whatever you do.

I am attending Clarkson College out of Omaha, Nebraska. A really great online program FNP with lots of flexibility. I was accepted to Samford University too in Alabama, but deferred it until next fall hoping to get into Regis. Samford is an excellent online school with three required trips to campus. I took my pharmacology class last semester. It was incredibly hard, and I learned a lot. However, I would feel much more confident at this point of receiving some of my classes "live" rather than online. Love online and completed my masters that way. However, just for me personally, for classes where I am learning to diagnose and prescribe treatment and medications, I feel Regis would be the best program for me. I sent you a personal email with some more specific information, reply if you are interested in discussing FNP more.

Hi everybody. Has anyone applied or received notice of admission to Regis University Family Nurse Practitioner masters program? I applied almost a year ago. The deadline was 1/4/2010 or such. Now waiting to see if I got in. Anyone else apply for this program? I have been accepted to two online FNP and started one last fall. It is a good program, but it is very difficult to find your own preceptors when the program is out of state. So I am hoping I get into this program that meets every other weekend for a more hands on program, and a local university with (I hope) better ability to obtain preceptors. Is anyone in the program currently? Do you have to find your own preceptors for clinicals? Are the clinicals on the weekends too or do you have to attend classes every other weekend, and find time for clinicals past that? Doesn't matter, just curious. I will find preceptors for either program, but I so much want to get into Regis as I find the FNP online program not what I need to be the best FNP and would prefer real classroom on many classes at this point. Thank you for any information anyone might have.

Hi all. Did anyone find their pharmacy class in FNP difficult? I just started school this fall, and the first exam was on cardiology medications. It is an area I have not utilized much recently, so many of it was new. I loved studying for it, and studied hard and thought I knew it. My first test came back a C! It was an online, time test. I didn't think it was too bad. But not a lot of questions, and some of them had a couple possible answers, but you had to come up with the best one. I think I spent too much time at the beginning, and then had to rush through. Heck, I haven't even taken Patho yet. I think I should have taken that first, but anyway. We have case studies we do, and I think I did well on that. So my grade should be the needed B. I guess I am so use to doing very well in school. This made me humble. Not concerned I can't do it. But realize I have a lot to learn!

Hi all. I have been posting a bit about the changes in the NP scope of practice coming up in CO. These changes have caused me to pause a bit if I should continue on with my studies as a FNP. Presently, I have a nice executive job with a medical insurance company that pays really well. However, I worry about my future in the long term. I feel like I am pigeon holed in the company mind as the "nurse". Not a bad thing, but if I wanted to move up, that in their mind I might be limited to future management opportunities that only involve medical issues, etc. Plus, as the economy has taken it's turn I have felt a bit nervous with the stability of corporate America. I have seen a lot of my peers being laid off. With that said....I thought that I would try and keep my current job and start training as a FNP. I have been doing it slowly, and anticipate that I can work full time and do most of my clinicals in the evening and on the weekend. I love it. I thought this would be a good career move and a natural movement upwards off my current MSN to obtain a profession I would love and have good career future. Now with the changes in CO of requiring NPs to have 1 year with direct MD supervision and no direct prescriptive authorities and a second year you receive a provisional license, and then independence. I think overall it is fine and not a bad thing. But for a new graduate FNP in CO it limits my employment opportunities and probably an overall lower salary as a new NP would not have direct prescriptive authorities for a while. I am rethinking my future career plans. Please help me. What did you find as a new graduate NP in the job market? With the new limitations ( I am not moving) do you think I would drop drastically in salary potential for a couple of years? I have student loans for my masters around $36,000 and I am paying half of my FNP costs, but anticipate having to borrow another $10,000 to finish my FNP. So a total debt of $46,000. I am in my early 40's. I really want to be a FNP, but I have to think of my family's financial well being and my future. They are very supportive, but if I leave a lucurative job and put my family at a financial strain for a couple of years, is the profession worth it to you? I am not about a huge salary. Just a fair one that I can raise a family, and a profession that I can handle a debt load of $46,000 in my early 40s reasonably? I appreciate your insight and advice. Thank you. I really need to get your perspective as NPs.

Thank you for your reply. As an attorney, I should have researched the law better. :-). Here is what I found out: They are changing the law in CO. Right now NP have to have 1800 hours of working with a physician before they can be given authority to write prescriptions. Now they are adding an extra 1800 hours. THEN after that the NP has independent prescriptive authority up to class IV medications. So they are in essence making you do 1 year working with a physician where he has to sign your prescriptions, your second year you have to work with a physician in a working agreement but can write your own prescriptions. After the 2 years so you are independent. CO's board for making the rules consists of MDs and NPs to it is compromise to expand the NP prescriptive authority. They gave us independence after 2 years, but increased our needed MD involvement by an extra year. It is going to add some difficulty to getting a job as a new graduate, but if you can get employment under MD for 1 year, you can get to the independence soon. If you transfer in from another state. You have to prove you have had 2 years of prescriptive authority before you can be granted prescriptive authority.

