MSPRN01

Congratulations!!!

Congrats!!!!!

Yes it is!!

I attended a well known and reputable state school FNP program via distance learning and I don't have any regrets. All I have done for the past 2 years is studied and studied. Wait, did I mention all I've done was study.. I also have a husband and 2 small kids. My program was very challenging and intense to say the least. The didactic portion of the program was completed online (brick & mortar students completed program in same format) and my practicum sites were set up in my area by yours truly with contracts provided/approved by the school. Yes, I had to find my own preceptors, but guess what, so did the brick and mortar students. Secondly, a good friend of mine attends the state medical college in our home state and all the PNP students had to find their own preceptors as well. They meet once or twice a semester (tests and projects are submitted online). She is in fact is going to use one of the preceptors I used for my program. My preceptors were doctors and NP's and I had quality practicum experiences. No one EVER seemed concerned about my educational choices. So in my humble opinion, as long as NP programs, which offer distance learning are held to the SAME accreditation/standardizationn/rigor as ground campuses, then I state it's a matter of choice. I have a second interview next week with a well respected internal medicine doc and my route of educational attainment didn't seem to bother him one bit. Oh by the way, I passed my AANP on the first try yesterday, so I am quite thankful! Just wanted to share some of my experiences with distance education...

I passed AANP yesterday morning!! I am so thankful to God! Best wishes to all upcoming test takers!

ChubbyNDRN, I am not sure if you intend on focusing on the FNP route. I looked over my old paperwork and clinics either hospital or community-based are appropriate. If the hospital is affiliated with an urgent/primary care facility then that route would probably be your best bet, but you can always call the school to verify requirements for clinical sites. Good luck!

ChubbyNDRN, I actually haven't been consistently looking for employment. I am going to take my boards next month and continue to work PRN while I study. Thankfully, I had friends who were nurse practitioners and I created alliances (personal providers) in my first quarter for my other needs. In other words start lining preceptors up NOW. Ask friends, ask your current providers and then once you have verbal committments continue to check with your possible preceptors throughout the program (6 months before and then again 3 months before practicums begin). By the way, always have a backup plan and keep an open mind...people can be fickle ;-) UC did send me a list of preceptors previous students had used in my area, but they turned out to be dead end leads because most were midwives. However, I needed womens health, pediatric, and family practice providers. I hope that helps...you will be fine as long as you plan early. Good luck!

Congrats Tonya, I attended commencement as well at UC on Saturday. My concentration in the program was family nurse practitioner. I am sooo glad it is over, and your right the program is doable for the disciplined, committed, and focused individual. Congrats again, we did it!!! Go UC Bearcats c/o 2012!

I graduate in June, the same day as my birthday, from the University of Cincinnati. I am so excited! Go Bearcats!

I graduate in June and I am pretty nervous myself. I am going to purchase the review package from Fitzgerald and I have already purchased some items (pharm flashcards & derm Dx cards) from APEA. In all honesty, I am overwhelmed just thinking about sitting for the AANP exam. I am submitting my app sometime this week.

RNvampire, I thought I was the only one looking at my pharm book like it is an alien of some sort, Lol!! I am in the FNP program at UC, so I can relate. Good luck to you this quarter :-)

JKidzMom, I am in my second quarter at UCit. I took a quarter off to have my second baby. I can tell you this Physiology is a monster. However, the course is manageable with much studying. When I took physiology in Spring 2010, the breakdown of assignments included case studies (group), weekly quizzes, discussion questions (group), individual paper. You follow what are called modules (approx. 2 weeks in each module). I have been out of nursing school for a while and my patient population has been primarily NICU/pediatric, so I had to put quite a bit of time into studying. The funny thing is it is almost impossible to retain all the information required in such a short time. For example, Cardio covered in one week (6 chapters to read). The lectures (some powerpoint and some actual in class lectures) are great (you follow along with PDF handouts you print out). The biggest challenge will probably be time management because there is SOOO much material to focus on. Biostatistics wasn't that bad. Please don't make the mistake and place so much of your attention on physiology that you forget to focus on biostats too. Reading summary and quizzes (1 of each for each module). Not too bad, just ask questions early on if you don't understand because the material builds on each other. I hope this helps! Good luck!!!

