bsnanat2

I think what you have said is the issue...should NP school be about student being taught or teaching themselves? Clinicals are to solidify knowledge and help translate education into practice, not to teach students. If the preceptor is having to teach instead of mentor, then the program has not done its job.

My health system has made it official that they will not accept students for clinical rotations from a list of schools that is almost exclusively made up of the "for profit" institutions. Online programs with no on campus component will be reviewed on a case by case basis for clinical placement but "clinical placement is not likely and these programs do not qualify for Health System tuition reimbursement." I spoke with someone in the education department and she said while they encourage employees to return for advanced practice degrees, they are finding that too many are ill prepared even for entry level NP work. No GRE, MAT or GPA requirement should be red flags as well as no requirement for recommendation letters or RN experience, per my education department. South University was specifically called out for not giving tests or exams for even their patho class! How do you teach patho without giving tests? I agree with and applaud my Health System's move. What are your thoughts?

Does anyone know what cms or avg reimbursement is for typical nh/snf monthly visit?

If you can drink beer while you're doing it, then it's not a sport... If all it requires is some free time and money, then it's not an education.

Don't disagree with you. Problem still remains that many of the online programs are responsible for the issues you just listed. Many, not all. I work with someone who did UAB's online program...she is not only top notch but her program seems to have been. Yet again, they have a standard for admission, an expectation of performance and require "face time" for specific courses. If the only barrier to acceptance into a NP program is your ability or willingness to pay, then that is a problem. The NP education market model seems to be either high standards for entry or high tuition in lieu of high standards. The low quality of some new grads is directly related to the problems you listed that is now compounded by the issue of poor online education. It will inevitably lead to the loss of the ground gained by NP's in many states. We've already seen a decline in the "readiness to practice" for new RN's, now those same folks are enrolling in NP programs that are a step down academically from their undergrad programs? Would we ever accept RN preparation that was totally online with no requirement for academic face time? Would you allow yourself to be defended by an attorney whose degree was obtained strictly online? Would you allow a surgeon to 'cut on you' with a strictly online education to back him up? You get my point. As time goes on, don't be surprised when other providers (physicians, PA's, pharmacists, etc.) question you about how your education was obtained and you have to work a little harder to gain their trust. My facility has already declined to accept students from a nearby PA program that lowered its acceptance standards. And as I've said, they are specifically questioning the validity of strictly online NP programs. Doesn't matter if you agree with the facts are not. They are still facts.

I must say that I attended a hybrid program, which was a combination of online and brick and mortar face-to-face time every few weeks. I have been working inpatient alongside many MD's, DO's, NP's and PA's as well as regularly with students from each discipline. After a year of this from the NP side and not the RN side, I must unfortunately say that the online NP students who rotate have been woefully inadequate as a whole, to the point that the health system here is evaluating whether or not to continue to offer clinical placement for online only students. As an example, a staff nurse has enrolled in an online program that also has a brick and mortar program as well as a PA program. This is a private for profit school (will gladly name it if allowed). This person was accepted into their RN to MSN program but was rejected from the RN to BSN program at the school from which she received her RN just a couple of years ago. Her fellow staff nurses are dismayed by her attempting to move forward as she is adequate at best on the floor. I have proof-read a few of her papers and they were juvenile at best. Yet, she is rapidly moving through this program to the point of starting clinicals. Based on her questions, her knowledge base has not increased nor has it grown in sophistication. At this point in her program, she was actually shocked when told she would have to take a certification exam even though she'd passed the nclex already! I wish I were joking. There are a few NPs here who've attended rigorous online programs associated with medical centers who are great. These programs also require face to face time in blocks, especially for check offs in assessment and other critical areas. Bottom line in my opinion? Beware of schools that replace strict acceptance standards with higher tuition. Your willingness to pay the tuition should not be the determining factor in your acceptance. NP school should not be easy. It should not be impossible, but it should not be easy. We can no longer count on the fact that NP programs are rigorous to "weed out" the weak links, as many are no longer rigorous. Beware of programs that require no on campus or in person interactions. Pursuing dreams and increasing your ability to care for people medically should require some sacrifice and challenge you. If not, please reevaluate your program choice.

Hope you have found a solution...if not pm me and I may have a some info that may help.

Haven't been involved in many but the ones we've done have been successful. We will only do it in cases of repeated failure of standard treatment as you describe. It is really simple. We ask for the donor to be a healthy relative (as close as possible). We have the patient admitted for persistent diarrhea or the like, gi consulted, and schedule inpatient colonoscopy. The patient does the normal colonoscopy prep. The sample is produced by the donor into a urine hat and mixed into a liquid with sterile water, drawn up into several 60cc syringes and injected around the colon as the colonoscopy is done. Usually successful with nil side effects.

Check out the stroke certificate at University of Southern Indiana College of Nursing and Health Professions • Stroke Certificate Program

If you are truly interested in stroke neurology this info may be helpful. I believe the Net Stroke program at learnstroke.net was originally affiliated with UAB's stroke program, but it provides online stroke education and a week long fellowship at a stroke center. Then one could take the Advanced Neurovascular Practitioner certification at Association of Neurovascular Clinicians. Maybe this info will give you the background you need and show your superiors that you are willing to invest in you own preparation, even if they are not.

Check out NIFA's website...lots of good OR education and they have basically a half-price sale on the RNFA cert for NP's through the end of the month. Probably worth talking to them as I have never known them to have a sale. Also check out Welcome to CMR4CME | Chamberlain Medical Resources as they have some procedural seminars like central lines, etc.

OP, please don't make the mistake of suffering from an overly developed sense of righteousness. If you find that "others" are always making mistakes and making things difficult for you, it may be time to self examine. Yes, you pointed out errors of others, but was it your job to do so? Making errors is part of being a student. Don't be "the smartest person in the class" who mysteriously can't get a job. People do talk and have long memories.

Outstanding post JRN72! Just got hired as NP for GI practice and this post is just what I needed to read. Best wishes and thanks a million!!

Awesome thread! This is the kind of thing we need to see what is really out there and what we should be aiming for (at least down the road). Can anyone recommend any good resources for the "business" side of the NP role? Great stuff!

Maybe you could emphasize that you have ENOUGH experience and exposure to be good at the job but without the baggage of bad habits that sometimes comes with MORE experience. Also emphasize your ability to learn and find the answers. This is the approach that has gotten me several offers here lately. The downside of making lack of experience into a positive is that it makes compensation an issue. You simply have to sell that issue just as hard. What I've done here is to let them offer, counter offer with what I want and include a willingness to have a salary step system in place to get to my final number within 6 months or so. You are still worth a high end salary even if the experience is not yet in place, after all, you can still bill no matter what your experience. NP's are too often willing to just take what is offered without thought for the future and this drives all salaries down. Plan your work and work your plan!