Hi all. I had a prior thread that did not ask this question quite right. Before we can prescribe medications in my state you are required to have a MD sign that you completed a 1800 hours after graduation and APN certification under his preceptorship that involved the APN prescribing medications. Huh? Can you explain to me how you do this? So if your state required that you worked with a physician prescribing medications.....but do not have your own prescriptive number or license yet.....do you work with your physician and diagnose and treat patients and if a medication is necessary do you write it out, not sign it, tell the patient to wait a minute, then go find the doctor and get his approval and he signs it? What is legally acceptable in your state if after graduation/certification you need to complete hours before you can get your prescriptive authority but must have "prescriptive experience". Help me understand. Thanks!

Hi all. I am a FNP student in Colorado. They are changing the law in CO for ANP for prescriptive authority for new NP or if you transfer to CO for practice. On or about July 2010, all applicants for ANP who wish to prescribe must: 1) Before you are even given a "provisional" prescribing license you have to complete 1800 hours with a physician or physician and NP team with their signatures. You do not have a license to prescribe medicine so how do you do this? Work free for a year and trying to find a doctor that will let you follow him around for a year? ! 2) AFTER that you are granted a provisional license and must complete ANOTHER 1800 hours with a signed plan with a proctor physician. Then you have full prescriptive authorithy within the scope of practice. Initially, I thought that is not so bad. However, please help me understand this because may be your state is all ready like the above requirements......my later concern.....It appears that after I graduate and pass my boards that I will have to work for a year before I can get prescriptive, even provisional. Not a good job prospect. How can you complete 1800 hours of a mentorship without even a provisional license to prescribe medications?! I can see a provisional license for the first year, but it sounds like when I graduate I will have to find a physician willing to hire me or allow me to "follow" him around for a year when I can't prescribe medications until that. Help me understand. I am now thinking about not finishing my NP degree if that is that way. It sounds like my job prospects will be very dismal for the first year, because I can't prescribe medicines at all until I "work" for 1800 but can't prescribe meds? I hope I am reading this wrong. Thanks.

Daisy that was a great link, thanks for taking the time to give me that tool to help locate NPs.

I am just at this time looking for a Preceptor for Advanced Physical Assessment. I certainly understand where you are suggesting clinics that are for individuals with more complex needs. That is coming soon. I am trying to establish those contact too. But my immediate is someone in a general practice to get the advanced skills for the beginning assessment class. Good luck to everyone and thank you so much. Michele

That is to funny Dr. Z? How did you ask or explain what was needed? Sell yourself? Thanks. Michele

Thank you so much! That gave me a great foundation to start with! Where are you from, and what school are you going to?

Hello Colorado nurses! I am starting a Post masters FNP program in the fall of 2009. I will be starting clinicals on or about 1/2010. In addition, I need to work full time during the day. Therefore, the ideal situation for clinicals would be in the late afternoons and/or the weekends/Saturday. My thought tis hat the ideal preceptor would be a NP or a MD/DO that is in Family Practice and does an occasional later office hours and an occasional Saturday, urgent care center that has later hours and weekends, Walgreens type of clinic, or a low income clinic that is open on the weekends and/or evenings. So....I do not know anyone who works in that type of setting. How would your advise to contact such an individual? Walk in, write a letter, or contact the office manager? This means so much to me, but I need to continue to work full time day hours. Any ideas or possible contacts is sincerely appreciated. Again, thank you so much.

I am starting a FNP distance learning program the fall of 2009. I am going to try and work full time, and take the program full or part time. I will begin clinicals on 1/2009. I am told that I should start looking for a preceptor right away. I am hoping to find a NP or MD/DO in Denver, CO that works at least one late afternoon and an occasional Saturday. So that I can keep my full time job and attempt to do clinicals after work and on the weekends. Therefore, I am thinking I should seek contacts with Urgent Care Centers or even a Walgreens center type of clinics. However, how would I approach such an individual without knowing them. Should I write a letter, show up at the clinic, or what? I am really excited about starting school, but I must retain my job, and I know that if I could get a preceptor in such a setting it would work. Thank you! Or is anyone a NP in Colorado that might be interested or you know of anyone?