harmonizer, You raised some very good questions. Based on the curriculum, the program is not self-paced. You start with a "cohort" or group of students with the same expected graduation year and based on that cohort you continue on a set schedule. Another point to consider is not all classes are offered every quarter, which is another important factor when planning graduation. I received multiple e-mails on all of the steps to get registered. I am going to call my enrollment advisor on Monday and ask a few more questions. I found out a couple of weeks ago I am expecting baby #2, so I do need clarity on some of the points you raised, since I may need to take a quarter (or two) off next year. I will keep you posted, also UC has a great website will a lot of information at http://nursingonline.uc.edu/

criticalHP, Sorry, once I looked back and read all of the thread, I realized you start in Jan 2010:smackingf. I guess we will all be learning about the program together!!!

criticalHP, I was just accepted into UC's FNP program for Winter 2010. Can you tell me how you like it? Do you get the support you need (i.e. tech support and timely responses from instructors)? Any information you could give would be helpful and GREATLY appreciated. There is still another school I am considering. Thanks

ms_sheesh...so true...I will just be grateful to start classes in April!!! Congrats again!!

I meant I knew I would not be admitted because I sent my app for class 75 deadline!

Congrats ms_sheesh and sugah britches!!!! I am so very happy for you both...I am hoping to get into class 75. I knew I would be admitted to class 73 (whaa whaa) because I sent my transcripts for the class 75 deadline. I hope to be in the FSMFN family with you guys by December 21 (reveiw date for class 75). Please don't stop crossing your fingers (praying) for the rest of us!!!

I am right there with all of you...a pacing and a biting..lol. Another funny thing, when I checked the school's site this morning for any updates, I noticed FSMFN has pushed all review dates to later dates. Point being, who knows when we will really hear something. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I sent my BSN transcript in the nick of time (I just finished), so I wouldn't be suprised if I don't hear anything until December.....So I am spinning my wheels over here too!..........Best of luck to us all!!!

You did a great job and a big, big hug goes out to you. I work in a Level III NICU and I can relate to how you feel. A 36 week infant died last night and I promise you that baby waited to die until his mommy held him (she had a c-secion so she didn't get up to the floor until 10 hours post-delivery). I have been doing this for over 8 years now and you never get use to it, you just find ways to cope via spirituality, physical activity, etc. You learn to be in the moment, take care of the patient/family needs, and remain professional until you can decompress, which you did!!!

Hi Shonda13, I am in a similar situation such as yourself. I have been a NICU nurse for a little over 8 years. I want to be an FNP because my long term goal is to establish a clinic for teens and teen families in my community. I, like you, don't mind the adult care aspect, plus you do what you have to do to get through clinicals and learn/relearn the material. I decided to apply to a couple of FNP programs, so I will see how it goes. I just completed my BSN, so I was able to revisit my passion within the adult/primary care setting, which is patient teaching. I love the NICU, but I wish I had sought out other nursing experiences as well. I enjoy the technical aspects of the NICU such as placing PICC's , etc., but I am ready for grad school/change. The program admissions counselors I spoke with didn't seem to be bothered by my specialized nursing experience due to the different role of the FNP versus the staff RN. As many have stated it depends on what you want to do when you become an FNP and what your goals are. I wish you the best in your decision- making process.

Sugah, Not sure because when I had my interview a couple of weeks ago, I was told it could be as late as December for notification because they had so many apps and obviously they couldn't admit everyone who applied for class 73. I was also told acceptance may be for the next class (75--unless ADN-MSN bridge student which would be 74) if not accepted for class 73. I asked if I could still start in April if accepted to class 75 and I was told yes. I am keeping my fingers crossed for all of us!!!

ms_sheesh, Thanks so much. I am doing the same for you and everyone else. Did you apply to any other schools? I also applied to the University of Cincinnati, but Frontier is definitely my first choice!

I have also applied to class 73 or 75 FNP program. I hope to get in!